How To Tell if Your Siding is Damaged

Not all siding damage is obvious. Some issues, like cracks or warping, stand out right away. Others can sneak up on you and cause long-term problems before you even notice anything’s wrong.
Here are some simple ways to spot siding trouble, especially after a hot day, a summer storm, or a neighborhood fireworks display:

Look for Warping or Bubbling

Stand a few feet back and look along the wall. Are any of the panels bowing out, bulging, or rippling? This is a common sign of heat damage. This is especially common near grills, fire pits, or reflective windows. Bubbling is also a big clue that moisture may be trapped underneath.

Check for Burn Marks or Melted Areas

Look at your siding for discoloration, scorch marks, or areas where the texture of the siding looks glossy or warped. These often happen near BBQs, fire pits, or from fireworks. Even small black marks could mean the siding’s surface has been compromised.

Inspect for Hail or Impact Damage

Hail dents can be sneaky. Run your hand along the siding. You will probably feel dings, chips, or small cracks, especially if you’ve had a storm recently. Even small impacts can lead to big issues down the road if water gets in.

Look for Fading or Discoloration

Compare the color on different sides of your home. Does one side look noticeably duller or lighter than the others? Sun exposure fades siding over time, and if it’s uneven, it can make your house look patchy. While fading doesn’t always mean structural damage, it’s a good reason to refresh or replace panels for a more uniform look.

Check for Gaps, Loose Panels, or Holes

Walk the perimeter of your house and look closely at the seams. Are any panels pulled loose, misaligned, or separating from the wall? If yes, water and pests can get behind your siding, and that’s when bigger issues start to build.

Look for Mold, Mildew, or Water Stains

Dark streaks or greenish spots near the bottom edges of your siding could mean moisture is getting trapped. That’s a red flag for water damage, especially in shady areas that stay damp longer.

*Campbell’s Pro Siding Tips*

If you’re not sure whether it’s damage or just dirt, try lightly wiping the area with a sponge and water. If it doesn’t come off, it’s likely a permanent stain or burn. Remember, you don’t need to figure it out on your own. Campbell’s Quality Exteriors offers free siding inspections, so we can help you catch and fix problems before they get worse.

Digging Deeper into Common Problems and How We Can Help

1. The Grill’s Too Close and Your Siding Paid the Price
We get it, grilling close to the house is convenient. Nothing beats being able to step out of your house and be at your grill. However, if your grill is set up too close to your siding, especially vinyl, it doesn’t take much for the heat to cause damage.
What starts as a quick dinner can end with warped or melted panels, thanks to the high heat radiating off that grill. It doesn’t even have to touch the siding; just being a few feet too close is enough in some cases. The same issue goes for other common implements that give off heat, like generators or outdoor heaters.

How we help: We can replace the affected sections and expertly color-match them to the surrounding panels so it looks like nothing ever happened. We’ll also give you tips on how to protect your siding while still enjoying that perfect sear.

2. Fireworks – Fun in the Sky, Not on Your Walls
Fourth of July fireworks are part of the summer experience. But every year, we get calls the next morning from homeowners who’ve found burn marks or melted spots on their siding from wayward sparklers, bottle rockets, or mortars.
Even small backyard fireworks can throw off sparks that leave behind permanent marks, especially on vinyl or painted fiber cement siding.

How we help: Whether it’s a light scorch or a more serious melt, we can remove the damaged section and install new siding that matches your home’s original look. With Campbell’s, there are no awkward patches, no odd color mismatches, or eyesores that always remind you of the original damage. Just a smooth fix, allowing you to forget what happened.

3. Sun & Heat – The Slow Fade and the Sudden Warp
Summers here can get hot, and constant sun exposure takes a toll. Over time, your siding can fade, especially on sides that face the sun all day long. If the heat gets intense enough, it can even cause panels to warp, ripple, or buckle.
We also see this frequently happen when windows reflect heat onto siding. This is especially common with energy-efficient windows that can act as magnifying glasses and intensify the heat greatly. This is an extremely sneaky problem that can cause damage to siding that doesn’t even get direct light.

How we help: If your siding is warping or fading, we’ll assess whether it can be repaired or if it needs replacement. Then, using our color-matching system, we’ll make sure the new pieces blend perfectly into the rest of your home’s exterior. Our goal? No one will know a thing except you.

4. Hailstorms – Small Ice, Big Damage
While most summer days are super chill, we know that summer storms can be wild, especially when they entail lightning storms and hail. Even the smallest chunks of ice can leave dings, chips and cracks all over your siding. Even small damage can lead to bigger problems down the road if moisture is allowed to get under the surface of your siding.
Some types of siding (like aluminum or older vinyl) are more susceptible, but we’ve seen hail do damage to nearly every kind. If you’ve had a recent hailstorm, it’s worth checking for hidden damage that may not be obvious from the ground.

How we help: Our team can do a free siding inspection after a storm to check for hail or wind damage. We’ll take care of the repairs and help match your existing siding to make the fix seamless.

5. Random Summer Incidents (AKA Life Happens)

From kids kicking soccer balls into the house, to the lawn mower flinging a rock in just the wrong direction, summer is also full of random little accidents. You may not even notice a ding or crack right away, only noticing it once it spreads or starts letting in water.
Other common summer mishaps we’ve seen:

• Bicycles scraping up against the siding
• Pet damage (yes, even the dog can do it!)
• Lawn tools knocking panels loose
• Campfire smoke stains or heat damage

How we help: If it’s fixable, we’ll fix it. If it needs a full panel replacement, we’ll color-match and install it without it looking like a patch job. Whatever it is, we’ll handle it so your siding keeps doing what it’s supposed to, protecting your home and looking good doing it.

Why Color Matching Matters

Here’s the thing about siding: even if you’re just replacing one panel, it needs to match the rest. If it doesn’t, your new siding looks like a giant Band-Aid that has been slapped on your home.

That’s why color matching is one of our specialties at Campbell’s. Whether your siding is brand new or 10+ years old, we work with suppliers and use custom tools to track down the closest match, or create one, so your repair blends in seamlessly.

No weird discoloration. No patchwork look. Just clean, professional repairs that keep your home looking sharp.

What You Can Do Now

If your siding has already suffered some summer damage, or you’re not sure and want a second opinion, now’s the time to get it checked out.
Here’s what we recommend:

• Walk around your house and look for any visible damage: warping, bubbling, cracks, chips, or burnt areas
• Take note of high-heat zones like grills, fire pits, or generators
• Look for fading or discoloration on the sunniest sides of your house
• If you’ve had a recent hailstorm, give us a call for a free inspection

Even if it seems minor now, small siding issues can lead to bigger problems if water or pests get in behind the panels. Let’s take care of it early so you can enjoy the rest of your summer stress-free.

Call Campbell’s – Your Local Siding Experts

Whether it’s heat warping, hail damage, firework burns, or just a mystery ding, Campbell’s has your back. We’ve been helping homeowners keep their siding strong and beautiful through all kinds of Idaho weather, and we’d love to help you too.

• Fast repairs
• Seamless color Matching
• Honest advice from local pros

Call today or contact us online so you can get back to enjoying summer without worrying about your home’s exterior.