Why Does My Siding Creak When It's Windy [& How To Fix It]?

It’s been windy as of late, but your house’s siding doesn’t seem to stop creaking. Now, you’re wondering why it’s making that racket. Also, what can you do to fix it? We researched these questions for your convenience, and here’s what we found.

Siding panels may creak because of potential culprits ranging from an improper installation to the material degrading. You should find the source of the issue before you attempt any repairs or replacement procedures. But replace the offending panels if they become too noisy, and they’re unfit to help protect your house.

You should continue reading as we talk about these possible reasons in greater detail. We’ll also tackle some potential solutions that may help minimize or get rid of the creaking from your siding as you go through this post.

Reasons Siding Creak In The Wind

Creaking siding can occur because of different reasons. Some of the possible causes of this racket are:

Improper Installation

An incorrect siding installation is one of the usual culprits to the material creaking in the wind. It can either be that the nails are too tight or too loose. The siding may shift if the wind is too strong, causing the material to make a creaking noise.

Material Choice

Aluminum is particularly prone to creaking as compared to other siding materials. The racket could also appear during rainy weather.

Obstructions

Generally, there's a gap between a siding panel and the exterior wall. So debris can enter that space. If so, a creaking noise may come out of the siding material if it moves because of the wind.

Material Degradation

Siding materials degrade with age. If so, the panels might become thin, reducing is noise-resistant properties.

Is It Normal For Siding To Make Noise?

Light noises, such as infrequent creaking or tapping, are typically normal occurrences for siding. But issues might exist if these sounds become annoying rackets, particularly during windy weather.

How Do You Know When Siding Is Bad?

As mentioned earlier, siding can creak more frequently than usual if its structural integrity wears out. Apart from this racket, you’ll know if it’s time to replace offending panels if you encounter certain signs like:

Physical Harm

Evident signs of cracking, rotting, and/or warping on siding panels often mean it’s time to replace them. These imperfections may also leave gaps in the material and/or the installation, which can also promote unwanted noises during the windy season.

Mold Growth

Water retention is another problem faced by homes with siding. Moisture can become trapped in the gaps between the wall and the panel. Failure to remove the unwanted moisture may result in mold, mildew, and even fungus to grow.

Also, leaving these filthy substances in those spaces can result in the siding becoming ruined sooner than later.

Faded Colors

Siding panels with faded colors are often a clear sign that their waterproofing or water-resisting properties are on their last legs. Although, you may choose not to replace the siding yet. However, diminished water resistance or waterproofing could initiate other problems for your house, such as mold growth.

Reduced Insulation

Siding generally has an R-value, which is a coefficient used to measure thermal resistance. In particular, standard vinyl siding usually has an R-value of 0.61. You can also find insulated siding options with R-values around 3 or 4.

However, it might be time to replace your siding if your energy bills are increasing over time. Check the siding as deterioration in the material occurs, reducing the insulation for your home.

How Do I Stop My Siding From Creaking In The Wind?

One way to stop siding from creaking in the wind is to ensure the nails aren't too tight or too loose. The space between the nail and the wall should be no larger (or smaller) than a dime. You can use a standard hammer with a claw on its back to help solve this issue.

If the problem persists after adjusting the nails, the creaking racket might indicate that you need to replace the offending siding panels. Take note that the replacement procedure is often different based on the siding’s material.

DIY Instructions To Replace Vinyl Siding

Take note that it’s wise to install new siding panels with the same color as the rest of the set. Otherwise, the replacement panels might stick out like sore thumbs, breaking the uniformity of your home’s exterior theme.

With the correct replacement panel ready, continue this procedure by following these steps:

What You’ll Need

Siding unlock tool
Cat’s paw tool
Hammer
Nails
Replacement vinyl siding panel

Step-By-Step Guide

Lift the bottom lip of the siding board above the bad panel slightly.
Insert the siding unlock tool into that newly created gap.
Pull down and out with the siding unlock tool to loosen the siding board.
Slide the unlock tool from one side to another to help loosen the entire board.
Remove the newly exposed nails with the cat’s paw tool or the claw part of your hammer.
Push the offending siding panel down, then remove it from its installation location.
Attach the new siding panel by pushing it into the exterior wall, then push it up.
Drive nails into the new panel through its upper trim.
Secure the installation by returning the panel above the new unit to its original position.

Check out this cat’s paw tool on Amazon.

Watch this short clip if you need a visual guide for this procedure:

Perhaps you didn’t find a replacement vinyl siding panel with the same color as the ones in your home. If so, you might be able to paint a board with the identical color of your house’s siding. Read our post highlighting spray painting vinyl siding for additional information on this topic.

DIY Instructions To Replace Aluminum Siding

Replacing aluminum siding can be a more laborious and time-consuming job as compared to changing bad or old vinyl siding. Here are the general steps for this procedure to help give you an idea of how to complete this task:

What You’ll Need

Siding unlock tool
Circular saw
Tin snips
Cat’s paw tool
Hammer
Nails
Aluminum siding coil

Step-By-Step Guide

Slide the siding unlock tool underneath the offending panel’s bottom edge.
Pull down the siding unlock tool to loosen the panel.
Slide the unlock tool to the outermost edges of the aluminum siding panel to loosen it further.
Place wooden scraps underneath the panel’s upper edge to help expose the upper trim or nail flange.
Pry the nails with a cat’s paw tool or the claw part of a hammer.
Use the steel measuring tape to measure the amount of aluminum siding needed for the replacement.
Cut the new siding panel from the aluminum coil to size with a circular saw or tin snips.
Slide the new piece into the same location as the old panel.
Line the panels into place and secure the new unit by nailing its flange.
Hook the siding unlock tool to the panel above the new unit. Then, guide it to the newly installed panel to secure the assembly.

Check out this aluminum siding coil on Amazon.

Warning: Be careful when removing aluminum siding, especially if the length reaches the exterior wall's edges. Siding removal from these areas, particularly if you apply significant brute force, may result in harming or destroying J channels.

Don’t forget to read our post on how long does aluminum siding last to gain insight into when you should replace this material.

How Often Should House Siding Be Replaced?

Generally, siding replacement periods often differ depending on the material. For instance, you may need to change the wood siding at least once every five years. However, that period may still be different for each type of wood.

On the other hand, aluminum siding may last approximately 15 years before it needs a replacement. But vinyl siding may not need replacing for about 20 to 40 years, particularly if the property owner takes good care of the panels.

Siding lifespans might also depend on the quality of the material and construction used. So ask your siding manufacturer or retailer for additional details. That way, you can expect when to swap the old siding panels on your home with new units.

Final Thoughts

Remember, siding often creaks during windy weather. However, the noise shouldn’t be as frequent or as loud as you’d think. If the racket becomes unbearable, the issue may lie within underlying issues like material deterioration and bad installation practices. You can use the guides posted here as they might help you in minimizing or eliminating that unwanted noise.