Capillary action is a water activity in which water adheres to a surface and follow the surface around.
Water behind my siding.
Here the biggest danger is water seeping in behind your siding and causing permanent damage to more vulnerable materials.
Window headers are another area where water and mold spores can enter your siding.
When the roof shingles do not extend past the metal drip edge the water will suck back on the metal drip edge this is called capillary action and run behind your gutters.
Remember one of the main hardie siding problems is water damage however it s also one of the easiest to prevent with proper installation.
Rotting sheathing mold growth damage to foundation walls insect infestations.
Water which makes it s way behind the hardie siding should hit the flashing layer.
Flashing is a thin strip or sheet usually metal installed at junctions between exterior surfaces to control water flow.
Siding is designed to direct water away from a home but flashing helps close the gaps between siding and other materials.
The flashing keeps water off the sheathing and drains water properly which prevents water damage.
Check to be sure weep holes are open along bottom of window openings.
Cover the exterior casing with aluminum or vinyl trim sheet.
Water can also seep in behind faux stone and other external walls around your home.
At some point in the past an owner had vinyl siding installed over old siding.
However if the flashing is broke or not properly attached water can seep behind the siding allowing mold to grow.
This can be accomplished by using a portable field brake.
Ensure that exterior casing is sealed to the exterior sheathing or water resistive barrier with a good quality sealant.
It often borders windows and doors roofs chimneys and thresholds.
In this video this old house general contractor tom silva shows how to prevent water from leaking in behind vinyl siding.
Inspect the area above the leak including both indoors and out.
So if this happens you will need to remove or replace the siding quickly before rot sets in.
Vinyl siding requires special inside and outside corner units in addition to the trim that.
The extra thickness of the vinyl.
Here are common problems associated with moisture behind siding.
Rainwater leaking from a gutter ends up behind siding and causes a wall to rot.
How to prevent water from flowing under vinyl siding gravity and shedding water.