Seattle Siding Inspection — DIY Guide + Free Pro Assessment
How to inspect your siding yourself, what the warning signs actually mean, when to call a pro, and what to expect from our free on-site assessment. No salesman call — just an honest walk-through with a Hardie-certified contractor.
WA License #GPGENGC830KD 
Hardie Certified Installer 
5-Star Rated 
Moisture-Meter InspectionsGP General Corp gives honest, no-salesman siding inspections across Seattle, the Eastside, and Snohomish County — a Hardie-certified contractor walks the exterior, checks for moisture and dry rot, and tells you whether to repair or replace. WA license GPGENGC830KD, MBAKS member, rated 5.0 on Google. Real installed rates on our pricing page; free written quote after an on-site assessment.
By Paul Gubenya — Owner, James Hardie Certified Installer · WA License #GPGENGC830KD · MBAKS Member · Rated 5.0 on Google · (425) 344-9635
What Homeowners Say
Real reviews from our Google profile — unedited, from real projects.
“We recently had Paul with GP General repair a damaged corner protector and sidings. His estimate was reasonable, his availability was timely, and his job was excellent. Our home hadn’t been re-painted in a while and the paint had considerably faded, yet he was able to match the color perfectly. Now we know who to turn to when in need of another repair work.”
“GP General replaced LP siding on our garage. Paul was very thorough when he came out to do the estimate; he listened to my concerns and was able to work out solutions on the spot. His crew did a great job and were very courteous. They also were careful about cleaning up (I didn’t find any nails!). Really happy with the job and can recommend GP General.”
“I highly recommend GP General Corp for siding replacement. We recently had our wood siding replaced with James Hardie lap siding, and Paul and his team did an excellent job.”
How to Inspect Your Siding Yourself in 30 Minutes
You don’t need to be a contractor to spot most siding problems. Walk the perimeter twice — once standing back, once close-up. Here’s what to look for.
Press firmly on the siding at the bottom of each wall, around windows, and where downspouts hit. If anything gives, the substrate behind has rot. Red flag. Most common locations: bottom 2 feet of each wall, below window sills, around hose bibs, where roof valleys discharge.
Localized peeling around a single board: minor, often paintable. Paint failing in large sheets across multiple boards, especially with the wood swelling underneath: the substrate is moving from moisture, and paint can’t solve a moisture problem. Red flag if widespread.
Stand inside on a sunny day with the lights off and check for daylight at corners, windows, doors, and seams. Daylight = direct water and air infiltration path. Red flag. Often caused by failed caulk or sealant joints, or a board that has shifted off its furring.
Dark vertical streaks below windows, gutters, or roof lines mean water is moving across the siding face. On its own, this is cosmetic — soft-wash and re-caulk. But persistent staining in the same spot for years usually means a flashing or seam upstream is leaking. Investigate.
Hairline cracks across boards (especially fiber cement) usually mean impact or fastener stress. Warped or cupped boards mean moisture cycling has done its work. Vinyl that’s gone wavy under summer sun is heat damage. Spot fix or replace depending on extent.
Run your finger along trim joints and around windows. Caulk that’s cracked, separated, or missing is a water entry point. Caulk fails roughly every 5–7 years on average. Easy DIY fix on small areas, easy red flag if widespread.
Siding should never touch dirt or mulch — there should be a 6-inch clearance to grade. If yours is buried or splashed by sprinklers, the bottom edge is wicking moisture year-round and rot is happening behind it. Red flag.
If you have hardboard or older composite siding, look at the bottom 6 inches. If it’s thicker than the top, it’s already absorbed water. Almost always means rot behind it. We’ve pulled this off homes in Ballard and Greenwood — OSB sheathing rotted to mush.
Look at the head trim above windows. Water staining or rot there means the head flashing is missing or failed — one of the most common causes of hidden wall damage in Seattle homes built before 2005.
When to Call a Pro
Some inspection findings need a contractor’s eye and a moisture meter. Here’s when to stop and call.
What we find on real assessments:
- Soft spots anywhere on the siding (active rot).
- Visible mold or mildew growing through the siding face (moisture inside the wall).
- Hardboard, T1-11, or older composite siding with bottom-edge swelling.
- Multiple windows with rot in the head trim or sill.
- Daylight visible from inside through corners, windows, or seams.
- You bought the home and want a baseline assessment.
- Localized paint touch-up on one or two boards.
- Re-caulking trim joints (clean out old caulk, re-apply quality urethane sealant).
- Soft-wash to remove mildew or pollen (low-pressure, plant-friendly cleaner).
- Trimming vegetation back from siding to maintain clearance.
- Re-grading or adjusting sprinklers to keep splash off siding.
Our Free On-Site Assessment
Paul does every assessment himself. Here’s what happens during the visit.
We start with a 360-degree walk around the home. Note construction era, existing siding type, exposure, drainage, vegetation, and overall envelope condition.
Pinless moisture meter at the bottom 2 feet of each wall, around windows, behind any visible staining. Anything above 20% reading is flagged for further investigation.
Where moisture is high or staining is visible, we push-test for substrate softness. Soft = rot. Photograph and note location.
Look at every opening for staining, head trim condition, and visible flashing details. Most Seattle homes built before 2005 have flashing failures we can spot from outside.
If a section of siding is already loose or damaged, we’ll lift it gently to inspect the WRB and sheathing behind. This isn’t always possible without damage but when it is, it’s the most informative part of the visit.
We photograph everything noteworthy — the good, the bad, and the questionable. You get the photos with your written assessment whether you hire us or not.
If replacement makes sense, we walk through the material options that fit your home, exposure, and budget. ColorPlus chips in hand.
Within 3–5 days you get a line-itemized written quote — or a written “your siding is fine, just keep it caulked” if that’s the honest read. See cost ranges →
One follow-up email a week after the quote to confirm you got it. After that, you decide when to schedule. No call center, no expiring discount, no “I’ll lose this price if you don’t sign tonight.”
Inspection Questions
Ready for an Honest Look at Your Siding?
Free on-site assessment with Paul. Moisture readings, photo documentation, and a written report — whether you decide to replace, repair, or just maintain. No salesman call.
Book Free Inspection → (425) 344-9635