Vinyl siding is a wonderful invention. It has saved countless homeowners, like myself, from the drudgery of painting their homes every few years. But did you know that sometimes vinyl siding is noisy? And for a few people, the noise can make them think that they have wildlife in their homes?
Characteristics of Vinyl Siding
It turns out that when vinyl siding heats up it can expand almost 1/2 an inch for every 12 feet of length.

It’s the expansion that explains why there are seams in the siding. The installers have to ensure there is enough overlap so the siding doesn’t buckle when it heats up. What that means for you is sometimes when the vinyl is heating up, it can drag and scrap against other siding or in the track. The resulting noise may make you think that you have animals. Noises can also occur when the siding becomes loose as shown near the eave below the chimney in the picture at the right.
Bottom Line
So if you hear some squeaking sounds on a hot summer day and the noise is coming from the sunny side of the house, and you have vinyl siding, go outside and check. It might be that your vinyl siding is noisy.
Additional Inspection Resources
If you would like to improve your wildlife damage inspection skills, obtain a copy of the Wildlife Damage Inspection Handbook, 3rd ed. Stop guessing and start identifying.
Stephen M. Vantassel, CWCP, ACE, is the owner of Wildlife Control Consultant, LLC. He helps people restore their balance with nature through publishing, training, consulting, and the internet. He has published numerous articles in trade and academic publications (http://kingsdivinity.academia.edu/StephenMVantassel) along with several books (https://wildlifecontrolconsultant.com/store-2/). Listen to his podcast at PestGeek Podcast (https://pestgeekpodcast.com/). He is a sought after speaker and trainer. If you would like to have Stephen speak at your event or use his consultation services, send an e-mail to wildlifecontrolconsultant@gmail.com. Copyright All postings are the property of Stephen M. Vantassel and Wildlife Control Consultant, LLC. Text (not images) may be reprinted in non-profit publications provided that the author and website URL is included. If images wish to be used, explicit and written permission must be obtained from Wildlife Control Consultant, LLC.