Can you assist in determining the cause of drip marks on the siding and wall near the soffit, potentially related to insulation or downspout issues in central Minnesota?
Asked by Shchastislav Shvachka 
4 months ago
Last Updated: July 26, 2024
I was wondering if you could lend a hand in figuring out what’s going on here. I noticed these streaks on the siding, and some higher up on the wall under the soffit. Do you think it could be a problem with wall insulation or maybe attic insulation? Or could it be something else altogether?
Just an FYI, the house is located in central Minnesota. Oh, and an update: the downspout isn’t connected to anything, and the gutters were taken down over the summer. The siding is original, I believe, and it’s made of engineered wood. The house was built in the early 1970s.
Was aluminum or vinyl siding added at some point, or is that the original siding?
Could you please share a picture of the upper drips and soffit? Thank you.
I have a similar situation with one of my houses. Hope this is useful:
1. Make sure the gutter drain spout isn’t too close to the house. Extend it towards a swale and keep it at least 6 feet away. It seems like there’s erosion happening.
2. Everything is sloping towards the window and draining into the window well. Lay down heavy plastic with a positive drainage flow away from the house.
3. The plastic window cover is broken, allowing water to drain into the window well. Replace it with a steeper one that can be tucked under the siding.
4. The stains on the siding are likely water stains, which happen easily if not properly maintained. Ensure the siding has at least 3 coats of exterior paint. It seems like maintenance has been neglected. Exterior painting should be done in temperatures above 55 degrees for proper drying. With masonite, repainting every other year is recommended to combat weather erosion.
The downspout is properly installed as it’s piped underground and away from the house.
What’s behind this door, the bat cave? I’m thinking there might be a condensation issue, possibly due to missing insulation in that area, maybe behind a shower wall?