Residential Siding Replacement

You and your neighbors see it every day, but when it comes to home improvement priorities, it doesn't always get its due. It's the siding on your home. And while siding may not be at the top of your home improvement agenda, it's incredibly important to the overall aesthetics, energy-efficiency, and integrity of your home.

 

Well-kept, high-quality siding significantly influences your home's curb appeal and property value. Most importantly, your home's siding protects your home from the elements - insulating it against extreme cold and heat, inclement weather, debris and pests.

 

So, what happens when your siding begins to fade, crack or show other signs of disrepair? Among other things, you run the risk of exposing your home to costly structural damage and major repairs. 

 

Below, are some things to look out for to gauge when its times for new siding. You can also contact us here for a free estimate.

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When to Replace Your Current Siding

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Here are a few tips to help you discern whether your existing siding needs to be replaced:

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• Perform a close-up inspection of any siding that appears warped. Using a screwdriver, poke beneath the warped siding and note how firm the layer under the siding feels. If this layer feels rotted in any way, it’s probably time to replace your siding.

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• Peeling paint or sagging wallpaper may indicate your aging siding is allowing moisture to seep beneath it and into your wallboard. The moisture can damage your home’s interior walls, so it’s something you should get checked out as soon as possible.

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• Another sign that your siding allows too much moisture into your home’s walls is mold or mildew formation on the exterior of your siding. While not always a sign of failing siding, mold or mildew often signifies additional issues and should be a cause for further investigation.

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• Dry rot, one of the more common problems with wood siding, is not always visible to the naked eye. To detect it, tap various areas of the siding with the bottom of a screwdriver or hammer to expose an area that has succumbed to dry rot, as only the topmost layer of siding will be intact.
  
   

How To Choose the Right Color of Siding

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• While this dimension of your siding is almost entirely aesthetic, it carries with it several implications that you may not have initially considered.

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• What colors predominate in your neighborhood? While that canary yellow might have looked sharp in a magazine, you may not want your home to stick out too much when seen in the context of your neighborhood’s palette. Also, your neighborhood or homeowner’s association may have rules on the book regarding color options.

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• If you’re in a hot climate, you may want to consider a lighter shade that won’t absorb as much heat as a darker shade does. Lighter colors will save you energy and money when trying to keep your home cool in the summer.

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• Notice the colors of your doors and window frames, and try to imagine your new siding juxtaposed with those. Do they complement each other? Also, if you’re planning on changing those or other exterior features of your home in the future, consider how your home’s new color scheme will harmonize with your siding.

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• Finally, think about how the material you select is related to its color. Wood siding, for example, can and will need to be repainted in the future and you’ll have the opportunity to change its color. Vinyl siding, on the other hand, is much harder to paint. While it can be done with specially designed paint, once you paint over the factory finish, the maintenance-free benefit of vinyl siding disappears.

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Siding Materials/Styles

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Naturally, one of the biggest decisions you’ll have to make when choosing siding for your home is selecting a material. There are many options to choose from, and the best choice will depend not only on what benefits you’d like to get from the siding but also on how much effort you’re willing to exert in order to maintain it. Here are some factors that should come into play when making your decision:

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• What siding types are most common in your neighborhood? If all the homes on your block have the same kind of siding, choosing a different type of siding for your home might lower its value.

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• Does your climate suggest one type of siding over another? You should ask your contractor what type of siding would be best suited to your climate, taking into account not only heat and humidity but the preponderance of termites as well. Also, you may want to consider insulated siding if energy efficiency is a top concern.

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• How much upkeep are you willing to commit to? Wood siding will require the most amount of maintenance, while vinyl siding will need the least. Fiber cement siding falls in the middle; while it needs the occasional paint job, it resists insects and water damage.

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• Of course, financial concerns often restrict a homeowner’s options when it comes to a project as large as siding a house. It’s important to keep in mind, however, how your new siding will affect your home’s value. What may seem like a lavish expense for high-quality materials, in retrospect, will likely prove to be a wise investment in your home.

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Siding is often the first thing people notice about your home. With careful planning and a good contractor, you can ensure that your home’s siding is a source of pride. Contact us here for a free siding estimate!