Is the exterior of your home starting to look like it’s seen better days? Do you have moisture creeping into your home or suspicious decline in energy efficiency? It might be time to replace your siding.
While siding can be extremely resilient, depending on the material it’s made out of. Nevertheless, siding panels, like roofs, are not made to last forever. And, like your roof, if you drag your feet too long on replacing siding, the result could be more extensive damage to other parts of your home. The purpose of siding, aside from aesthetic appeal, is to keep the elements out of your home and away from the more vulnerable materials it’s made of. So if your siding is aging or damaged, it can cause moisture to seep in, which can in turn damage the interior of your home.
When is it time to replace my siding?
There are many tell-tale signs that it’s time to replace your siding.
Some of them come in the form of obvious damage. Loose, cracked panels, or discoloration or bubbles on the exterior panels’ surface are usually clear indicators.
While vinyl siding is resistant to rot, the wood that lies beneath it is not. If moisture is getting in through cracks in the worn vinyl, the wood will start to expand and warp the siding. If you see warping, you should plan to replace your siding as soon as you can.
A more subtle indication that it’s time to replace your siding might be if you experience an increase in your heating or cooling bills, especially if it happens in spite of new windows, good seals around doors, and other efforts to conserve energy. This might indicate that you’re losing energy through the walls themselves.
Even if your bills haven’t risen and there’s no immediately apparent damage, you might inspect a little further if your siding is more than ten years old.
Here are some estimates of how long siding should last based on material type:
- Metal – 15 years
- Wood- 20-40 years
- Vinyl- 60 years
[Source:Amos Exteriors]
Should I Repair or Replace My Siding?
There are some instances in which you might opt to repair your siding rather than completely replace it. For example, if you find damage you know the source of, such as a recent storm or a leak, you might be able to get away with replacing just the damaged panels.
Other scenarios in which you might repair damage to siding rather than fully replace it might be if your insurance company will only cover a partial replacement/repair, and if your siding is newer and it’s relatively easy to find panels that match your current siding.
Unfortunately, mold usually means that you need to replace all your siding.
If you catch it early enough, a less extensive repair might be possible, but usually visible mold guarantees more mold hiding beneath the surface. And if you’re unable to find and remove the source of moisture causing the mold, there’s likely a more ubiquitous structural problem.
What other factors should I consider when replacing my siding ?
Other considerations for when you should replace your siding involve cost, season, and whether other home projects that might need to be prioritized.
If you see signs you need to replace your siding, you might get a deal on the work if you wait until winter. Then again, due to expansion and contraction of material, many siding materials should not be installed in extreme temperatures. If you install in winter you’ll want a knowledgeable contractor that you trust doing the work.
Another reason you might want to hold off on replacing siding is if you need to prioritize or include other repairs. Before you change your siding, you’ll probably want to consider how old your roof is, how energy efficient your windows are, and what kind of shape your gutters and shutters are in. The good news is that if you need to take care of your siding along with other exterior improvements, you might be able to handle all of these at once for one overall cost. Be sure to think about the age of your roof as well.
Replacing your siding is a big undertaking that should be done by a professional in nearly all cases. Replacing your siding might be one of the most extensive upgrades you can tackle, but the rewards for undertaking it are tangible. Changing your siding can change the look of your home greatly, and you have an opportunity to enhance the curb appeal of your home dramatically. It’s also an upgrade with one of the highest ROIs–up to 80% ). So if it’s time to replace your siding, the outcome might be an exciting one.
If you need new siding or a whole new exterior face lift, Hamilton Homes can help! Contact us today.
