There are plenty of reasons to think twice, or even three or four times, before pulling the trigger on new siding – High lumber and wood prices, rising inflation, and economic uncertainty, just to name a few. But if the years of Rocky Mountain weather have taken a toll on your home, the best option may be to make the investment. Our home repair experts suggested the following ways to help you decide.
Bob Barocas
Rotting, Water Damage, and Visible Holes
Only invest in siding if you have to. If you see signs of rotting, water damage inside the house, or visible holes, then go for it – otherwise don’t do it. Wood siding will need to be replaced after 25 years, sometimes sooner depending on the climate you live in. Wood siding will require painting though – usually every 10 years.
Vinyl siding can last as long as the house so long as you don’t see any of the three signs I mentioned above, which many homeowners do see after 30 years. Worth noting, contrary to popular belief and alleged studies, most won’t recoup the investment when you go to sell your house unless the siding work was done on a house in total disrepair. Why? It’s not a sexy upgrade, and (in my experience) buyers expect homes to have functional siding but aren’t willing to pay more for it.
Materials Make the Difference
Siding has many tells that it may be time for investment into a new siding. Depending on the type of the old siding and the age of the siding the signs could be obvious, and sometimes not as obvious.
Vinyl Siding
With vinyl siding, some of the signs may be cracks throughout the siding. Visible warping from heat exposure. Mold build-up, faded paint, and finally physical damage that has been caused by nature or kids. Vinyl siding is cheap and not so durable so this material siding may need to be repaired or replaced more frequently than others.
Wood Siding
Wood siding is much more durable than vinyl siding but also has its faults. It may be time to change your siding if you see dry rot damage, mold growth, termite damage, and beetle damage. Signs that your wood siding defeated those damages but still may need replacement is visibly weakened wood, hanging from its fasteners.
Cement Board Siding
Well known as James Hardie siding, Cement Siding is among the most durable and lasting siding materials there is. Some signs that you may have to replace your Hardie siding are oxidation and physical damage from outside elements. Otherwise, the Hardie board is not prone to the damages of the other materials.
Andrey Tupikov
Andrey Tupikov, CEO of Good Life Construction Inc.
Melanie Musson
Cracks and Warps Spell Trouble
If your siding is rotting, you need new siding. Its purpose is to protect your home, and if it’s rotting, it’s not providing the protection you need. It won’t keep water out, it will let the wind through, and it won’t provide any insulation. The rot can start affecting your home’s structure if you don’t take care of it.
If your siding is cracked, it also won’t provide the protection your house needs, and you could have issues with water damaging your home. Look for warps in your siding because if its pieces are nestled snugly together, they’re going to allow water and moisture in. This can lead to mold problems in addition to rot issues.
If your siding looks bad, it could just need to be repainted, but don’t invest in a new paint job unless you’ve thoroughly inspected the integrity of the siding because a new coat of paint won’t seal cracks and rot.
Age and Excessive Wear
When the siding looks old and isn’t weatherproof anymore, then it’s time to replace it. In addition to the siding, make sure to also replace the insulation and the foam inside. I recommend using a Hardie board instead of wood for the new siding.
Tony Adams
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