When Does Siding Have to Be Replaced? | Mr. Happy House

Your roof and siding are the most important structures of your house. They provide your home security from the outside elements such as rain, snow, hail, hot & cold temperatures, etc. Depending on the type of siding you have for your home, it may need to be frequently maintained for it to stay intact.

If you have new siding or newly painted siding, this enhances its lifespan while at the same time, providing an excellent curb appeal and look to new homebuyers. Old siding that is damaged can not only look bad, but can cause problems in the near future.

In general, siding should last about 15-30 years, but there are other factors that can impact how often you should replace your siding. In this article you will learn these factors from a professional and experienced siding company, Mr. Happy House:

Signs You Need Your Siding to Be Replaced:

Paint started to crack and peel: You can only paint your siding so many times before the siding will start to wear down. Some things don’t last forever, and this is especially true when you have wood siding or vinyl siding in a hot climate. Unless you didn’t hire a good painter to paint your siding, peeling paint is a good sign that you need a full siding replacement.

Soft Areas of Siding: Here is a simple and easy test to figure out if your siding is rotted and due for replacement: take your finger and push against the siding. If your finger easily dents the siding or even goes through it, then this is a tall tale sign that you need your siding replaced.

If this is the case for you, don’t try to attempt to repair the area where the rot is the most severe, it’s best to just replace the whole section of siding in order to prevent rot from growing to other areas.

Water Damage: Any rotting or fungus that starts to grow in your siding is another tall tale sign of replacement. Water damage can cause your siding to bend into different shapes and can cause any paint on it to fade quickly.

If you decide to paint your home without addressing this issue, you might end up wasting your money, because the paint will not hold up very long. It’s best to just replace your siding if you notice areas of water damage.

High Energy Bills: High energy bills can be another sign that you may need to replace your siding. Although this shouldn’t be the only factor, if other factors such as water damage, rotting, and cracking are also an issue, then you may have to replace your siding. Holes and gaps in your current siding can cause these higher energy bills and may need replacement.

For a safe and reliable solution, call a siding professional in your local area to determine whether or not your siding needs has to be repaired or replaced.

When to Install Siding

The season you’re in right now can affect the quality and the timing of your next siding replacement. If you live in a colder climate, installing new siding in the winter may not be such as great idea due to snow and set backs the installer might have during the installation. A full siding replacement can take a few days to install, so you might have nights that are a little bit colder than usual if you live in a colder climate and are thinking about installing siding in the winter times.

You don’t want to wait for too long because, in the summer and late spring, contractors and siding companies can get booked up for weeks or even months at a time, so be sure to plan ahead, do your research, and save up if your siding is due for replacement.

Costs of a Full Siding Replacement

When deciding to repair or replace your siding, the cost of replacement is going to be a lot more money upfront than a small repair. However, in the long run, the upfront investment you will make into your home will be worth it because it will be less hassle to maintain. You may even sell your home for more money if you’re thinking about moving.

Depending on how much siding you have on your home, the cost can vary. If your home has a mix of brick & siding, or flagstone & siding, the cost of replacement is not going to be as much compared to a home that only has siding. For a 2000 square foot home, the prices can range from $5,000 to $15,000.

Before deciding to have your siding replaced, make sure to go with a company that has experience in installing siding as this takes a skilled team to install properly.

Choosing the Right Type of Siding for Your Home

If your current siding is not working for you, then it may be time to consider a more durable solution for siding. With a higher upfront cost however, paying the extra money for better siding is a worthwhile investment for your home as is it be easier to maintain, might even look better, and will increase the resale value of your home.

A popular type of siding we highly recommend installing is James Hardie Siding. James Hardie Siding is a fiber cement type of siding that has many benefits that include durability, rot proof, animal resistant, and low maintenance. James Hardie Siding is the most durable type of fiber cement siding we know of. After installing this amazing product for over 20 years, customers are still loving their house and is still in great shape despite the extreme heat and weather conditions in the Houston area.

After reading this article on when you should have your siding replaced, I hope that you are now more informed about what it takes to reside your house and the steps you need to take to ensure whether or not a siding replacement is the best option for you.

Thanks for reading this article on when you should have your siding replaced, share this post with your friends on social media, or leave a comment!

References:

Bob Villa

Mr. Handyman

House Loan Blog