Signs it’s Time to Replace Your Siding
How do you know when it’s time to replace your siding? Once you notice one or more of these damages, it’s probably time to plan for new siding on your home.
The decision to pursue a siding replacement depends on the siding you have on your home. We’ll break this down into three varieties: vinyl, wood, and solid-surface siding. These are the common deterioration signs for each.
- Vinyl Siding: If it’s cracked and has holes in it, then that indicates a need to replace it. Also, if it’s loose, warped, or buckling, then it has reached its life expectancy.
- Wood: Wood can succumb to moisture faster than you’d expect. That might result in wood rot, but you might also see paint chipping or fading. Cedar siding will show signs of cracks on the south and western-facing walls. Sometimes there are lots of holes and knots falling out of the siding, and woodpeckers attack them, only making matters worse.
- Solid Surface Siding: This is durable material, but nothing lasts forever. If it’s absorbing too much moisture or you see it bowing or cracking, it is good to have it looked at.
Weather Restrictions on Re-siding
There are typically only a few days during the year we don’t want to replace siding because the materials don’t react well to extreme cold. If the ambient temperatures allow us to apply caulk, then we can do it just about any time. January and February are typically the hardest months since it can get below freezing and most materials don’t cut well below 30 degrees. In addition, if there is a lot of snow on the ground it can make installation much slower.
In Missouri we have warm days every month. Therefore, it’s possible to do a siding project as long as there’s at least a couple days in a row where it’ll stay above 40 degrees. We work year round as long as the weather and the materials allow us to do it.
What Siding Material Should You Select?
These are the most popular exterior siding materials on the market: vinyl, wood (LP Smart Siding), and fiber cement (James Hardie Siding).
Pros & Cons of Vinyl
Pros: Vinyl is cost-effective, easy to install, and doesn’t require too much maintenance.
Cons: There are many versions of vinyl, and some may not be worth the price when you find out how quickly they warp, crack, or deteriorate.
Pros & Cons of LP Smart Siding
Pros: This is actually a synthetic version of wood, which subtracts many of the disadvantages like wood rot, decay, and termite damage. You can get it in many modern styles and colors at a lower price than traditional cedar.
Cons: Then again, it’s still not fully resistant to woodpeckers and if not maintained will eventually succumb to moisture problems.
Pros & Cons of James Hardie Siding
Pros: It’s the strongest siding material, which contributes well to your home value. Fiber cement will withstand weather damage the most, and you won’t have nearly as much trouble with moisture and pests.
Cons: The only possible con is the price, but it’s well worth it when you see the ROI both in terms of aesthetics and durability.
Regardless of which material you select, we’ll be ready to help you install it correctly, which is one of the best ways to ensure a longer lifespan. CoMo Premium Exteriors handles siding, roofing, windows, doors, gutters, and more.
Don’t take our word for our siding proficiency. Check out our ratings on Google Reviews, where we’ve earned an aggregate score of 4.8 out of 5. You can also see all of our training endorsements and partnerships with manufacturers like James Hardie and LP SmartSiding.
Contact CoMo Premium Exteriors and let us replace your siding the right way.
With more than 20 years in the construction field, Chet’s experience ranges from running operations for a local garage door company to managing large scale remodeling projects for a local contractor. Chet began his career with CoMo Premium Exteriors as a Sales Rep, then moved to Sales Manager, and now serves as our General Manager. With almost 20 years in the Army National Guard, Chet has superb organizational ability and is responsible for the day-to-day management of the company.
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