Guide to Siding Repair & Replacement
Your home’s siding plays a crucial role in sealing your home against the elements to protect its structure and the contents within it, which is why it’s so important to keep your siding functional.
Not only that, but well-maintained siding improves your home’s curb appeal and property value. So, ensure not to overlook siding repair and replacement when looking for ways to maintain your home and keep it in tip-top shape.
Repairing Siding
If you notice any damage to your home’s siding, repair it as soon as possible to prevent water from getting in and damaging the wood and foundation behind it.
If you wait too long to repair damaged siding, you risk paying for more serious structural repairs down the road.
Besides the threat of water damage, missing or damaged siding can also hurt your home’s energy efficiency, resulting in higher heating and cooling bills.
In short, the sooner you repair your siding, the less money you will have to spend in the long run.
The most popular and common type of siding in the US is vinyl siding because of its versatility and affordability. Fortunately, repairing vinyl siding is also relatively easy with the right experience and materials.
Replacing Siding
There are some times when you may want to replace your home’s siding completely. These include when it is extremely old or damaged, when you can’t find a suitable siding material for repair, and when you have old wood siding.
Vinyl siding typically lasts between 20 to 40 years, with the weather and other natural forces playing a significant role in how long it lasts.
If your home’s siding is exposed to harsh elements over the years, it can become so damaged and worn that it’s not worth continuing to repair. In this case, you should install new vinyl siding to replace it.
Oftentimes, it’s hard to find the exact color and material of vinyl siding you need to replace damaged sections of old siding, which is another cause for complete vinyl siding replacement.
Finally, replacing old wood siding with vinyl siding is a good idea, especially if it has moisture damage, mold and mildew, insect damage, or extensive damage to the finish.
Wood Siding Maintenance
When well-maintained and in average weather conditions, wood siding can last almost as long as vinyl siding.
However, wood siding maintenance can be quite a nuisance, not to mention expensive.
For starters, wood siding should be repainted or restained regularly to keep it sealed and protected from the elements. This usually needs to be done about every three to seven years.
Depending on the size of your home, repainting or restaining the exterior can be very costly and maybe something you have to pay for once every five years or so — that’s a lot of money that you could be putting towards other things!
Additionally, extra work is necessary to prevent mold, mildew, and moisture damage to the wooden siding.
This means keeping bushes and other vegetation trimmed back from the sides of your home, scrubbing down the siding at least once a year using a soft-bristled brush and soapy water, and regularly cleaning off any moss and other dirt and debris throughout the year.
Benefits of Replacing Siding with Vinyl
If you want to avoid all the hassle and expense of maintaining wood siding, replacing it with modern vinyl siding is the most cost-effective solution. Vinyl siding provides a whole range of benefits and advantages over wooden siding.
Benefits of vinyl siding:
- Easy and affordable to install
- Can look like wood from a distance
- Very fade resistant
- Incredibly durable and weather resistant
- Not prone to mold and mildew or moisture damage
- Doesn’t need to be painted or stained
- Can’t be damaged by insects
- Low maintenance (can be hosed down to clean)
- Easy to patch or replace damaged sections
- Energy-efficient and eco friendly
- Lasts up to 40 years or more
Woodland HomeWorks will work with you to install the siding of your dreams and make your home more weather resistant and appealing.
