5 Questions to Ask Yourself If It’s Time For New Siding
Most homeowners don’t love the idea of new siding. And why would they? Unless there’s an issue with your siding, it’s not something that requires constant attention, and it’s an expense that isn’t fun to pay. Unlike other parts of your home though, siding issues are not immediately noticeable.
Unfortunately, damaged or faulty siding can be catastrophic to your home. Keeping an eye out for issues (and replacing your siding if necessary) is extremely important.
In this month’s post, we’re outlining some questions to ask yourself, and we’ll also go over common issues we see when siding needs to be replaced.
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Why Is Siding Important?
Functionally, your siding is much like your car’s bumper; it feels the effects of the outdoors so the rest of your home doesn’t have to.
Home siding serves two primary purposes:
- It protects your home from the elements
- It give your house a cohesive design, making it aesthetically pleasing
Good siding will make your home look great and ensure it stays in good condition and remains structurally stable for generations.
How Long Should My Siding Last?
Generally, siding should last around 20 years. That said, for reasons varying from shoddy workmanship to critter damage, sometimes it needs to be replaced well before that 20 year threshold.
Ask yourself the below questions to help determine if you need to upgrade:
Is My Siding Damaged?
There are a number of different types of damage that can occur to siding. Failing to recognize these issues can lead to even more damage.
Dry Rot
Dry rot is extremely common when wood siding is exposed to excessive moisture. Dry rot is particularly dangerous, since it starts from beneath the surface and only presents itself once it’s developed substantially.
In addition to looking horrible, dry rot softens the siding and lessens its ability to protect your home from the elements.
Bubbling Siding
Bubbling siding is the result of either excessive moisture penetrating your siding or constant exposure to extreme heat. Either way, there is now moisture between the exterior of the siding and your walls, meaning mold and further damage are likely.
Cracked or Loose Siding
Cracked and loose siding are big problems. While sometimes you can simply repair the cracks or looseness, it’s often too late by the time you’ve noticed it. If there are a large amount of cracks in the siding or all of your siding is loose, it could be due to an installation issue that needs to be addressed immediately.
The cracks and space between siding acts as an open invitation for weather and critters to enter your walls and wreak havoc. Once moisture has entered, it’s only a matter of time before you’ll have even more issues.
Warped Siding
Warped siding is often caused by bad installation. Siding should actually “hang” from fasteners so that it can expand and contract with temperature and moisture changes. If it’s nailed too tightly, the siding will warp or buckle, causing irreparable damage
Has Something Outside Damaged My Siding?
Even if you’re inspecting your siding every season, have the correct siding for your home, and do everything possible to ensure it’s maintained, it can still be damaged.
Weather Damage
While it’s normal for constant exposure to weather to gradually deteriorate your home’s siding (that’s why it’s there, after all), large weather events can cause bigger issues like freezing rain or tree damage.
Wind damage can lead to loose siding and hail can cause your siding to dent and crack. Both will allow moisture to get into your walls, causing mold and other issues.
Insect and Pest Damage
While they may seem harmless from the comfort of your home, animals can wreak havoc on your Vancouver home’s siding.
Critters animals that cause damage:
- Squirrels
- Raccoons
- Woodpeckers
- Ants and Termites
- Rodents
- Possums
If you see any of these animals hanging around your home’s siding, or even worse in your walls, call an exterminator and siding contractor ASAP.
Is Siding Affecting Other Parts of My Home?
An Increase in Energy Costs
Even if your siding looks pristine on the outside, if you notice your energy bill shooting through the roof the issue could lie in your siding. While other issues could be in play, old or bad siding could lessen your home’s ability to keep heat inside and the cold air out.
Talk with your neighbors to see if your heating costs are in line with how much others are spending. If it’s not, replacing the old siding will help your home retain heat and lower your energy bill.
You Always Have to Paint Your Home
If you have to paint your home every five or so years due to the paint chipping and peeling, it likely means that you need to replace your siding. Siding in good condition will only need to be painted every 8-10 years.
Interior Paint and Wallpaper Are Peeling
If your interior wallpaper and paint are peeling, faulty siding could be the culprit. Since bad siding allows moisture into the walls and eventually into your home, you home’s interior will be affected eventually if your siding has failed.
Do I Still Want To Maintain My Old Siding?
While maybe you don’t mind the slightly deteriorated look of your home and it’s older siding, the added maintenance can be time consuming. If you don’t have the time or appetite for the constant maintenance and repainting needed to keep it in good shape, it may be time to invest.
Modern siding can be cleaned off with a hose and will last even longer than previous generations of material. This will leave you more time to relax and less time worrying about your home’s siding.
Do I Want To Sell My Home?
While you may not mind the maintenance and look that your old siding brings, a potential new owner may not like either.
The first thing a potential buyer will see upon coming to look at your home will be the condition of the siding. If it’s rotting and in poor condition, what will this potential buyer think? They may even consider what else has not been taken care of and completely kill their interest in the home.
Don’t make it harder to sell your home and leave money on the table by not investing in the right siding for your home.
Protect Your Investment With Siding That Will Shield Your Home From The Elements
Ready to improve your home? Cutting Edge Contracting works with homeowners in the Portland and Vancouver areas by installing custom siding that is right for their home. We use James Hardie siding, which has been specifically engineered to withstand the harsh conditions of the PNW.
Contact us today to get a free quote on your home’s siding project.
