7 Clear Reasons to Put New Siding On Your House
Our house is the most valuable asset many of us will ever possess. For this reason, it is important to keep it in good shape. The most important thing protecting our home is probably the roof. Right after this, however, the siding is critical.
Home siding is available in many different materials. Wood, aluminum and vinyl siding are three of the more popular materials used. Siding wears down over time, and it’s important to keep an eye out for the signs that indicate it may need replacing.
1- You See Definite Signs of Rot
This will be a common reason for needing to replace wood siding. Regular painting of a home is important to protect the siding especially if it’s made from wood. If this has been neglected, this will speed up the process of the elements wearing wood siding.
This will most commonly take the form of the wood starting to rot. A small patch of rot may not indicate an immediate need to replace all of the siding. One or two bad boards may be replaced by the homeowner. If the rot is spread more generally, however, you’d better get new siding before serious damage starts occurring to your home.
2- Needing to Paint the Outside of the Home Unusually Frequently
A good coat of paint makes your home look better and protects the siding. If you notice the paint bubbling up or cracking fairly soon after a paint job, this can indicate that there is already moisture underneath the paint coming from the siding. Do ensure that the painter used the right kind of paint first and that it wasn’t just some lousy brand. Barring this, however, you should have the siding checked out, and it may need replacing
3- When the Color of the Siding Is Badly Faded
“Just as faded paint can indicate that a fresh coat may be needed, faded siding is also an indication that it is getting old and may not be effective any longer,” said Absolute Home Solutions Inc. Siding, like nearly everything in life, doesn’t last forever. It has a life expectancy, and severely faded coloring is one thing to expect when it’s near the end of it. This factor alone may not be proof that it needs replacing now, but it is something to have looked at just in case.
4- Holes in the Siding
If you see holes in the siding, you should attempt to determine what caused them. Insects are a frequent cause of this problem for wood siding as well as certain birds. Not only are the insects themselves causing damage but the holes they make will allow moisture in. The biggest reason for the existence of siding on homes is to prevent moisture from getting in.
You should do whatever action is necessary to handle the insect problem, and then determine the seriousness of the damage they caused. It’s possible that some repairs may fix the problem, and you won’t need replacement. Widespread damage, however, will require replacement.
5- Unusually High Heating or Cooling Bills
If you find the cost to heat or cool your house is higher than that of your neighbors with similar size homes, there are numerous things to check and try. The first of these would be your roof and the attic insulation. You should also check your HVAC system to ensure its functioning efficiently. Assuming, however, that these things are fine, the siding is the next potential culprit. If a visual inspection of the siding indicates leakage of heating or cooling, then getting it replaced now may prove far cheaper in the long run.
6- Bubbles or Warping in the Siding
One thing that indicates a definite problem with your siding is the presence of bubbling or warping. This will only happen if there is moisture that seeped under the siding and has become trapped. Since the main point of siding is to protect the house from moisture, this indicates a definite failure. If there are only a few boards with bubbling, then perhaps it can just be repaired. If they are spread fairly widely, then it’s time to replace the siding.
7- The Interior Walls Need Frequent Painting or Wallpaper Replacement
If problems with siding have persisted long enough, you may find it starts to affect the interior of your home. If moisture has been seeping through for a period of time, then it may have gone through the wallboard of the home and be just on the other side of interior walls. This can cause peeling wallpaper or cracking paint at a far greater frequency. If it’s the siding that’s responsible, then it will most likely need to be replaced given that the damage has seeped this far into the home.
