Your house's exterior is the first impression people have of your home. You want it to always look its best, don't you? Of course, you do! Eventually, you'll reach a point where regular cleanings and the appropriate maintenance no longer cut it. Your siding no longer gives the impression you want it to. So, how exactly do you know when to replace your siding? The simplest way is to schedule an inspection with a certified home exterior expert.
With over 25 years of experience in the siding replacement business, SuperiorPRO is an accredited name you can trust. We take pride in providing top-quality exterior renovation services and transparent communication. When you choose us, you can be confident that we'll thoroughly examine your siding to determine if it needs immediate replacement.
Questions to Ask Yourself
Before calling SuperiorPRO to your house for a consultation, you can ask yourself a few simple questions to get a general idea about the state of your siding:
- How old is it?
- What maintenance do you need to do?
- Is there damage, and how extensive is it?
- Do you plan on living in the house for a long time?
- How does it look in comparison with your neighbors?
Age
The lifespan of your siding will depend on the material, quality of installation, and your area's weather patterns. We suggest walking around your property and examining the exterior closely to determine if you'll need to change siding on the house. Are there any spots with apparent issues such as sagging, cracking, pest damage, water stains, rot, missing pieces, or buckling? If yes, then your siding has most likely not been replaced in a long time. You're due for an upgrade! However, a shaggy appearance doesn't necessarily mean it's time to replace it.
Maintenance
While wear and tear can't be helped, some siding can be freshened up through regular maintenance cycles. This way, you can save for the cost to replace siding instead of having to pay a good chunk of your income toward it unexpectedly. Remember that the closer you get to the end of your siding's lifecycle, the more frequent maintenance will be needed. To extend its usefulness as long as possible, avoid skipping repairs.
Damages
As you walk around your home exterior, note the severity of problems you can spot. Is it just some faded siding here and there? Or is there a bug infestation? If it's something like the latter, you'll want to get it replaced as soon as possible (and call an exterminator while you're at it).
Residency
Consider how long you plan on staying in your home. Are you selling it soon, or do you plan to live out your life here? If you plan on selling, new siding boosts curb appeal as well as market value. However, it's also a semi-costly undertaking that, ultimately, you won't be around to enjoy. On the other hand, if you'll be in the home for the foreseeable future, investing in high-quality siding that requires minimal maintenance and lasts decades will pay off in the long run.
Neighbors
Finally, look around at your neighbors. How does your siding look in comparison? Is your siding relatively clean and well-taken care of, or does it seem dingy and dated? If your home sticks out like a sore thumb in a negative way, it might be nice to blend back into the neighborhood with a siding upgrade.
Repair vs. Replace: What to Know
As we said earlier, just because the exterior looks a little worse for wear does not necessarily mean it's time to replace house siding. For the most part, siding that has been up for less than 15 years can get away with being repaired if it's a small area that's been warped, chipped, cracked, or rotted. A new paint job will also work wonders for making the old siding look new, doubling as a protective barrier from the elements.
If your siding needs frequent attention, it's time to replace it. You will ALWAYS need to entirely replace siding that has been affected by mold growth or moisture damage. To prevent further damage, look for bubbling paint caused by moisture seeping in or visible signs of mold. Remember that, ultimately, the decision to replace your siding will depend on the extent of the damage.
Expected Lifetime of Siding
Most of the time — extreme weather situations excluded — siding will last at least 20 years. Depending on the material, climate, and maintenance cycle, it could last 100 years! Regular wood siding has one of the most frequent replacement timelines at 20-40 years, though for most people, that's still a lot of time in between. The lifespan of the most common siding replacement materials are:
- 100+ years for engineered wood composite
- Up to 50 years for fiber cement
- 40-70 years for metal
- 100+ years for stone
- 50-100 years for stucco
- Up to 60 years for vinyl
SuperiorPRO is the One-Stop-Shop for All Your Exterior Renovation Needs
When your siding has seen better days and no matter what you do, it just seems to be getting worse, call SuperiorPRO. We'll help you determine repair vs. replacement, choose materials, and set up a project timeline. As the most trusted siding installation experts around, you can rest assured knowing your home is in good hands.
At SuperiorPRO, we understand that the cost to replace siding can be a concern. That's why we offer flexible financing options through our GreenSky®Program. With us, you can protect your home without making drastic cuts elsewhere or breaking the bank.
Call SuperiorPro today to learn more about our services and financing options.