6 Things to Know Before Siding Your House
Your yellowing, faded, and cracked siding has finally gotten on your last nerve. It’s finally time to up the curb appeal, but you have no idea where to start.
Sound familiar?
Before you begin ripping down to start anew, you should know that siding is not your typical DIY home improvement project. There are a lot of factors that go into replacing or repairing your home’s siding that most people don’t anticipate.
It’s always best to call in the professionals for a project of this scale. But if you insist on doing it yourself, here are 6 things to know before siding your house.
- Expect the Unexpected. Like most home projects, residing your home has the potential to open up a can of worms. Depending on the age of your existing siding, the potential exists for rotting or water damaged materials underneath. Siding is also tricky to install without professional know-how. Vinyl siding in particular is easy to damage during cutting/snipping and installation. Always be prepared with slightly more materials on hand than you estimate for the project… just in case!
- Find the product that makes sense for your environment. Different siding styles and materials work better in certain climates. Here in Western New York, James Hardie fiber cement siding is our product of choice. Fiber cement is more durable to withstand extreme weather and requires less maintenance than materials such as wood. It is also resistant to cracking, warping, sagging, and melting due to the elements.
- Choose your siding color wisely! Although vinyl siding is a more popular choice thanks to its cost effectiveness, it is also a more permanent decision. Unlike fiber cement siding or wood siding, experts do not recommend painting over vinyl. If you do choose to paint over an existing vinyl siding color, be sure to choose a lighter shade, as painting vinyl a darker tone can lead to more damage from sun rays. This has the potential to leave a “rippled” effect on your home.
- Check the warranty. As with any large purchase, be aware of warranty information for the siding you choose. Certain manufacturers may require professional installation or registration of the product in order to keep the warranty intact.
- Get to the bottom of it. You’ll never know what lies beneath your siding until you begin tearing it down. However, you should be aware that you will likely have additional costs and time spent for removing excess layers of old siding and damaged materials that might be lurking under the surface of what you see. This is especially true for older homes, as many people take the easy route – adding new siding on top of existing in order to save time and money. This is never a good idea, as it creates gaps between the layers and can cause water damage and insulation issues that add up quickly.
- Complete first things first. If you are planning on re-siding your home, you should also be aware that first things should always come first. Siding projects typically also include replacing or repairing gutters, window wraps, and – on occasion – roofing materials. Make room in your budget for these components and brace yourself if the need to tackle additional projects becomes obvious.
If this information is overwhelming, you can rest assured that the professionals at Kaz have the expertise to complete every home improvement project with ease! We are always happy to assist with project estimates and complete siding services from A-Z.
Uncover your home’s curbside potential and contact us today to let our experienced installers do the work for you!
