When Should You Replace Your Siding?
Your home’s siding acts as a protective barrier against Mother Nature for you and your family, but it can only do so much when it’s old, worn down, and weathered.
While answering the question, “When should I replace my siding?” largely depends on the type of siding you have, there are certain factors that apply across the board.
Here are the five major signs you need to replace your siding:
1. Damaged boards or panels. If you notice any physical damage to your siding – whether it's warping, rotting, or soft to the touch – it's time to replace it. You have to replace your siding if the damage is widespread, rather than a single board or panel, or if the siding have been left unattended for a long time.
2. Loose, cracking, fading, or peeling siding. All four of these signs show your siding’s aging and natural wear-and-tear, from exposure to harsh sunlight and inclement weather conditions to the ebbs and flows of frost and thaw cycles. And if you try to paint your siding but it doesn’t seem to hold, it’s time to replace it.
3. Water or moisture damage. Your siding provides your home with an exterior barrier from moisture, so any rotting, mold, or fungal growth you notice on your siding means water is getting past it. This damage may appear as warping, rusting, or swelling, too, depending on the siding material you have.
4. Interior wall damage. Any moisture damage or mold growth inside your walls could point toward a siding issue, no matter how your siding looks outside. Interior wall damage, including paint peeling or wallpaper bubbling, is often a sign of a very serious problem requiring immediate attention.
Damaged siding on a home in Richmond, Virginia. (Katelyn Lewis/Retex Roofing)
5. High energy bills. If you’ve buffed up your attic insulation sufficiently, replaced or repaired your roof, and/or replaced your windows recently and you’re still receiving high energy bills, your siding may be hurting your home’s energy efficiency. Unseen gaps or holes in siding will present themselves in the form of high electric bills every month.
When determining which siding you want for your home, keep in mind the maintenance required to preserve it, its environmental impact, and your climate zone. Wood siding is eco-friendly, for instance, but it requires more maintenance than other siding options on the market. Meanwhile, metal siding is gaining popularity with its easy installation process, extreme durability, and little-to-no maintenance, but it offers little insulation and is not soundproof.
Replacing your siding not only improves your home’s defense against Mother Nature, it also boosts the value of your home by creating a greater curb appeal and refreshing your home’s overall facade.
If you’re a homeowner in the Richmond, VA, area and you’re interested in replacing your siding, Retex is here to help. Our exterior consultants will give you a free estimate for new siding that will protect your home while making it look stellar.
Give our team a call at (804)-258-6300 or click the button below to tell us more about your siding needs.
