A house siding is a material that covers its exterior surface. Residential sidings are typically made of vinyl, wood, or metal. Siding does much more for the house than just the aesthetics.
What is siding, and what is it suitable for?
Protection against elements
Siding, forming a shield around the house’s exterior walls, protects it against elements. Siding is effective, especially if you live in extreme climates exposed to heavy moisture, cold, or heat. In such cases, the right siding with suitable material goes a long way in protecting your house and lowering the repair costs.
Energy efficiency
Siding acts as a blanket around your house. It keeps the heat inside. If you have all the sealings and caulking down, proper siding helps keep those energy bills under control.
Property value
Friendly siding is also a good investment. It pays for itself over time by lowering the energy costs, and not all that you pay for a siding job is spent money. Proper siding increases the property value should you decide to sell your house.
Aesthetics
On top of all that siding provides, let’s not forget that it will turn the entire outlook of your house metallic, wooden, or brick.
Should I replace my siding?
It’s ok if your siding is looking kind of old. Being on the house’s exterior, sidings are exposed to all the elements and go through much wear and tear. However, there are a few tell-tale signs that you need to think about replacing your siding. This article will share the main symptoms indicating that your siding’s life is nearing end. We’ll also let you know
5 Important signs It’s Time for New Siding
1) Cracks and splits
Minor fractures on the siding should be fine. But, if you can easily spot large cracks and gaps or blisters on your siding, especially if it has been more than 10 to 20 years since installation, it’s time for new siding.
2) Rot and mold
If the siding is not maintained or simply past its lifespan, you can expect to see mold and mildew forming on your interior walls. When the siding loses its coding, it will let moisture through. The rotten, damp, and dark insides are the perfect ground for mold growth.
3) Loose or warped siding
If your siding is warped, sagging, or the parts are starting to pull away, it’s time to replace it. In this case, the siding lets the moisture through and into your interior walls. This will, later on, cause water and mold damage.
4) Reduced insulation
If you notice that your house feels colder than you remember, it might be because of a gap or generally worn outs siding. Over time, sidings either get deformed or lose their coding (or both). This makes it easier for the temperature to escape out through the siding.
5) It has been a while
If you don’t know or remember when your siding was installed and can’t find someone who does, it might have lived its entire life. Sidings last between two to six decades, depending on their material, maintenance, and climate. If, by any chance, it has been longer since your siding was installed, it is probably not offering much to the house.
What type of siding should I choose?
A few options are available depending on your budget, location’s climate, style, and how much maintenance you’re willing to go through. Before making a final decision, it’s good to walk in your neighborhood and look at different houses with different sidings. This will let you get a first-hand view of what your choice will end up looking like.
Wood Siding
Wood is the most traditional material used in residential construction. Siding made out of wood looks natural and comes in the form of planks and shingles. Wooden siding is rather expensive. On top of that, it requires more maintenance than any other type of siding. It is also the least durable since it is the most vulnerable to the elements, rot, mold, insects, and deformation. Applying a solid finish to wooden siding can help maintain it for longer.
Aluminum
Metal, especially Aluminum, is the more affordable and lower maintenance siding option after wood. Aluminum is durable as it lasts against elements. The finish is also readily applied, making it easier and less laborious to install and maintain. Additionally, modern metal siding has more robust coding to make it last even longer before they need replacing. If you are not obsessed with having the classic and authentic appearance of wood, metal siding is the way to go.
Vinyl
Vinyl makes the cheapest, most durable, and lowest maintenance material for siding. It comes with many available designs and textures, and it is easily installed. Vinyl can also be installed over wooden siding.
Cement fiber
Cement falls into the premium category for siding material. It is arguably the most durable siding. Concrete for siding is relatively expensive and requires an even costlier installation.
Brick
Brick is a solid material to use as siding. It is also one of the best barriers to temperature and does an excellent job of insulating the walls. Bricks give the house that classic and authentic look. That said, to make siding out of brick costs much more than any other choice of material.
What to do to increase the lifespan of your siding
When the time comes, the replacement of your siding is inevitable. You can do a few things to prolong that life expectancy. Here is how to make your siding last longer.
1) Do a checkup
Inspect your siding for any of the signs mentioned above. We suggest doing the inspections twice a year and once before the winter so you’ll be prepared for the cold.
2) Clean your siding
Apart from looking nicer, cleaning your siding can even keep its color from fading. Cleaning your siding is especially required for wood siding since it is most affected by mold and mildew.
3) Make sure your gutters are working correctly
If your gutters are damaged or cracked, they will likely spill rainwater onto your walls. Water on your siding -Especially wood siding- can, over time, cause premature damages.
4) Paint your siding
Depending on their material, Sidings should be painted every three to seven years, with wood siding falling closer. If you live in a location where the elements are more forgiving, the intervals between each painting can be twice or three times as long.
Siding is a functional and essential piece of construction for many buildings and houses. It unifies the appearance and keeps the structure out of the elements’ harm. That said, too old or damaged siding can do more harm than good. We hope that now you have a better idea of when to start thinking about siding replacement. If you are still unsure or have more questions, please reach out to a professional.
