A common concern among homeowners in New Jersey and Pennsylvania is the question “When should I replace my siding?”. Siding is integral to the long-term well-being of a house, but it’s also a significant investment and one that you don’t want to spend on prematurely. Taking that into consideration, let’s explore the information that we’ll give a potential client when they pose this question to us in person.
Siding Replacement Factors
– Age Is the Number One Factor
Every siding material on the market has an expected product lifespan, so the most basic answer to the question of “When should I replace my siding?”, is when you near that point in time. In other words, if you currently have vinyl siding that’s expected to last 40 years and hasn’t given you any problems, go ahead and replace it in that 40th year. The most common mistake homeowners make is trying to squeeze more life out of their siding. At that point, you’re essentially waiting for the siding to fail, and when it does fail and water damage happens, your costs are going to skyrocket.
– Watch Your Energy Costs
We also encourage our customers to monitor their energy expenditures on a month-to-month and year-to-year basis. If those costs start to rise, it may be necessary to have a home energy audit performed. When energy costs do spike, many homeowners will consider their HVAC system, windows, doors, and so forth without considering their siding, which is often the culprit.
– Loose or Damaged Panels
Avoid the mistake of not fixing a loose or damaged siding panel because it’s “just one.” A bad board can undermine the entire building envelope, which will make your home more expensive to heat and cool. It also opens the door for moisture and pest intrusion, which can result in substantial damage.
– Rotted and Warped Siding
Any siding that is warped or rotted at the very least needs to be replaced as soon as possible. Rotting and warping usually indicate moisture penetration. That may mean that all of the siding needs to be replaced and can indicate that there is more serious structural damage lurking beneath.
– Mold or Fungal growth
Some algae on your siding is to be expected depending on where your home is located and can be cleaned away by power washing the siding. Mold or fungal growth, however, generally means that moisture has penetrated the siding, and the issue needs to be dealt with as soon as possible.
– Peeling or Fading
Some siding, such as vinyl siding, doesn’t ever fade or peel. Other popular siding options, such as fiber cement, do. Fading or peeling can just indicate that you’ve waited too long to repaint. However, it can also indicate a moisture problem, and this is particularly true if the peeling or fading is happening within 10 years of the home being repainted.
– Siding Inspection
If you’re thinking about “when should I replace my siding?”, then you should schedule a siding inspection with the pros at Green Eco Solutions and get a professional assessment. We also recommend having your siding inspected every three years or so and any necessary maintenance performed then. Our experts can perform a reliable siding replacement to enhance your home at an affordable price.
Your Local Siding Experts in Lehigh Valley
If you have any additional questions about “when should I replace my siding?”, the team at Green Eco Solutions encourages you to call us at 1-610-973-2500. You can also schedule a free quote throughout our website if you own a home in Lehigh Valley or the surrounding areas and are considering having your siding replaced.