A home exterior in the lower mainland constantly faces serious challenges. Windy days, gale force winds, rainstorms, temperature fluctuations, sea air, and environmental toxins, siding can really be put through its paces. Choosing the right siding for our Pacific Northwest climate is critical in protecting your home from the elements, preventing cool air from escaping in the summer, and keeping out cold air in the winter.
Reasons to Buy New Siding
Of all of the exterior finishing elements, siding is both functional and aesthetic. The right siding material – cedar shakes, composite wood siding, or fiber cement – add character and personality to your home exterior, while boosting curb appeal. Reasons homeowners buy new siding include:
- Building a new home
- Consciously choosing environmentally-friendly siding materials
- Consistently rising energy bills
- Home exterior has become outdated
- Planning to sell in the near future – increase your home’s value
- Current siding requires too much time and money to maintain – you want to lower maintenance costs
Reasons to Replace Siding
Siding protects your home from the elements, but only if it’s in good shape. Reasons to replace siding are:
- Siding materials have reached the manufacturer’s recommended lifespan
- Cracks and gaps appear in siding panels
- Pest infestations
- Visible wood rot
- Extensive mould/moss/algae growth
- Warped siding panels
- Constantly making the same type of repairs in the same area
- Widespread damage
Selecting Siding for Your Home
When purchasing cladding, there are several things to consider when selecting replacement siding or new siding for your home. Factors that will help you determine the best siding materials for your home’ exterior are:
- Cost – the type of siding material, installation, and labour
- Eco-friendly siding materials and products
- Location – climate, annual rainfall, microclimate (house is near a highway; have lots of trees on your property)
- Your home’s architectural style – vinyl siding might be more appealing on a contemporary house that a traditional one
- Maintenance costs and time spent – some siding materials require more upkeep than others
- Colour – match or contrast the siding to current exterior finishing elements (roof, doors, trim)
Time of Year
Is there a specific time of year that’s best for a siding installation? Factors that can influence when you have the siding installed include:
- Regional weather and fluctuation temperatures
- Siding materials – for example, cedar siding should be installed in spring when temperatures are mild and it’s not raining, while aluminum siding, not affected by the cold, can be easily installed in winter
- Winter months when contractors are not as busy as they would be in the spring or fall
- Before the end of fall because it needs replacing and you want to avoid a siding emergency
