Replacing siding is a big investment and can interrupt a household’s routine. If your siding is more than 15 years old but still is in okay shape except for some peeling patches and a few loose siding panels, it might be easy to convince yourself that it can hold on for a few more years. When siding begins to fail, whether its cedar siding, aluminum siding or vinyl siding, you don’t want to replace it before its time. The main reason why timely siding replacement is important is to reduce the risk of structural damage to your home.
Common Telltale Signs
Siding keeps your home protected from the elements. It also gives your home’s exterior a unified appearance and adds curb appeal. While keeping out inclement weather is the main purpose of siding, it also helps regulate the temperature inside your home – warm in winter and cool in summer. Damaged panels allow water to infiltrate siding panels or in behind them, compromising their ability to protect your home. Common telltale signs siding needs to be replaced in the near future include:
- Warping – occurs when vinyl siding comes into contact with too much sun or heat and siding panels melt or warp out of shape, pulling away from the home’s exterior
- Pitting, blistering, peeling – the paint, stain or sealant on wood siding shows signs of environmental damage
- The appearance of water damage (stains, mold) on either interior or exterior walls or both
- Siding panels have “soft” spots – often an indication of wood rot, typically to boards behind the siding panels
Reasons for Prompt Siding Replacement
Prevent further deterioration: When siding replacement is delayed, the damage already incurred will only become worse. Once siding panels have been compromised, water can do further damage by causing rot and encouraging mold growth. Water that gets in between the siding and the framework of the house might seep into interior walls, peeling the paint or staining the wallpaper.
Maintain your home’s energy efficiency: Siding is an important part of a home’s envelope. Water damage attributed to failing siding can adversely impact windows and entry doors. In order for a home to be energy efficient, the thermal envelope needs to keep air from escaping or entering. When there are gaps in the siding, your HVAC system has to work harder to keep the interior of your home cool or warm.
Save money: If the damage to siding is undetected and ongoing for some time, structural damage or resulting foundation issues are expensive problems to fix. Replacing the siding now could prevent moisture issues from further impacting the structural integrity of your home.
Need repairing, not replacing: If you take action now, the siding might need to be repaired rather than replaced. During the free estimate process for a siding installation, the contractor, after assessing the extent of the damage, might recommend repairing the affected area instead of a total replacement.
Improve your curb appeal: Dents, discoloration, and missing siding panels detract from your home’s curb appeal, making your property look uncared for. Replacing damaged siding as soon as possible keeps your home looking good.
