When it is Time to Repair or Replace Siding?

Siding protects your home's structure from moisture, helps to retain conditioned air, and improves the aesthetic of your home's outside. Siding is one of the most durable exterior treatments available. While siding is long-lasting, there comes a time when your siding will need to be repaired or replaced. Here are a few red flags to keep a lookout for.

Dry Rot

Dry rot is a type of rot caused by fungi eating away at your wood siding. Fungi thrive in dark, damp settings, so they normally begin their destructive work near the bottom of your siding, where you are least likely to see them. The fungus reduces the siding's integrity over time, leaving your home more prone to water, wind, termites, and other sorts of damage.

How to Identify Dry Rot in Siding

Tap on the siding a few times. If it sounds a bit hollow, you may have dry rot. If the siding feels rubbery or gives way when pressed, it's a sign of dry rot. Keep in mind that your siding might have dry rot on the interior but look okay on the surface, therefore a tactile inspection is recommended on a regular basis. You may just need to repair a few areas of siding rather than having your entire house redone if you catch dry rot early enough.

Costs of Heating and Cooling are Excessive

If you're spending a lot of money on heating and cooling, it's possible that your siding needs to be changed. Siding is one of several components that contribute to a property's insulation quality. If you live in an older home and your siding has never been updated, it is likely that it isn't performing as well as it might. The Hardie siding brand, in particular, has evolved tremendously in terms of siding materials and insulating qualities.

How Do You Know If Your Siding Is Too Old?

If your energy bills are spiraling out of control, the first thing you should do is have a siding installation company inspect your siding. To the untrained eye, your older siding may appear to be in good condition. An experienced siding company, on the other hand, may be able to provide siding replacement estimates that will save you money on energy expenditures for decades.

You're Repainting a Lot More Than You Used To

Siding in good condition does not need to be painted every two years. Newer, higher-quality materials, such as Hardie siding, have UV protection built in. The UV protection helps to keep the siding from drying up and fading too quickly as a result of the sun's harmful rays. It's a good idea to spend that money toward siding replacement instead of repainting if you see that you need to repaint more regularly.

Siding is much more than a cosmetic outside covering for your home, as you can see. It has a huge influence on your home's overall condition. Please contact us right away if you have any questions or would like to schedule a free siding inspection.