Why You Might Need Siding Replacement

If your siding has seen better days, then you might need to replace it. However, not every siding issue calls for a replacement. Below are some telltale signs that might mean the time for a replacement has come.

Visible or Obvious Damage

Good siding will often give you more than a decade of service. Structural damage might begin after that, worsening over time. Repairs can prolong an aging siding's life. However, consider a replacement if:

• The siding has cracks all over
• Many siding panels have holes
• Siding panels don't lie flat (compared to adjacent panels) because they are warped
• Most panels are loose

These damages are more than cosmetic — they also interfere with the siding's structural integrity, among other problems.

Organic Growths

With time, some organic growth is almost inevitable on your siding. A little organic growth might not signify serious damage. However, extensive growth that has stayed for a long time might call for siding replacement. Common culprits include:

• Mildew
• Mold
• Fungi

Some materials are more susceptible to organic growth than others. For example, oil-based treatments used on wood siding attract organic materials, such as dirt and pollen. The organic materials, coupled with moisture, encourage organic growth.

Most siding treatments incorporate chemicals that limit organic growth. However, the chemicals' effectiveness wanes with time. Once that happens, organic growth can damage the siding. The organic growths can also indicate that your siding is experiencing more moisture intrusion than normal.

Weather Intrusion

Your siding is part of your home's envelope that helps to keep out various weather elements. For example, the siding helps to keep out wind, moisture, and rainfall. Thus, you should be concerned if weather elements pass through the siding. Moisture and wind are of particular concern since they indicate severe siding damage.

Reduced Insulation

Deteriorated or damaged parts of the siding can also reduce insulation efficiency. The compromised insulation will allow heat to escape your house during the cold season. The same issue will allow heat to penetrate into the house during the summer. Both things lead to high energy bills due to inefficient heating and cooling.

Many people look to the attic and roof whenever they suspected compromised insulation. However, you should also inspect the siding if you suspect unnecessarily high heating and cooling energy.

Rot

If you have wood siding, then you should also be concerned about rot. The sides facing away from the sun are likely to experience more rot than the other sides. The discrepancy arises since moisture accelerates rot, and shaded parts of the house are likely to have more moisture than the other parts. For the same reason, trees around the house might encourage siding rot.

Aesthetic Concerns

You can also replace your siding if you don't like how it looks. Maybe you don't like the siding because it is rotten, cracked, and full of holes. Maybe you have repaired the siding so many times that it looks nothing like the original installation.

Some siding materials are also more attractive than others. Aesthetics is subjective, but many people consider brick and wood attractive. You can remodel your house with attractive materials to improve curb appeal.

Frequent Repairs

Lastly, you should also consider siding replacement if you always fix the siding. Frequent damages, especially if the siding is aging, means that the material is nearing the end of its life. In such a case, a replacement may even be cost-effective in the end.

Take good care of your siding to prolong its life. However, even with good care, you will eventually have to replace the siding. Urban Exterior Co. can replace your siding at a reasonable rate. Contact us for an assessment to determine whether you need a replacement or can make do with a repair.