7 Ways to Know It’s Time to Replace Your Siding

Here at CCL, we recently partnered with James Hardie, one of the leading producers of high-performance fiber cement and fiber gypsum building solutions. They offer siding in nearly every different variety you can think of so you don’t have to sacrifice the look and feel you want for your home. James Hardie also offers a variety of other products that you’ll need for your home improvement projects such as trim boards, soffit panels, an innovative weather barrier and flex flashing, and even tile backer boards.

With this new partnership, we put together a list of signs to look out for to indicate whether or not it’s time to replace your siding. As a homeowner, it’s important to keep an eye on the condition of your home’s exterior. The roof, siding, foundation, and even landscaping around your home—it’s all important to not only your curb appeal but to the protection of your home as well. The siding on your home plays a crucial role in protecting it from the elements and keeping it looking great. But how do you know when it’s time to replace the siding on your home?

First, it’s important to know what type of siding covers your home. It could be wood, vinyl, aluminum, or fiber cement siding—all having different life expectancies. It is also important to note that how well you maintain your siding, can greatly impact the life expectancy. If you enjoy being outside, rather than being outside maintaining your siding, a James Hardie product may be right for you.

Let’s get into 7 ways to know it might be time to consider replacing your siding.

1. Cracking or Warping

Over time, exposure to the elements can cause siding to crack or warp. This can lead to gaps, which can allow moisture to seep in and cause damage to your home’s structure. As we’re fully into Spring and about to enter Summer, we have to think about increased rain and the incoming hurricane season in the Northeast. It’s better to take action to update your home and protect against weather events before they happen than to wait until you have increased damage to your home.

2. Fading or Discoloration

Living in the Northeast, we typically experience about 100 days of full sun out of the year. Even with that relatively low statistic, sun exposure throughout the years on your home is harsh. It will cause the siding to fade, discolor, and dry out—eventually making it less protective and attractive. If you see fading or discoloration around your home, it’s impacting the home’s market value and curb appeal.

3. Rot or Decay

If you have wood siding, it’s susceptible to rot and decay over time. Exposure to moisture, insects, sunlight and heat, and chemicals can cause rot or decay. Other reasons can be poor installation of the siding, physical damage over time, lack of maintenance, or poor ventilation. If you notice any of these signs, it’s vital that you replace the siding as soon as possible to prevent any further damage to your home. Without replacement or proper maintenance of your siding, rot or decay will continue and seep further into the frame of your home, resulting in a costly repair.

4. High Maintenance

Some types of siding require a lot of maintenance to keep them looking their best. If you’re looking to spend less time and money on painting, sealing, or cleaning your siding, it’s time to look for an easier option. However, the Northeast has many historic districts, which actually could have rules and regulations over what types of material you can use on the outside of your home. Before you consider a lower-maintenance siding like vinyl or fiber cement, check to make sure you don’t have a restriction forcing you to use wood siding.

5. Energy Efficiency

Most older siding installation methods are not as energy efficient as today’s innovative products. If you’re looking to make less of an impact on the environment or reduce your heating and cooling costs, consider replacing your siding with a high-performance material like fiber cement. James Hardie offers a nearly unlimited range of options, allowing you to get just the right look and feel you are after.

6. Pest Infestation

Every year, around 600,000 U.S. homes are damaged by termites and American residents spend around $5 billion annually to control termites and repair termite damage. Termites tend to be the pests that cause the most damage, but carpenter ants, stinging insects, rodents, and beetles are all threats to your home. These pests are typically attracted to wood siding, so if you have that today, you may consider switching to a non-wood material to avoid this concern altogether.

7. Home Resale Value

If you’re planning on selling your home in the near future, replacing your siding can be a smart investment. According to Remodeling Magazine’s Cost vs. Value Report, homeowners who replace their siding with fiber cement specifically can expect to recoup up to 88% of the cost of the project in increased home resale value.

 

If you’re noticing any of these seven signs to replace your siding, check out the cement fiber options that James Hardie offers. But what’s best? All of their products are engineered specifically to protect your home—against the general climate, extreme weather, and fire.

Check out their products here, and come on over to our HomeScapes showroom to see samples in person so you can start to imagine a brand new look and feel to your home.