New siding can completely transform your home’s appearance, but siding plays a role that is much more important. Like your roof, your siding serves to shelter you and your furnishings from the elements and protect the structural components of your home from rot, mold and mildew. Your siding also helps keep insects, rodents and other unwelcome pests from invading your home. Since no siding will last forever, it is important to replace it when it is necessary. However, it can be difficult to determine if the time is right for replacement. If you are wavering between replacement and repair, the following tips can help you with your decision.
New Siding & Your House – What Is the Condition of the Siding?
Take a fresh look at the siding on all walls of your home. Do you see any areas that show signs of rot, warping, buckling or cracking? Is there any missing siding? Can the siding be pulled away with very little effort? Are there places where the siding has separated from the underneath structure? If you find any of these conditions, your underlying structure is at risk. If the area affected is relatively small, you might be able to have a skilled contractor replace just the damaged siding. However, if the damage is extensive, it will probably be more cost-effective to replace all of your siding.
New Siding & Your House – Can You Continue to Maintain Your Siding?
Some siding requires considerable maintenance to keep it looking its best and ensure that it continues to do its job. For example, wood siding requires periodic applications of stain, paint or sealant to keep it from deteriorating. If you no longer have the time or resources to maintain your siding, you might want to consider replacing it with a type that will require less maintenance.
New Siding & Your House – Are You Unable to Explain Rising Energy Bills?
After accounting for rate changes and alterations in energy usage, do you still find that your heating and cooling bills have been steadily increasing? Check to see if you can identify drafts around electrical sockets, switches, doors and windows. If so, your old siding may be allowing air to flow between your home’s interior and the outside. Your heating and cooling unit will need to work harder to maintain the temperature that you have selected, resulting in higher energy bills.
New Siding & Your House – Do You Suspect that Water Is Penetrating Beneath Your Siding?
If you have unexplained moist spots on the walls inside your home, mildew in odd locations or a musty smell that you cannot trace, you might have water leaking behind your siding. The longer you wait to have the problem corrected, the more expensive it will likely be to repair it. It is important to remember that it is possible for water penetration to occur even if you cannot find any signs of damage to your siding.
New Siding & Your House – Do You Like Your Siding?
Even if your siding is not deteriorated, there can be a compelling reason to replace it. If you find it unattractive, are tired of the style or just want to stretch your creativity, you would certainly be justified to replace your siding. In the final analysis, the pleasure that you will get when you view your home’s rejuvenated exterior can be reason enough to choose to replace your existing siding.
If You Are Ready to Replace Your Siding
If you believe that it is time to replace your siding, contact the experts at Alpha Roofing in Austin. We can help you evaluate the feasibility of repairs, advise on the many options available to you and deliver a quality installation at a competitive price. In addition to siding installation, we install metal roofing systems, asphalt shingles, skylights, and also repair roofs and chimneys. If you have more questions about New Siding & Your House or would like to request a free, no-obligation estimate, call (512) 777-1086 or fill out the online form.