Decaying siding plagues many Portland homeowners. With the damp weather and climate of the Portland area, siding problems tend to occur. Even with proper care and maintenance, siding is one of those items that will not last forever, but a full replacement is a major project when it comes to both time and money. So, when is the right time to invest in replacing your siding?
What Warrants a Full Siding Replacement?
When you notice damage to your exterior siding, your initial reaction may be to attempt to repair the problem. But is repairing your siding what you really need? Repairing your siding may seem like the simple, cheap solution to the problem, but repairing siding can often be a patchwork job that won’t last. If you are questioning if it’s time for a full siding replacement, consider the following circumstances.
High Amounts of Dry Rot Are Present
Dry rot is a fungus that causes wood damage and decay, and too much dry rot can make your siding irreparable. Dry rot causes the siding to weaken and decay. And once damage occurs, it spreads easily.
When your siding exhibits large amounts of dry rot, it is best to invest in replacement siding to exterminate the problem altogether. This keeps the rot from spreading and gives your home a strong source of protection once again.
The Siding is Cracked, Warping, or Loose
With this siding dilemma, it is important to contemplate the idea of repair vs. replacement. If one board of siding is all that’s loose, it’s simple enough to repair the damage and have your siding looking good again. Same goes for a small crack or one small area of warping. Replacing only those boards is a simple, easy, and cost friendly fix. But if the problem extends beyond this, to simply repair rather than replace your siding can cost you greatly in the long run.
What a replacement job really comes down to is size. The larger the area being affected, the harder a repair is and the less likely that repair job will hold up. Having a large area or multiple areas affected by cracking or warping can be signs of a larger underlying issue or can mean that your siding is no longer able to perform its function of protecting your home. In which case, new siding is needed.
Pests Have Caused Damage
Bugs, rodents, and birds can all take a toll on your siding. Bugs—such as termites, bees, and ants—can all burrow their ways into your siding, hollowing out the siding and weakening its structural integrity. Birds, such as woodpeckers, break holes and create cracks in your siding. And rodents can fit through gaps and holes to wreak havoc in your interior.
If you find significate pest damage or evidence of pests, such as weak siding or holes, it’s time to replace your siding. Without proper attention, pests can spread to other areas of the home. It’s best to stop this damage from occurring with new siding.
You Experience High Energy Bills
Siding plays a large roll in home insulation. Cracks, holes, and damage to siding can cause energy bills to increase due to loss of heat, which can mean that high energy bills may be proof of your need for a siding replacement.
While roofing and insulation play the largest factors in home energy loss, siding can also have a significant effect on this. If you are able to rule out roofing issues and insulation failure or replacing these items does not fully resolve the issue, new siding can help save you money when it comes to energy efficiency.
You Desire Less Maintenance
Maintaining your siding can be a laborious process. To keep your siding looking its best, it needs to continually be cleaned as well as repainted and resealed roughly every five years. That’s a lot of upkeep!
If you are tired of high-maintenance siding, maybe it’s time to consider a low-maintenance siding replacement. Swapping out your current siding for durable, low-maintenance siding, like James Hardie fiber cement, will help alleviate the problem. James Haride siding is easy to clean and extremely durable. It stands up to elements like dry rot, cracking, and warping. It is even flame resistant and pest resistant while maintaining lasting beauty.
Think of all the time you could save by simply swapping out your siding for a simpler and beautiful solution.
You Crave a New Home Style or Color
Sometimes, a replacement isn’t warranted by a home’s condition as much as it is your sense of style. If your home’s exterior doesn’t match your taste, it’s okay to invest in new siding. Giving your home a significant style upgrade not only makes coming home more inviting, but it also increases the value of your home.
Replacement siding gives your home major resale value in the event that you decide to sell. James Hardie fiber cement is the number one siding in America, making it a great option. It yields approximately 87% return on investment.
James Hardie utilizes Colorplus technology which means the new style and color you’ve selected will last longer than other siding option.
Time for the Perfect Replacement
If you fall into one or more of the above categories, it’s time to invest in replacement siding, and our Lifetime Exteriors team can help. We have made protecting your exterior investment for a lifetime our goal.
We know the importance of quality siding and how a proper installation can extend the life of your siding, so schedule a free consultation with us today by calling 503-719-6644. Together we can get your exterior looking and performing its best again.