Need New Siding? Consider These Things Before Replacing It
by William Gerard
Over time, it is normal to see your home's siding take a beating due to constant exposure to storms, rain, wind, and the sun. There will come a time where the siding eventually needs to be replaced. Before you do that, there are many things to consider before you start purchasing all the materials. The siding that you end up purchasing will potentially last for another 10-20 years before it needs replacement once again, so you don't want to make any mistakes. Consider the following 2 things before you make a purchase.
The Health of Your Home
When siding is in need of replacement, the signs are usually obvious to the typical homeowner. You'll see that the material is warping, mold is forming on the outside, and that the material has an overall discoloration. You should also look to see if there are other problems that have been caused to your home's structure as well. Look around all the windows, and see if you can peel back the siding to look behind it. Has water been leaking behind it and forming mold? If so, this is a big problem.
If you have small cosmetic damage, it is usually nothing major to think about. Those bigger problems could lead to extensive repairs that need to be made first before the home is covered up with new siding.
The Costs of Installation
Many homeowners decide to install the new siding on their own as a way to save money, since a professional installation will cost extra. The decision to do the installation on your own depends on the kind of siding that you end up using and what your actual cost will be. Many contractors are able to receive discounts on the materials that they purchase because they buy in bulk. Those are cost savings that you won't be seeing if you handle the job on your own.
In addition, you must also consider how much it will cost you to remove the existing siding and dispose of the old materials. While the labor is free, you can't just bag up the material and put it on the side of the road on garbage day. You must also factor in the cost of renting a construction dumpster to haul the material away since there will be so much of it.
Of course, you could always have a professional handle the entire job for you, from material style selection to the installation.
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About Me
Do you know how to tell if you have problems with your flashing, loose shingles, or damaged tar pitch? Well, I didn't either until I experienced some of those issues on my own. One day, I realized that my roof was leaking and that I needed to find a solution fast. After contacting a professional roofing company, they were able to solve my troubles and teach me the signs of trouble. I want you to avoid the same types of hassles, which is why my blog is filled to the brim with information about roofing and home ownership. You never know, these tips could really come in handy!