RISMEDIA, July 30, 2010—Power washing, sanding and scraping, painting—keeping a home’s exterior in good condition can take a lot of time, effort and money. And it often leads homeowners to wonder if there are ways to improve their home without all the work. If this sounds like you, low-maintenance siding may be the answer you’re looking for.
In fact, a recent American Institute of Architects report showed that 75% of the residential architects surveyed are seeing growing interest in low-maintenance exterior materials such as fiber-cement board and stone.
Re-siding can be a very good investment. According to the 2009-2010 Cost vs. Value Report conducted by Remodeling magazine, replacing home siding has one of the highest returns-on-investment among home improvement projects. Re-siding with fiber cement, for example, gives 23% more return-on-investment than a garage addition and 15% more than adding a second story.
How do you know if it’s time to re-side your home?
Paul Gentzel, National Repair & Remodel Business Manager of James Hardie Building Products, says homeowners should ask themselves these questions:
What’s the siding’s condition?
Is there evidence of deterioration, such as sagging, cracking, buckling, blistering or discoloration? As vinyl siding ages, pieces may become loose or fall off. “Keep in mind that individual vinyl siding pieces are difficult to replace and cannot be color-matched,” says Gentzel.
How are the trim and soffit areas holding up?
These are often in high-exposure areas and are vulnerable to wear and weathering, so wood and vinyl in particular may need to be replaced entirely over a house’s lifespan.
What’s the maintenance schedule?
Siding materials have different life spans and maintenance requirements. “As siding wears out,” says Gentzel, “the effort and cost of maintaining tired siding can add up to be more expensive than installing new siding.”
How’s the curb appeal?
If your home looks faded or is starting to look run-down, re-siding can be the quickest and most cost-effective solution to update and beautify it. “In making a siding decision,” says Gentzel, “it’s important to weigh the look you like against its cost and upkeep. For example, homeowners may opt for vinyl siding over fiber cement because of initial sticker price, but not take into account that, unlike vinyl, fiber cement is resistant to minor impact and will retain its look for a very long time.”
The Re-Siding Process
Step One: Covering up the old problem is rarely recommended. The way to do the job right is to remove the old siding entirely. This allows the new siding to be installed as if it were your original exterior.
Step Two: Before the new exterior is applied, the existing structure should be inspected for moisture damage, mold, termites or rot. Covering your old siding with vinyl siding can potentially prevent serious structural problems from being discovered.
Step Three: A weather resistant barrier should be applied to create an extra layer of moisture and wind protection. Most building codes today require it, in fact.
Step Four: Your new siding should be installed according to the manufacturer’s guidelines.
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