Has Your House Siding Seen Better Days? How to Tell When It’s Time for Replacement

Whether you’ve been in your home for 30 years or you just bought it and are wondering whether or not it might be time to replace your house’s siding, here are some indicators that it might indeed be time to get it looked at.

With no further ado, here are 4 things that might cue you into the fact that it’s time to replace the siding.

1. When it’s very old

Just how long a house’s siding will last will depend on several factors. First, of course, is what the siding is made of and how it’s been installed. Second, the conditions in your area, in terms of the climate, will also impact the longevity of your siding. And then, of course, how much direct sunlight the siding gets can also impact longevity, especially if it is a synthetic siding.

First, let’s take a closer look at the material. The most common house siding materials are synthetics such as vinyl, as well as stucco and stone veneer, along with metals like aluminum and wooden shingles. Engineered wood may be used as siding.

Vinyl siding is among the most common, and if it is a high quality siding and installed properly, it will typically last between 20 and 40 years, though it can last longer with proper care.

Wood shingles, like cedar, are infamous for their rot resistance, and though they will fade in direct sunlight, will also typically last several decades. In some cases wood siding can last 50 or 60 years or even longer.

Aluminum siding, which needs very little maintenance when compared to vinyl and wooden shingles, is among the most durable types of siding on the market. It can last 30 to 50 years, if not longer.

Real stone can last indefinitely, and stucco, though not being made of solid stone, can last 50 years or more, as long as it is kept clean and not damaged.

As you can see, age is a primary factor in the replacement of house siding; if it’s starting to show wear, then after 20 years or so, it might be time to consider a replacement.

Which brings up damage, which is the second thing you should be looking at in addition to the age of the siding.

2. When it’s badly damaged

Age aside, if your siding is badly damaged, then that’s a key indicator that it’s time to replace it. Either take a walk around the exterior of your home or work with a professional experienced in this area to assess the quality of your siding.

If you see excessive sagging, warping or cracking, not only near the roof and foundation but anywhere on the home, then that is a key indicator that you should start getting quotes for house siding replacement.

Fading and peeling paint is another issue, commonly associated with aluminum and wood siding. It does not necessarily indicate that the siding needs to be replaced, but because paint protects the siding underneath and secures your home’s curb appeal, the issue should be addressed.

Rotting is another issue, albeit one that only affects wooden siding. If you see any rotten shingles, they should be replaced as soon as possible, not just because they look ugly, but because a rotten area can spread through the wood. Moreover, any shingles that are compromised or chronically wet can allow moisture intrusion which can result in more damage to your home.

3. When yearly maintenance costs are starting to get burdensome

While some damaged siding or shingles can be replaced partially or individually, or portions of your siding can be replaced rather than redoing it all in one go, if you have to do this once per year, or worse, more than once per year, it will quickly become more economical simply to replace all of your home’s siding at once.`

When you have a moment, do a quick analysis of how much you spend yearly replacing areas of damaged siding versus what it would cost just to have it all redone at once. When you reach the breakeven point, stop making spot repairs and replace all the siding.

4. When it’s severely faded or discolored

Lastly, we have to call some attention to the value of curb appeal. Like it or not, what your home looks like does impact its market value, and with home prices hovering at historic highs in most areas of the country, letting faded or discolored siding impact your home’s bottom line is not a sound investment decision.

Therefore, while you might not be looking at a project to replace your house siding because it is damaged, doing so to increase its aesthetic will improve its curb appeal and therefore its price. For a small investment in the cosmetic of your home’s exterior you can potentially return several times the value, especially if you are planning on listing your home in the near future.