Home Repair: How to Maximize the Lifespan of Your Siding Replacement

Siding replacement is likely one of the largest purchases you’ll ever have to make as a homeowner. The price range between projects can be in the tens of thousands of dollars, so you only want to replace it once in your lifetime.

It should be a one-time purchase per home, which means you’ll want to get the most out of your siding, whether its new or not-so-new.  So, whether you’ve just bought a new home or your home’s siding has been there for a while, there are things that you, as the homeowner, should do to maximize your siding’s longevity.

At Pacific Exteriors LLC, we know the tips and tricks of the trade to maximize your siding lifespan. From figuring out how to hire a good contractor at the very start, to clean up and things to look out for, we want to help your siding last as long as it can.

So let’s get into how to maximize the lifespan of your siding replacement.

To Start off Right: Hire a Trusted Contractor for Siding Renovations

It seems obvious, but hiring a trusted contractor isn’t great just for you, but also for your home. With a trusted, reputable contractor, homeowners are more likely to receive different warranties as guarantees that they can count on.

For example, at Pacific Exteriors LLC, we’re able to offer premium warranties for both siding and roofing. We’re a James Hardie Elite Preferred and an Owens Corning Platinum Preferred contractor, which means all our estimators are able to offer an excellent, top-of-the-line warranty to our customers. That extra security and recognition sets us apart from other contractors and saves our customers money.

Caption: Siding problems can escalate fast!

That extra security that siding and roofing manufacturers gives contractors ensure that your siding will be installed correctly, with all the protective bells and whistles to make your project last. Hiring someone who’ll take care of your home is the #1 thing you can do for the durability and warranty.

If you’re looking for experiences other customers have had in the past, Angi and Thumbtack are great resources when looking for contractors to work with. Another article we wrote, “What Are Potential Hidden Costs Within Home Improvement Contracts?” is also an excellent source to compare bids and different contractors in your area.

To Maintain Your Siding: Follow These 4 Steps

It can seem daunting, but don’t stress—here are some tips to keep your siding looking great for years to come.

Clean Your Siding

Outside of strategic choices you can make at the beginning of your project and what you can do to prevent damage to your siding, here are some tips when it comes to cleaning your siding.

It depends on what material is making your home less-than-sparkly-clean, but generally a hose with water will do most of the job in getting the gunk off your siding. Never use a pressure-washer—this could damage the finish or paint on your home and cause flaking in the short term, and water damage in the long term.

If there is a more stubborn mark that’s harder to get off (for example, it’s a grease mark or a patch of mold), use a cloth or sponge, and if it’s really stubborn, mix dish soap into the water.

Understanding when and how to use these different strategies when it comes to cleaning your siding will increase its lifetime.

As always, make sure you use proper solutions based on the siding you have on your home. For more cleaning tips, check out this article by James Hardie on how to clean their ColorPlank® siding.

Trim Your Landscaping

Not only does trimming your landscaping protect and encourage your plants to grow, it also helps your siding last longer. Without plant debris frequently near, or worse—growing on your siding—it’s much easier to spot any potential problems earlier on and repair them sooner.

Nearby foliage can also rub against your siding and cause damage from branches, invite pests, or trap moisture and cause mold growth.

Clean Your Gutters

Gutters function to lead water away from your home, keeping everything dry. If your gutters aren’t cleaned properly and regularly, debris can build up. Instead of water funneling down, away from your home, the flow can get clogged and the water comes out of the gutters into your home.

This can cause mold, mildew, and general irreversible water damage. So take a quick 30 to 45 minutes every 6 months to clean and clear your gutters!

Here’s a helpful video from Lowe’s explaining best ways to clean you gutters. Generally, removing debris with your hands is the best way to go about it.

Repaint Your Siding if Needed

A good coat of paint can increase the lifetime of your siding anywhere from 10-15 years. Paint serves as a barrier to protect the siding—whether it’s vinyl, fiber cement, or cedar, to name a few—from the elements.

If you decide to go the painting route, double check to ensure that you’re purchasing a paint compatible and complimentary to your type of siding.

Knowing Where You Stand: When to Schedule a Siding Check Up

Another key step to keeping your siding fresh is checking up on it regularly. You should do a quick scan every year or so to ensure that nothing has damaged or will damage your siding.

Look Out for Potential Obstructions to Your Siding

During your checkups, taking initiative to stormproof parts of your home to protect your exterior can be helpful in increasing longevity.

For example, if you have a basketball hoop close to your home’s exterior, then put it away or make sure it’s secured during windstorms. While we can’t protect you from tornadoes, we can warn you about what could fall on your house during a tornado.

Make Sure Your Siding is Functioning Properly

Catching damage early on means that you can repair siding problems before they escalate into full-blown structural issues. Replacing two or three siding panels is much easier than scheduling a whole wall reside, after all.

While repair could mean different things for different homes, generally if you see any siding panels cracking, warping, or worse, falling off, you should have it checked by a professional as soon as possible.

Caption: Cracked fiber cement siding.

Caption: warped vinyl siding

If the problem is located to a few or specific panels and caught early, you may be able to repair the small area and avoid a full replacement.

External damage that isn’t addressed escalates into large-scale water damage behind your siding, and in that case it requires a full residing replacement or structural construction, which is incredibly expensive.

Long-term exposure to mold and mildew also can cause respiratory and chronic health conditions, which could affect your future quality of life.

Protect Your Biggest Investment For Years to Come

The main goal of siding is to protect your biggest investment: your home. With this multitude of tips and tricks, you’re well-equipped to understand how to maintain your home’s exterior.

If you want to learn more about how the types of siding you choose may affect your maintenance lifecycle as a homeowner, check out this article on comparing the different types of siding materials.