Is Siding Replacement A Good Investment

If your home exterior shows signs of dullness and wear, this is the ideal time for a revitalizing update. Investing in new siding can be the perfect solution to enhancing your property’s curb appeal. At the same time, this exterior makeover can significantly increase the market value of your home. A siding replacement can also give you a good financial return on its initial cost investment.

In fact, leading members of the National Association of Realtors consider re-siding your home to be an essential step in home upgrades. It should be at the top of your list of value-boosting home improvements, according to these experts. Whether you select vinyl, foam-backed vinyl, or fiber-cement siding for refurbishing your home’s external surfaces, its value will rise. Re-siding your house can also lower your energy consumption and costs.

Your Contractor’s Advice About New Siding for Your Home

All experienced contractors know that installing new siding on your home’s exterior is much more than a cosmetic improvement. Adding top-grade new siding can benefit you and your home property in multiple ways, including the following:

• Weather Protection. Optimal quality new siding can protect your house from all types of extreme weather conditions. Your home’s exterior will be safeguarded against damage during harsh winter snowstorms, heavy spring rainfall, and blustery autumn winds. Even during severe tropical storms or those occasional torrential cloudbursts in summer, your house will be protected from leakage.
• Energy Efficiency. After the old, worn siding is removed from your home, the aging insulation can be replaced or reinforced. If you like, a house wrap can be added before new siding is installed. This can significantly improve your property’s energy efficiency, resulting in year-round cost savings for you and your household.
• Structural Repairs. After removing the old and weather-worn siding from your house, your contractor and work crew can repair any structural damage. When the old siding was in place, water leakage, mold, and mildew or dry rot may have accumulated. These factors may have caused damage that can be easily repaired before your new, attractive siding is installed.

Different Siding Options and Benefits for Your Home

Different types of siding for your home’s exterior offer varied features and benefits, including the following:

Moderately Priced Vinyl Siding

This type of siding material is popular with homeowners across the U.S. today. It offers tough, long-lasting protection for your home’s exterior. Vinyl is also obtainable in myriad colors and styles, and this material does not show any minor scrapes and scratches that may occur. Vinyl siding retains its shape in all weather conditions, and it offers strong protection against high winds on windy days. Color tones of vinyl do not fade or streak, and as a lightweight material, it is easy to transport, handle and install.

Vinyl siding can be retrofitted on top of your current siding material, and it requires very little maintenance. Vinyl siding is a sustainable green choice among modern siding materials. Its production creates less waste than most other materials, and vinyl has less impact on the environment and climate change than other siding types. It is also quite attractive and affordable.

Upscale Fiber-Cement Siding

This variety of siding is composed of a combination of wood fibers, clay, sand, and Portland cement. It offers durable wear and rugged weather resistance while requiring little maintenance. Its liquid cement consistency molds easily and can have the appearance of paint-surfaced masonry, stucco, or wood. Fiber-cement is fire and rot-resistant, and it is also termite-proof as an added benefit. When you install prefinished styles of this siding, there is no need to follow up with a paint job.

If you need to touch up surface areas or want a different color, this siding material can be painted later on. The paint will adhere and last well since fiber-cement is resistant to thermal expansion and contraction. Be aware that fiber-cement is heavy, and your siding installation must be accomplished using special tools and methods.

Retrofitting siding of this type involves removing the old siding, adding to the cost and completion time for your residing project. The production of fiber cement involves some carbon emissions, yet the siding material’s long life may offset this harmful factor.

Upscale Foam-Backed Vinyl Siding

This type of material is also known as foam-core vinyl siding. It facilitates a smooth, flat fit of the siding against your home’s exterior surfaces. It also forms a protective foam barrier that safeguards your house against damage from flying branches, rocks, and debris during windy weather. Installation of this siding typically includes the placement of factory trim at structural corners and openings.

If you choose this upscale siding material, you will pay significantly more than the cost of some other types of siding. However, your home’s value will be increased considerably, compensating for the material’s extra expense. Vinyl siding with a foam backing offers extra insulation for your home. It is both eco-friendly and energy-efficient, protecting your home’s interior from extreme heat and cold temperatures throughout the year.

As a highly sustainable choice, this siding can outperform other types of siding materials impressively. Although this form of siding costs more than regular vinyl siding, its production creates little waste. Besides, this foam-backed siding has low rates of impact on climate change.

Basic Metal Siding

Steel and aluminum siding are less popular today than in previous years due to the low cost of sustainable vinyl siding. However, metal siding is still available in a wide selection of prefinished colors and styles. Many of these siding designs have the appearance of natural wood. Today’s metal siding will last for long-term use, and it is dent-resistant. Steel and aluminum siding are also fire-proof and insect-proof, requiring only minor maintenance and care.

Modern metal siding is lightweight and easy to install. Its enamel paint is well-baked for a long-wearing attractive finish. It requires no touch-ups or repainting unless its surfaces incur serious scrapes and scratches. If any surface damage occurs, these blemishes can be touched up and concealed with matching colors in quality house paint. Aluminum siding often contains recycled content, which adds to its widespread use today.

Versatile Wood Siding

Wood siding is available in a wide variety of types and grades. You may want to use a clear transparent or semi-clear surface stain to display the wood’s pure, natural beauty. In this case, you should choose a more expensive grade of timber with fewer knots and imperfections. If you intend to paint the wood or apply an opaque surface finish or stain, you can decide on a lower-cost grade of wood. Wood is relatively easy to cut and shape, and wood siding does not require exceptionally skilled installers.

With good care, your wood siding can last for at least 100 years, offering lasting beauty and allure for your home. No synthetic siding material to date can offer this degree of longevity. Yet some wood types can be costly, and painted wood may need repainting about every five years. Stained wood siding usually needs restaining every three or four years, and finished wood may need a touch-up every two years.

Be aware, also, that retrofitting wood siding requires the complete removal of the existing siding. Also, some woods, such as fir or pine, may develop rot over time. Wooden siding is biodegradable, and wood is, of course, sustainable, with the highest grades originating in older-growth timber. You can help protect natural resources by choosing siding made from repurposed wood certified by the Forest Service Council (FSC).

How Siding Contractors Can Help

By contacting our experienced professional Northern Virginia siding contractors, you can receive expert advice concerning all of your home siding needs. Our experts will guide you in selecting the ideal superior siding materials and installation services to improve your home’s value. We will ensure that you make the very best siding investment for the ultimate enhancement of your home’s unique beauty. You can contact our top-rated team today by phone, by email, or by filling out our form.

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