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Expert Siding Installation and Replacement
Weather is often unpredictable
Storms seem to be getting stronger as the years pass by. While your home’s siding works to protect your foundation, structural integrity, and family members, it’s not invincible. To make sure you’re properly caring for your home’s exterior, it’s important to perform an inspection and take the necessary action to deal with storm-damaged siding. To help, consider the following steps for handling damage.
How to Deal with Storm-Damaged Siding
5 Steps to Deal with Siding Damage After a Storm
Extreme weather can wreak havoc on your home, especially when it comes to roofing and siding. While siding can last for years when properly maintained, the older it is the more susceptible to damage it becomes. Once the storm passes, make sure that you deal with any damage in a timely manner to reduce the risk of further issues.
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1. Assess the Damage
The first thing you should do after a storm is assess the damage that your siding has endured. While giving your siding a once over every season is recommended for ongoing care, take your time performing a visual inspection from the ground. Walk around the perimeter of your home and look for any of the following indications of damage.
- Cracking – any signs of splitting or cracking siding is an indication of damage. Even if they seem minor, cracks require the attention of a professional to reduce the risk of spreading. This is especially true if the cracks are running parallel, as these can increase your risk for water damage when left unrepaired.
- Chipping –indications that pieces of your siding have been chipped off will require repair. While small chips may seem minor, these areas can quickly spread and lead to expensive repairs. If you see any signs of chips, especially near the bottom of a panel, call a professional for a more detailed inspection.
- Holes – holes are just as serious, if not more so, than chipped and cracked siding. A hole creates an entry point for water, pests, and larger rodents. This can lead to even more serious problems that can affect your insulation and home’s interior. At the first sign of any holes in your siding, call to schedule a repair.
- Peeling – while paint peeling can seem minor when compared to other types of damage, it could indicate unseen water leaks. This is especially true if the paint peels off without breaking, as if it were still wet or damp. Chipping paint is natural with time and sun exposure, but you should undergo an inspection if it can be easily peeled away in large strips.
- Dents – depending on the severity of the storm and wind speed, debris from your yard could have been picked up and hurled against your home. This will be most apparent in the form of dents or dings. While these signs of damage might not lead to immediate issues, they can contribute to rust or cracks over time.
- Displacement – if wind speeds reach a certain point, parts of your siding may be completely ripped off and displaced across your yard. If this occurs, call your siding contractor as soon as possible to schedule replacement.
2. Undergo a Professional Inspection
While most signs of damage will require a follow-up inspection by a professional, you should still have one performed if the storm was severe and there’s debris in your yard. A professional will be able to assess your siding and notice things the untrained eye might miss, which is essential to reducing complications. You should also never get on your roof to try and get a better visual of roofing or siding damage. Leave that up to a professional who’s trained in performing safe visual inspections.
3. Speak to Your Insurance Provider
Luckily, if you have homeowner’s insurance, most policies extend coverage to storm damage. Contact your insurance agent as soon as possible to begin the process of filing a claim. You can use an independent contractor before contacting them to streamline the process, or you can wait until after you’ve notified them. Just make sure to do this in a timely manner to adhere to your policy’s requirements. You should also be beware that some insurance providers will send their own professionals to perform inspections. While this shouldn’t make a difference, you may want to have your own inspection done independently to ensure that all of the damage is addressed and you’re getting the most out of your insurance coverage.
4. Get Siding Repairs as Soon as Possible
Assessing and repairing storm damage to your siding should happen as soon as possible. This is especially important during temperamental seasons, as a follow up storm that hits your home before repairs are made can exponentially worsen damage. Even though it may be inconvenient for your schedule, try to get the logistics of storm assessment and inspections done as soon as possible. In fact, calling a contractor either the same day or at the start of business hours the following day is recommended. After the inspection is made, be prepared to move forward with repairs as soon as possible to reduce your risk of further damage.
5. Replace Siding if Beyond Repair
If your home’s siding is beyond repair, look into your options for siding replacement. This may or may not be covered by your insurance provider, but if it’s recommended by a professional it’s best to heed their advice. You can use this as an opportunity to give your home’s exterior a facelift and change the style, or you can replace the siding with the same material and color as before. In either instance, you’ll improve your home’s overall aesthetics, boost the property value, and add a strong layer of protection against further storm damage. .
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Transform Your Home with Gable Roofing Roofing
At Gable Roofing Roofing, we understand that your home is one of your most important investments. That's why we offer a wide range of roofing services to help transform your home and protect it from the elements. From new roof installations to repairs and maintenance, we have the expertise to handle any project. We use only the highest quality materials and our team of experts is dedicated to providing superior craftsmanship and exceptional customer service.
Quality Siding Services
Vinyl Siding
Vinyl Siding
Vinyl Siding
- Best for: Affordable siding that closely resembles wood.
Overview
As the search for low-cost, low-maintenance siding continued, the next evolution after aluminum and steel siding was the advent of vinyl siding. By the late 1960s, vinyl become widely available, and today, fully one-third of all homes in the United States are sided with some form of vinyl siding product—either horizontal lap siding planks or shake/shingle products. Vinyl comes in a range of styles, including horizontal and vertical panels, and an enormous range of colors and textures.
Installation
Commonly used as a retrofit siding, vinyl is often applied over old wood siding. When this type of siding is retrofitted to existing buildings there is generally a layer of fiber panels placed underneath the planks. This will add insulation to the walls. Proper installation is critical, or the siding will warp or buckle. Like aluminum, vinyl siding comes in strips with interlocking edges. A special tool called a zip tool is used to join and separate the siding strips.
Cost
While vinyl siding is considered the easiest siding to install, it is also known as the least expensive of the modern siding options. The national average for installing vinyl siding (materials plus labor) is $3 to $8 per square foot.
Pros
- Cheapest siding option
- Very durable; some products warrantied for as much as 50 years
- Never needs repainting
- Professional installation is quick
Cons
- Can be prone to cracking in cold weather
- When damaged, replacement of planks or panels is the only option
- Repair materials can be difficult to find, as product lines are frequently discontinued
- Susceptible to fire, heat damage
Wood Siding
Vinyl Siding
Vinyl Siding
- Best for: Where a natural wood finish is desired.
Overview
Wood siding in the form of lap siding planks or shakes and shingles is a classic siding material and for centuries was the primary option where brick or stone was not a practical option. It remains one of the most attractive home siding options. Common types of wood siding include wood planks, boards or siding panels, and shingles. Wood clapboard lap siding is one of the oldest types of house siding, and you can see its beauty in many historic homes. The main drawbacks of wood siding are its high cost and relatively high maintenance needs.
Wood clapboard or beveled lap siding is horizontal and has overlapping joints that help shed water. Wood plank or board siding is vertical and comes in board and batten, board-on-board, and channel-groove or tongue-and-groove styles. Board siding also comes in a plywood version, often called T1-11, which is simply exterior plywood with various face treatments and groove patterns to emulate a traditional board-and-batten design.
Installation
Installation of wood siding is a fairly involved process, involving the application of a layer of insulated sheathing and a weatherproofing layer, then meticulous nailing of the planks or shakes to the house framing. This is not an especially complicated process—any skilled framing carpenter can do it—but it is time-consuming.
Cost
Wood siding costs run from moderate to very high. Nationally, average costs are $3 to $10 per square foot, installed, according to a major consumer cost estimating service.1 Cost varies widely by type of wood species and style of siding and exterior finish. T1-11 is the least expensive type, on average: $3.50 to $7.20 per square foot, installed. Cedar shingles/shakes are the most expensive, averaging $6.50 to $13.75 per square foot, installed.
Lap siding can run from about $2 per square foot for pine or cypress siding to as much as $14 per square foot for redwood. Cedar lap siding, the most common type, typically costs $5 to $10 per square foot, installed.
Pros
- Accepts many different stains, paint finishes
- Provides a luxurious, authentic look; good for period restorations
- Easy to change looks by repainting
- Installation requires basic carpentry skills
Cons
- Requires regular maintenance; repainting or restaining
- Can be prone to moisture damage
- Relatively expensive siding option
- Highly flammable; poor choice for regions prone to wildfire
Metal Siding: Aluminum and Steel
Metal Siding: Aluminum and Steel
Metal Siding: Aluminum and Steel
- Best for: Affordable, durable siding.
Overview
In response to the high maintenance needs and dwindling supplies of quality wood suitable for siding, metal was among the first alternative siding materials offered, becoming popular in the 1950s. To this day, both aluminum and steel are commonly used to fabricate both lap siding planks and various shingle/shake style siding products. Aluminum siding was the first to fit the bill and it has evolved over the years into a very low-maintenance and popular siding choice for newer homes. In recent years, the availability of low-cost overseas steel has led to the emergence of steel siding.
Horizontal aluminum and steel siding comes in horizontal strips resembling wood lap siding, which include a mounting flange at the top for nailing, and an interlocking edge along the bottom to seal against the weather. It can be quite hard to distinguish metal siding from wood, especially at a distance. This siding typically includes a factory-applied finish for maximum corrosion resistance. Plain, unfinished steel panels are usually galvanized for corrosion protection. Some newer products have plastic or vinyl coatings that provide additional resistance to fading and weathering.
Installation
Metal is commonly used as "retrofit" siding, and it is sometimes applied directly over wood siding when the desire for low maintenance wins out over aesthetics or when the wood siding has been severely damaged. When this type of siding is retrofitted to existing buildings there is generally a layer of fiber panels placed underneath the planks to add insulation to the walls.
Cost
Uncoated steel and aluminum are moderate in cost. Average costs (materials plus installation) run $3 to $6 per square foot for aluminum and $4 to $8 per square foot for steel. Vinyl- or plastic-coated aluminum is more expensive. Material costs can fluctuate greatly depending on market conditions, tariffs, etc.
Pros
- Low-maintenance
- Many styles available
- Very durable—sometimes warrantied for as much as 35 years
- Resists heat and fire
Cons
- Can be dented
- Finishes on older products can fade, or get chalky
- Can be noisy during hail or rain storms
- Repainting requires careful preparation
Fiber Cement Siding
Metal Siding: Aluminum and Steel
Metal Siding: Aluminum and Steel
- Best for: Premium appearance with low maintenance needs.
Overview
An increasingly popular siding option is fiber cement, a largely maintenance-free product that is fabricated from Portland cement and various natural cellulose wood fibers. Because it is made from recyclable materials, it's resource-efficient. Fiber cement siding cuts and installs like wood siding. Some of the major manufacturers of this product include Allura, James Hardie Building Products (sometimes referred to as Hardie board siding), and Cemplank.
Fiber cement comes the closest to emulating a natural wood grain and is virtually indistinguishable from some wood siding products. It is available with a simple prime coat that you can paint to whatever color you want, or as fully finished pieces. Complementary trim and millwork pieces are also available to provide design detail for the home. It is available in beveled lap siding planks, shingles or shakes, or stucco-panel styles.
Installation
Fiber cement siding products are installed much the same way as standard wood siding—cut by ordinary carpentry tools and nailed to framing members over insulation and house wrap. Installation is somewhat more time-consuming than for vinyl siding, but the work is not difficult and almost any framing carpenter familiar with working with wood siding can easily install fiber cement siding.
Cost
Fiber cement is a moderately expensive siding option. The national average is about $10 per square foot, installed. While this is higher than vinyl or metal, fiber cement siding lasts a very long time, and you may never need to replace it over the time you own a home.
Pros
- Very long-lasting product; 50-year warranties are common
- Resists damage from moisture, insects
- Unaffected by heat and flame
Cons
- Fairly expensive siding option
- Heavy materials; difficult for DIYers to install
- Eventually requires repainting
Top 10 Causes of Siding Problems and How to Avoid Them
Properly maintaining your siding is one of the best ways to keep your home protected over the years. Siding helps to displace serious damage caused by the weather and keeps your home looking its best. While siding isn’t the most exciting home maintenance project, it’s one of the most important. When your siding begins to deteriorate or show signs of damage, it can create a whole mess of expensive complications and repairs. That’s why homeowners across the country should know the top 10 causes of siding problems and how to avoid them.
