Your home’s exterior, from the roof to the siding, faces wear and tear from the elements. While many of us remember to replace our roofs, siding often gets overlooked. However, neglecting your siding can lead to costly structural damage and issues down the line. That means you can spend even more in terms of time and money if you don’t replace your siding at the right time.
Here, we’ll explain why it’s important to keep an eye on your siding and when it might be time for a replacement. You’ll find key signs to watch for and learn about the best types of siding to use in your siding replacement project.
How Long Does Siding Last Before It Needs to Be Replaced?
Most homeowners tend to forget about their siding, especially because many manufacturers recommend replacing siding several decades after purchasing. These long-term maintenance projects can often fall to the wayside simply because we forget to pay attention.
Here’s how often replacements are recommended for the main types of siding:
- Vinyl siding: 10-20 years
- Aluminum siding: 20-40 years
- Wood siding: 20-40 years
- Steel siding: 50+ years
- Fiber cement siding: 50+ years
- Stone veneer siding: 25-75+ years
It’s easy to see how you may forget to replace your siding as the years go by.
Plus, many homeowners will find that they need to replace siding sooner or later than these timelines based on where they live, weather conditions, and other factors. Others will find that patching and smaller fixes can help extend the lifespan of the siding, reducing the urgency to do a complete overhaul.
What Are the Signs That I Need to Replace My Siding?
Unfortunately, the signs of needing siding replacement can be subtle. Start with a thorough inspection of your home’s exterior — and possibly interior — to find indications of damage.
While there are many signs that replacing siding on a house is a good idea, here are the six most common.
1. Deterioration (Fading, Cracking, or Discoloration)
Over time, wind, rain, and sunlight can eat away at a home’s siding. Often, this wear can be seen on wood siding in faded paint colors, chipping, etc. For vinyl siding, wear usually means either melted or deformed planks or spreading cracks.
Unfortunately, many of these issues are filed away by homeowners as merely cosmetic problems. But smaller “cosmetic” issues are indicative of deeper issues underneath your siding’s facade. And with every divot or crack, your home’s more important structural elements are exposed to the elements.
2. Exposed Seams
Your home must maintain a tight frame to prevent water damage and pests from entering your home. This means ensuring your siding doesn’t have gaps between boards or cracked caulking. Any gap is practically begging for later problems (see signs three, four, and five on this list).
Usually, wind, ice, and expansion/contraction cause warping on a home’s existing siding. If you see any of these occurring, siding replacement is a logical next step.
3. Pests
Pests love easy access. Even the slightest gap in your foundation or crack in your siding might as well be an open door to your average pest. In fact, a mouse can fit through a hole as small as a quarter of an inch — that’s about the same thickness as a pen. If you have large holes in your siding, you could be opening up your home to significant pest problems.
Pest damage can come in many forms. Consider all of the kinds of pests there are, from rodents to termites. But if you find pieces of siding in your yard, we don’t need to tell you. There’s a good chance a pest has used your failing siding as an opportunity for warmth and protection.
Take that warning sign at face value. Change the siding on your house before the problem worsens — and you’re subjected to the dreaded pest control house wrap and tent.
4. Water Damage
If you’ve noticed brownish rings forming around your house after a rainstorm, there is a chance that your home’s siding is to blame.
Keep in mind: Your house’s siding is, in concert with your roof, the barrier that keeps the elements at bay. Rain and snow should be able to make contact with them without actually affecting anything inside your house.
But for those of us with siding damage, that barrier is broken. Once the elements have access, water damage can take the form of:
- Brownish circles on the ceiling, walls, or where the two meet
- Streaking at or under window sills
- Wall bubbling or blistering
- Interior paint or wall damage
- Fungus, mold, or mildew growth
- Sagging
While burst pipes are often a homeowner’s first thought at the signs of water damage, their next thought should be to inspect their roof and siding. Chances are, changing the siding on a house might be a great way of preventing further water damage.
5. Wet and Dry Rot
Unfortunately, where there’s water, there’s also likely rot.
Rotting siding is the telltale sign that something is amiss. Sometimes, boards simply won’t dry out. Or worse, mold formations can be spotted. This can be especially common with certain types of siding that expand and contract with moisture — it’s one of the main vinyl siding and wood siding problems.
There are many styles of rot, but your eyes and nose will know it when you face it. Dark, crumbling siding with a distinct smell of musky wetness is a dead giveaway. It’s time to change the siding on your house.
Among all of the signs listed here, rot should be treated with immediacy. Ignoring it won’t make it go away. It will simply lead to replacing house siding and structural beams later.
6. Higher-Than-Normal Energy Bills
If you notice a sudden spike in your heating or cooling costs, it could be a sign that your siding is no longer providing adequate insulation.
Siding helps improve energy efficiency by keeping heat in during the winter months and maintaining a cool interior environment when summer rolls around. If you have damaged siding with holes and gaps, it’s not as efficient at maintaining ambient temperature.
If you notice that your heating or cooling bills are dramatically higher than usual, it’s worth inspecting your siding to find the culprit.
Other Reasons It Might Be Time for a Siding Replacement
While the above six signs are clear indications that you need to replace your siding, there are other questions you can consider to determine the best time for an update:
- How long have you had your siding? If it’s near the end of the manufacturer’s expected lifespan, you may want to replace the siding soon.
- Does the siding style match existing trends? If not, you may want to replace it sooner to improve curb appeal or to make other renovations you plan on making in your home.
- Are you planning on selling your house soon? If yes, you may want to consider replacing the exterior siding sooner rather than later to increase the home sale value and the likelihood that it will sell quickly.
- Will replacing the siding reduce other maintenance costs? The maintenance of some siding materials can be costly. Consider that it costs around $5 per square foot to paint a house, and engineered wood siding and fiber cement board siding need to be painted every 5-7 years in some cases. Compare that to the one-time cost of a durable new siding material like steel, which can last for 30 years without having to be painted, and you can easily see that replacement may actually save you money in the long run.
How Much Does It Cost to Re-Side a House?
If you’ve decided you need a siding replacement on your home, one of your main concerns is likely the cost. In general, the average cost to replace siding on a 2,000-square-foot home is around $17,000.
The total cost of your home’s siding replacement will vary depending on factors like:
- House size, both square footage and number of stories
- Labor costs, for both siding removal and siding installation
- Material costs
- Location
The type of siding you choose will affect the cost of your siding project. Here are some rough estimates of the average price ranges based on popular siding options:
- Vinyl siding: $3 to $12 per square foot (sq. ft.)
- Aluminum siding: $3 to $6 per sq. ft.
- Natural wood or shingle siding: $1 to $15 per sq. ft.
- Steel siding: $4 to $16 per sq. ft.
- Fiber cement siding: $5 to $14 per sq. ft.
- Stone siding: $7 to $30 per sq. ft.
- Brick veneer siding: $10 to $20 per sq. ft.
If it’s your first time replacing or installing siding and you’re not comfortable making it a DIY home improvement project, consider hiring a siding contractor to handle the work for you. You may spend more upfront, but you’ll get peace of mind knowing it’s installed correctly. If you’re comfortable doing it on your own, you could save a significant amount of money on siding replacement costs.
What Type of Siding Material Should I Use?
The best type of material for siding depends on a combination of your budget and personal preferences. For many homeowners, steel siding panels are an excellent choice. Steel siding is more durable than vinyl siding, which is made with PVC, as steel is fire-resistant and doesn’t absorb water.
While steel can be a little more expensive than options like wood or vinyl upfront, it’s ultimately more cost-effective because it’s low maintenance. You won’t have to worry about painting it every few years or monitoring it for cracks and discoloration.
Best of all, steel comes in various siding colors, making it as versatile as stucco and other materials that can be painted to suit different styles. Choose from modern siding options like board and batten styles to traditional woodgrain finishes, which offer the gorgeous look of wood without the maintenance.
TruLog’s steel siding is a long-term investment, reducing the need for frequent replacements compared to wood or vinyl. It resists warping, moisture damage, and pests — common reasons for siding failure. Offering a high-end look at affordable pricing, it’s a great choice for homeowners looking at doing a siding replacement.
How Long Does Steel Siding Last?
Steel siding lasts 50 years or more thanks to its durable nature, fire-resistant capabilities, and moisture-proof properties. Heavy gauge steel siding can last even longer, helping to protect against things like denting, scratches, and damage in severe weather.
Is Steel Siding Better Than Vinyl for Long-Term Durability?
Steel siding is significantly better for long-term durability compared to vinyl. With a lifespan of 50+ years compared to vinyl’s 10-20 years, steel is a high-quality siding material that won’t crack, discolor, or get damaged by high heat sources and water — all things that can happen with vinyl siding.
Outfit Your Home With Siding That Lasts
When you’re ready to change the siding on your house, TruLog Siding is a great option that is durable, affordable, and reliable. Plus, it looks stunning and will build your home’s curb appeal.
Get an estimate today to find out what it’ll cost to replace your existing siding with long-lasting and low-maintenance options from TruLog.
