Siding is an essential structural component of your home.
Also known as wall cladding, siding is a type of protective building material. This material is applied to your home’s exterior to support its structural foundation. Siding also prevents weather damage from strong storms.
Support and Damage control are just two reasons to get a siding replacement.
Siding helps insulate your home in winter, preventing expensive heat loss and chilly drafts: the more heat escapes, the harder your HVAC system has to work to heat your home. An overworked heater leads to higher utility bills during winter.
The same problem applies to your air conditioner. Siding helps trap cold air. That way, your AC doesn’t have to work overtime to keep your home cool.
Old siding is another issue. If your siding isn’t replaced every 20 years, moisture can leak into your home. Moisture and humidity cause mold, leading to costly repairs and health concerns.
Is your home in desperate need of new siding?
Learn what to expect from the siding process in Charleston, South Carolina.
How to Prepare for New Siding
If this is your first time installing siding, you’ll need to prepare your home for siding installation.
Trim back any trees or shrubs that may get in the way of installation. Mow your front and backyard lawns, and trim the grass along your home’s exterior.
Remove any outdoor furniture, like lawn chairs, tables, large flower pots, BBQ grills, umbrellas, and gardening equipment.
Prepare the inside of your home too. For example, if your home starts to shake a bit during construction, you wouldn’t want items falling off the walls. Temporarily move framed pictures, bookshelves, wall art, and other items close to the interior walls.
Make sure the contractors have plenty of room to work. Park your car a few blocks away to give contractors quick access to the house.
Contractors also use dumpsters to dispose of old siding material. Clear out any items in your driveway to make room for any waste receptacles.
Remember to keep children and pets away from any construction.
How Long Does Siding Take to Install?
Your siding timetable depends on a few factors:
- The overall size of your home
- The number of floors or stories in the house
- The environment surrounding the house
- Additional siding painting
Contractors also use these variables to calculate labor time, resources, and the full job quote.
On average, siding projects can take up to two weeks to complete. But many projects require less time. Unique architectural elements can also influence the project timetable.
Talk to your contractor about your downspouts, shutters, or any caulking work too. It may be in the best interest of your home to remove and replace these elements too.
What Happens to Old Siding?
Your contractor will remove the old siding material first. Once removed, they’ll also inspect your home’s material for any moisture damage. Water-damaged material will be removed, as well.
Old siding and other building materials will be disposed of and removed from the site.
Wall Prep
The next step is a wall assessment. After your contractor removes damaged or rotting materials, they’ll need to replace them with new building materials.
They’ll also remove any old caulk for you. Moisture finds its way through old caulk, so you’ll need fresh caulk around any elements where moisture can seep through.
In many cases, siding can be directly applied over old material, given that the material isn’t damaged. However, you may need more material removal depending on your home. That’s why siding contractors assess your home before starting work.
Siding contractors also ensure that homes are sufficiently insulated before installing siding. Thus, your home may require new insulation first.
Siding Installation Process
Your home’s now ready for siding installation!
You don’t have to worry about your siding looking inauthentic. Contract Exteriors uses a fiber cement siding that successfully mimics the look and feel of natural wood homes. The best part is that you don’t have to deal with the maintenance hassle of real wood.
Vinyl siding is another option.
This type of siding is extremely cost-effective. Plus, you don’t have to worry about expensive upkeep or painting. It’s also extremely durable and doesn’t rot.
During the installation process, your contractor may remove and replace any damaged sheathing. It’s also important to account for any unforeseeable issues that could impact the project timetable, like storms and other structural issues.
Paying for Your Siding Installation
Siding costs depend on home size, type of building material, and whether or not you need old siding removal and other additional work. Since costs vary, it’s best to get a complete job quote upfront to avoid any surprise costs.
Contract Exteriors provides free estimates to homeowners. This will help you budget your project.
Furthermore, Contract Exteriors even provides siding financing to homeowners. This way, you don’t have to prolong your siding replacement. Get your new siding well before storm season!
Contract Exteriors offers excellent financing options for qualifying homeowners:
There’s the Same-As-Cash option that requires no payments for 18 months! You also enjoy 0% interest for 18 months.
You may also be eligible for a 7-year or 10-year loan. These financing options come with a 6.99% APR.
Learn more about the best financing option for your needs during the free estimate process. You can also call Contract Exteriors directly to discuss the best financing and siding material for your needs.
Get a New Siding Replacement Today
Are you worried about storm damage, humidity control, and foundation issues?
Don’t wait until the problem gets worse. Call Contract Exteriors today to get the siding replacement you need and discover financing options that work for you.
Contact us today to learn more or get started on your siding installation. We’re standing by waiting to help!
