The cladding on your home fulfills two key purposes: aesthetics, and protection from the elements. These two go hand in hand. However, with most siding materials, you may begin to detect challenges after a closer inspection of your home’s exterior. By the time you notice an issue with how the siding looks, there is often already an underlying performance issue.
How do you know when it is time to replace the siding on your home?
If there is a glaring aesthetic issue with the siding, it is probably not fulfilling its duty in protecting your home from the elements either. Therefore, it is important to identify trouble spots that might be allowing unwanted water or air infiltration into your home. That can help you effectively determine when it is time to invest in a siding replacement.
Here are five signs you need new siding.
#1 – Bubbling, Blistering, or Peeling
Siding is designed to shed water and help protect the substrate behind it. However, it is also important that water does not penetrate into the siding material itself, and there are some telltale signs that indicate when it has.
If you are noticing bubbling or blistering on pieces of siding, it is likely that water has gotten trapped within it, which means its integrity has been compromised. Peeling paint may also be caused by ongoing exposure to sunlight and heat.
If you have painted wood, aluminum, vinyl, or fiber cement siding on your home, it may just need repainted to solve the problem. However, if the issue persists, you will be spending serious amounts of money to repaint your house every few years. Plus, moisture within siding panels can lead to more serious issues, which takes us to sign number two.
#2 – Mold Growth
Mold, mildew, or other fungi grow in moist environments, and water issues in the building envelope can be a breeding ground for it. This is particularly dangerous when moisture sneaks past siding and into the substrate. If there is an aging substrate behind your siding, there is a risk for mold growth within the structural elements of your home, which is detrimental to the health of the structure and occupants inside.
#3 – Breaks, Cracks, Dents, or Chips
Siding that is old, weak, and worn down is more susceptible to breaking or cracking. If you are noticing trouble spots throughout the exterior of your home, it might be time to search for a siding replacement.
Older siding is more likely to break down naturally or upon impact, and cracks or deterioration in materials such as real wood or fiber cement are prone to even further failure because of their composition. When siding splits or breaks, it is less capable of preventing the intrusion of water, snow, and ice. Furthermore, exposed siding is more vulnerable to mold growth, and it can serve as a food source for termites or other wood-boring insects depending upon the material.
#4 – Rising Energy Bills
While conventional siding materials are not designed to deliver insulation for homes in the traditional sense, high-quality siding, together as a part of an entire high-performance wall system, can help protect from any extra, unnecessary thermal loss.
When high-performance siding and trim are effectively installed on all exterior walls, drafts have more difficulty finding an entry point. On the contrary, old or failing siding can lead to unwanted energy loss. Any discernable break in cladding can allow for an easier escape path (or entrance) for heat or cold.
#5 – You Don’t Love It!
When you know, you know.
The final sign that you need a siding renovation is when you pull into your driveway and look up at your home to realize it is no longer a source of pride for you. Whether it is because of fading from the sun, ugly trouble spots, material breakdown, or you just want to revamp your home’s look, Everlast® advanced composite siding can help make your house look new again.
Everlast siding is available in two lap siding profiles (4.5 inch and 7 inch) as well as Board & Batten vertical siding. Offered in a number of timeless, upscale colors, Everlast siding allows you to significantly boost the curb appeal of your home, delivering the look of true cedar without the negatives of using real wood.
The beauty of Everlast siding truly lies within its material science. The siding consists of a thick and solid composite substrate called C CORE® made from a blend of minerals and polymer resins, and it is designed to be the last siding your home will ever need.
Replacing your failed or unpleasant-looking exterior materials with Everlast siding means you no longer have to worry about cracking, blistering, mold, or damage from pests or wood-boring insects. Moreover, all Everlast colors feature a UV-stable acrylic capstock that allows the product to maintain a beautiful appearance even after decades of exposure to sun and weather.
In need of a siding renovation that will boost your home’s performance, up its resale value, minimize maintenance, and keep you happy?
Make it yours with Everlast siding.
