Siding Repair vs. Replacement; What Is the Best Choice for Your Siding in Cincinnati, OH?
The quality of its siding can affect the beauty of a house. No matter how appealing the interior is, poor siding can lower the value of your home. Although siding improves your home’s appearance, the primary purpose of the material is to protect your home from rain, snow, and any other weather element that might damage your home.
There are several options for siding in the market today. However, the materials differ in specific aspects. For that reason, it is advisable for homeowners looking to have their siding installed or have their siding repaired to do thorough research on the cost, durability, and maintenance cost of the siding options in the market before purchasing any material.
With that in mind, here are the different siding options you can expect to find in the market today.
1. Vinyl siding
2. Fiber cement siding
3. Stone veneer
4. Aluminum siding
5. Wood siding
6. Engineered wood
Causes of Damaged siding
1. Poor Siding Installation
Many homeowners assume that any contractor can do the installation as long as they buy quality siding materials. Unfortunately, there are many unskilled contractors out there. In this case, if the siding is improperly installed, it may start warping and buckling.
The siding needs proper airflow. And to have the new siding installed correctly, you require hiring an experienced contractor.
2. Pests
Pests like termites, carpenter bees, beetles, and animals like woodpeckers can cause damage to both wood siding and vinyl siding. If you notice the presence of the above pests, you should call a pest control specialist to exterminate the pests and a siding contractor to repair the damaged areas.
3. Excessive Moisture
Improperly installed siding can allow moisture penetration. In most cases, homeowners living in excessively moist areas experience damaged siding. When water gets trapped in the siding, it can cause warping, buckling, algae, and mold. Whenever you notice the above damages, consult siding contractors to access the damage, do siding repairs, or install new ones if needed.
4. Lack of Maintenance
Although most siding manufacturers term their products low maintenance or lifelong products, this is not always the case. As a result, homeowners need to inspect their siding regularly, especially those living in areas prone to extreme weather like high winds, snow, or high temperatures.
For example, high winds can throw debris, causing minor damage to your siding. When not repaired, the minor siding damages can cause severe future damage.
What Siding Damages Should a Homeowner Look Out For?
You can look out for a few damages to know what mitigation measures to use. They include:
Missing or Loose Parts of Your Siding
A hole in the siding means that it is not providing the protection it is supposed to offer. Even worse, water could get through the hole and damage other parts of your home, such as the interior wall.
Missing or loose siding is dangerous because homeowners should contact siding experts immediately to have it fixed. In this case, the contractor will be able to determine the extent of the damage and decide if the siding needs repair or replacement.
Peeling Paint or Loose Wallpaper in the House
Faulty siding can allow water to penetrate the house’s interior, causing the paint to peel or lose wallpapers. Consulting an experienced siding contractor can help you prevent further damage to your house.
Energy Bill Getting High
Faulty siding and poor grade wall insulation are the major causes of high energy bills. When your heating and cooling costs keep going up, you might need to check for a leaking roof, lack of insulation, or faulty appliances.
Fungus and Mold
Fungus and mold can indicate moisture’s presence, which may cause structural damage. Although fungus and mold can be caused by other factors, having a specialist check could help avoid further damage. The water could be leaking from either the roof or the siding.
Which Works Better: Repairing or Replacing the Siding?
To an extent, you can repair minor damages. However, when repairs become more frequent, it is wise to replace the siding. Deciding whether to repair or replace your siding is an important financial decision. Let me explain:
Repairs are deemed cheap, but frequent maintenance is expensive and could damage the structure. Some damages might be too severe to repair, and you may need to replace the siding. You should contact a reputable siding contractor to access the damages because they might spot other defects you may have missed.
Outdated siding should also be replaced because it might not serve the purpose. For example, vinyl siding can last between 20 and 40 years depending on several variables, such as the sunlight amount they have withstood over time. In such cases, you can replace them once they fade and lose their original appearance.
In Need of Siding Repair? Cincinnati Siding Contractors Can Do the Job
Home improvement projects require professional expertise. When faced with the above challenges and require expert advice around the greater Cincinnati area, contact C.H.I Roofing. At C.H.I Roofing, you will be served by experienced Cincinnati siding contractors specializing in roofing, siding, windows, and gutters. We have been in the siding business for over a decade now.
Give us a call at 513-731-7663 for a free estimate on our services.