The condition of the siding has a significant impact on the appearance of a brand new home. Not only does the material, color, and style of your wall cladding affect curb appeal, but it also determines how well your home will perform in terms of energy efficiency and longevity. Pursuing a timely remodeling project with an experienced contractor will help you maintain the beauty and usefulness of your property. But where do you start?
Check out this guide on planning a siding replacement project from leading roof installation and stucco remediation expert Precision #1 Contractors, Inc. to learn about the ins and outs of the process and what to expect from it.
1. Collect Photos for Inspiration
You may find hundreds of siding renovation ideas online through a Google search. Remember to solely evaluate the style or look that speaks to you the most to prevent getting overwhelmed. Do you appreciate gazing at beach houses because they appear tranquil and calm? If that’s the case, your typical siding options are brick or fiber cement siding.
2. Assess Your Siding Needs
Whether you’re repainting your deck or adding crown molding in your home, every exterior home remodel begins with a thorough assessment of your requirements. In the case of stucco and siding projects, this entails determining what types of siding have previously worked for your home and whether they were suitable. If not, and your current material has suffered significant deterioration over time, you may want to consider replacing it. Take your local climate into consideration as well to determine how much security your home will require in the future.
3. Look Into the Price Ranges
Home improvement companies would not quote a price for siding replacement until after the homeowner’s property has been evaluated. Every home is different in size and consequently requires a varied amount of material. When other factors like color and style are accounted for, it’s easy to see why the only time a contractor can give you exact pricing is after they’ve done a comprehensive inspection.
As such, you can inquire about the costs of siding replacement from friends, relatives, and coworkers. While the cost of their project will differ from yours, you should have enough information to determine whether you can afford to invest in new siding. You have the option of using contractor-assisted financing in addition to other payment methods such as cash or credit card.
4. Prioritize Your Needs
Determine your requirements when you develop your project’s game plan. You might find it more cost-effective to replace the stucco and siding this year and save the trim for a later date. Make a list of all the resources and people you’ll need to do your project on time and within your budget.
5. Consider the Weather
During spring and summer, the demand for residential siding replacement contractors is at its peak. Keep in mind that when the temperature becomes colder, your project’s materials may not perform as intended. Moisture-related concerns such as rot and mold growth can be exacerbated by cold weather.
6. Pick Out Your Siding Material
Now comes the most difficult aspect of the planning process: deciding on the exact siding you want. Picking one can feel like an uphill battle, especially when there are so many options available. This is why conducting research is so important to make this step a little simpler. The more information you have on a product, the easier it will be to determine if it is a good fit for your home. Make sure to consider your style preferences, as well as any advice your contractor may have.
When choosing a high-quality siding, there are several key aspects to keep in mind, including:
- Weather performance and longevity
- Compatibility with the design and construction of the house
- A price that meets your budget
7. Find a Contractor
Certain roofing contractors also specialize in other exterior renovation projects, including siding replacement. Make sure you hire someone who knows everything about your preferred siding material, be it fiber cement or otherwise. It’s also a good idea to look over potential contractors’ portfolios before meeting with them. Do their previous projects appear to be professional, appealing, and well-designed? In addition to materials and other project specifications, you should also discuss with your prospective contractors your style preferences.
8. Get Ready for Construction
Once you’ve finalized your project plan, it’s time to prepare your family for the siding replacement project. Although an exterior home renovation will take far less time than an interior remodels or home addition, you should still expect some disruptions to your daily routine.
Expect the entire procedure to be dusty and noisy. Furthermore, you’ll have to deal with people you don’t know spending a lot of time at your home. Staying with a family member or friend – or booking a room at a nearby hotel – while the project is underway may provide you privacy and peace of mind.
Maintain open contact lines with your roofing contractors to make sure the project moves along smoothly. There’s always the possibility of hiccups. If removing the old siding, for example, reveals an underlying problem such as mold or rot, expect the job to take a little longer.
9. Prepare Your Home Before the Project
Now that everything is in order, the only thing left to do is wait for the installation day. Take the initiative to prepare the outside of your home while you’re at it. Remove any equipment lying around the possible work zone. To prevent debris from scattering during the removal of the old siding, cover outdoor plants with drop cloths or tarps. These steps will ensure that the pros’ workflow runs smoothly.
Our insured and trustworthy team can assist with any outside remodeling project. Stucco remediation and replacement with new James Hardie® or CertainTeed siding can address any issues that have formed underneath your property. Precision #1 Contractors, Inc. offers these services that will make your home more valuable and livable.
Call us today at (215) 364-5115 or fill out this contact form to schedule your consultation. We look forward to hearing from you!