What to Know Before Replacing Your Siding
The curb appeal of your home significantly impacts the value of your home. One of the biggest influencers of your home’s curb appeal is siding. Siding plays a huge role in the curb appeal, energy efficiency and overall value of your home.
Replacing your siding is an expensive project, and careful consideration should be given to the type of siding you choose and equally as important – the siding contractor you choose.
We want to help you realistically budget for your siding project, which is why we assembled this siding guide. After reading this article, you’ll know how to spot the warning signs of failed siding, and three top siding brands and how much they cost.
How to tell if you need new siding
Just because your siding is old – it may not need to be replaced. Under good circumstances with regular maintenance, your home’s siding can last decades. Sometimes, your siding may just need a fresh coat of paint, and not a full replacement.
However, if your siding is failing, it’s important to replace it quickly – before the elements are able to damage sensitive, structural areas of your home. There are some very common warning signs to easily tell if your siding is failing. We’ll outline those warning steps more in depth below so you know what to be on the look for.
- Cracked or warped siding: This is the most common sign that your siding cannot be repaired and needs a replacement. You can further inspect the damage to your siding by looking at how deep the cracks are and if it gives when you press on it. If you can see rotting underneath the crack, it’s certainly time to call a professional to ensure the rot does not spread.
- Severely faded siding: Most manufacturers recommend painting your home’s siding every 8-10 years (that is, if you have vinyl siding or siding that didn’t come pre-colored). If you find that your home looks faded and is in need of paint more often, it could be because your siding is failing. Serve fading is also a sign that your siding is starting to lose is weatherproofing features.
- Bubbles or blisters: If you notice any bubbles or blisters in your siding, it’s a sign that water is getting in where it shouldn’t. One of the core functions of your siding is to keep moisture out of your home. If you notice any bubbles or blistering, it’s a sign that your siding is failing.
- Sudden increase in energy bills: Your siding is a crucial piece to your home’s overall energy efficiency. If you notice that your electricity or gas bills suddenly increase, there could be a large gap or crack in your siding. Native Roofing performs siding inspections and assessments free of charge to homeowners in Tulsa, Bixby, Sapulpa, Jenks and the surrounding areas.
- Interior Damage: If you notice interior wall stains or bubbling paint on exterior facing inside walls – you could have a siding leak (or possibly a roof leak!). It’s important to get this inspected by a professional immediately. Cracks in your siding can quickly cause water damage to your home.
How much will new siding cost
When you start looking into new siding for your Tulsa home, the biggest question on your mind will be – how much is new siding going to cost?
While many contractors lack transparency in pricing information – we take great pride in doing things differently. We know that replacing your home’s siding is an expensive project – which is why we want you to have all the information you need to set your expectations and properly budget for your project.
Below we will outline three very popular types of siding, how much they cost and our recommendations. It’s important to note that depending on the exact siding you chose, the brand and the specifications of your house, these ranges can change dramatically. The cost of your new siding will consist of two drivers: first, The material you chose and second, the specialty labor needed to expertly fabricate your siding.
Fiber Cement (James Hardie) Siding:
- About: Fiber cement siding is 90% concrete and is made of cement, sand and cellulose fibers. It is impenetrable to pests, and is it so fire resistant, most homeowners’ insurance companies offer a discount for having it installed. Fiber cement offers realistic wood finishes and can be ordered pre colored or painted. While our team here at Native Roofing does not install James Hardie or fiber cement siding due to the specialized saws required and expensive installation costs, we want to provide you with all the information you need to choose the best siding for your home.
- Manufacturer: The most popular manufacturer of fiber cement siding is James Hardie. You’ve probably heard of Hardie Plank siding if you’ve started doing some research. James Hardie is the leading manufacturer of fiber cement siding. They offer a variety of different types and offer great warranties. However, there are other manufacturers of fiber cement siding. If fiber cement siding is something you’re interested in, be sure to ask your contractors for pricing on a few different manufacturers.
- Reasons we love it: In addition to being incredibly long lasting, fiber cement siding is beautiful and requires virtually zero maintenance. If you’re looking to make a smart investment in your long-term home and reap the benefits of no maintenance, fiber cement siding is a great investment.
- Points to think about: Fiber cement siding panels can weigh as much as 150 pounds! The crew needed to install this type of siding should be experienced. While fiber cement siding can be bought at a home improvement store, it is incredibly difficult to install and requires specialty blades to fabricate the cement pieces.
- Cost: In Tulsa, Oklahoma and the surrounding areas, James Hardie fiber cement siding can cost about $37,000-$45,000 per 1,500 square feet. This cost includes professional installation, removal and disposal of your previous siding. If your home has many windows or fixtures that require special fabrication or if soffits or fascia boards need to be replaced, the cost could be higher. Most reputable Tulsa siding contractors offer financing plans (Native Roofing included!).
Engineered Wood Siding
- About: Engineered wood siding
- Manufacturer: We highly recommend LP Smart Siding to our homeowners. It is an affordable option, and the manufacturer leads the engineered wood siding market with warranties and advanced technologies.
- Reasons we love it: Long panels ensure few seams resulting in a very elegant look. Additionally, the superior technology LP building solutions uses proprietary SmartGuard technology that ensures your siding will withstand the freeze/thaw cycles, humidity and keep out the pests (termites included!) we experience here in Tulsa.
- Points to think about: With any type of siding, especially LP Smart siding, you may want to look at purchasing a pre-colored option. With LP Smart Siding’s SmartGuard, there are warranties offered on the fading of the paint. This may give you some peace of mind!
- Cost: You can expect to pay about $20 per square foot. This makes LP smart siding an extremely attractive option at a more attractive price point compared to fiber cement siding.
Vinyl Siding
- About: Vinyl siding is made of (polyvinyl chloride) plastic and comes in a wide variety of colors and can also be painted. Vinyl siding is often the most economical siding option. Vinyl siding can be insulated or not insulated.
- Manufacturer:
- Reasons we love it: If you’re trying to fix up your house to sell soon or if it’s the best fit for your budget, vinyl siding may be right for your home. Vinyl siding is relatively cheap and does not require intensive labor to install.
- Points to think about: Vinyl siding requires maintenance, if you plan on living in your home for years to come, you may want to think LP smart siding or fiber cement siding.
- Cost: Insulated vinyl siding costs on average $5-$10 per square foot. This includes material and installation costs as well as removal and disposal of your previous siding.
There is truly no “best siding”. The right siding for your home depends on your project goals and budget. We recommend speaking with a Tulsa siding replacement contractor before making your final decision.
Is Replacing your home’s siding a good investment?
According to the National Association of Realtors Research Group’s 2022 Remodeling Impact Report, siding has an average 80%+ cost recovery (close to 86% depending on what type you choose)! In other words, when it comes time to sell your house, homeowners often recuperate at least 80% of the cost of siding project costs. It’s crucial to give your most priceless possession the respect it deserves.
Next steps – Getting your siding evaluated
Replacing your home’s siding has an excellent return on investment. Feel confident knowing that replacing your home’s siding will improve the curb appeal of your home and improve the energy efficiency of your home! When you begin the process of collecting bids from top-rated siding contractors in Tulsa, we recommend getting at least 2-3 bids to ensure you get a fair assessment and estimate.
The Native Roofing and Construction team is proud of the accolades we’ve earned from severing the Tulsa community. We are experts in replacing and installing vinyl and LP smart siding. If you think your home’s siding may need repaired or replaced – we’d love to see if we’d be a good fit for your project! Our assessments and estimates are free. Contact us today to get started on your home’s siding project!
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