Aged or damaged siding calls for making a decision about your home. Deciding whether to remove or keep old siding should be done after considering all of the factors involved. While installing new siding over existing siding is possible, that doesn’t mean it’s a great idea.
At Pinnacle Home Improvements, our siding contractors are committed to excellence in quality and customer care. In this blog post, we aim to inform you about putting new siding over old siding and why you may want to carefully consider fully replacing it first.
Introduction to Siding Renovation
Renovating your home’s siding has a number of benefits when it is worn out or badly damaged. For one, it can instantly improve the aesthetics of your home, boosting curb appeal and property value virtually overnight.
When you update your home’s siding, you will also improve your energy efficiency by restoring its insulation properties. This keeps you more comfortable in any season, allowing your home’s interior to stay at your desired temperature. It prevents unnecessary wear and tear on your HVAC system, as it will no longer struggle to keep up with your heating and cooling demands.
You won’t have to spend any time maintaining your siding either. Instead of patching things up and filling in cracks, you can do something you’d much rather enjoy with your loved ones.
In short, there are so many benefits to updating the siding on your home, though in doing so, you’ll prevent more costly damage to this material. When there are cracks, missing panels, or warped boards, water and pests can get in, and they can easily cause structural damage. Going too long without replacing siding when it’s at the end of its lifespan will cause your home’s value to drop, and that’s something no homeowner wants after making such a big investment.
Spotting the Common Signs It’s Time to Replace Your Siding
How do you know when you need to replace your siding or if you can get by making a repair or two? For starters, you should know how old the siding on your home is, as each material has its own lifespan. Vinyl siding can last 20 to 40 years, and if your home is not a new construction, you can figure out the age of the materials from the date the house was built.
The condition of your siding also matters. Even if it’s only 10 years old, if it has a lot of widespread damage, replacing it is the best option. You’ll want to look for cracks, holes, missing pieces, warped boards, and other damage to make that determination. When siding is damaged to the point that you are having issues with water damage, pests, or foundation problems, it is a sign that you must replace the siding to protect your home.
Can You Install New Siding Over Old Siding?
Just because you can do something doesn’t mean it’s the right course of action, and this saying most certainly applies to siding. Yes, you can install new siding over old siding, though it is not recommended.
There are advantages to installing new siding over your old siding, but they come at a cost, and not the kind that is associated with money.
Advantages of Installing New Siding Over Old Siding
If you need to give your home a fast facelift, putting new siding over your old siding can save you money and time. You will eliminate the removal process, which saves on labor. Leaving the old siding up can also provide added insulation, which can help with energy efficiency.
Disadvantages of Installing New Siding Over Old Siding
Putting up new siding on top of the old siding has more disadvantages. Underlying problems such as moisture damage, wood rot, or pest problems will be concealed. It’s like sweeping the problem under the rug – the problems your home has won’t just go away by covering them up. They will continue to fester until you have no choice but to deal with them, and they will most likely worsen.
Moisture issues are a huge concern with layering new siding on top of old siding. Moisture can get trapped between the layers, causing mold and mildew to thrive. As for aesthetics, the siding surfaces might not sit flush, which can create an uneven and unflattering appearance, especially around windows and doors.
Ultimately, it makes it harder to thoroughly inspect your home’s underlying structure. If you insist on choosing this route, make sure that you have a professional take a look first.
Should You Remove Old Siding Before Installing New Siding?
You should always remove old siding before having a full siding replacement. This allows for a thorough inspection of the underlying structure. If any issues are found, you’ll be able to get them fixed and have greater peace of mind in your home.
Taking the old siding panels off also allows for precision siding installation. The surface will be flat and stable, allowing it to fit better and look better. Get rid of the old siding, and your siding contractor can ensure you get proper installation with new materials that have better insulation to enhance your energy efficiency.
Reputable siding contractors will usually refuse installation of new siding on top of old siding because there are too many problems that can arise. If you try to do it yourself, you will trap moisture, promote pest infestations, cause issues with your home’s structural integrity, and create an unappealing look for your home. If you’re planning to put your home on the market soon, you may think this would be a good idea to quickly fix the problem, but it will likely turn off buyers.
The cost implications and long-term benefits should be considered when you’re making this decision. Yes, it will add more to the upfront costs of your siding project when you have the old siding removed. Labor and disposal fees will be factored into the cost, though in the end, it will wind up costing you less.
When you remove old siding, you are able to address the underlying issues of your home, which is cheaper. Ignoring water damage doesn’t mean it will just disappear under another layer of siding. When siding is installed correctly and all the old siding is removed, you will improve the value of your home.
Pinnacle Home Improvements’ Approach
If you have a siding situation, Pinnacle Home Improvements can help. We start with a consultation and free estimate, where we take a look at your home’s needs. If your siding has aged or is damaged, it is a good idea to fully replace it to prevent serious issues with your home.
During this process, our team is with you to help you look at all the vinyl siding options for your home. including understanding the vinyl siding cost for different grades. We will explain the difference between each grade of siding, going beyond the price differences to help you determine the best level of protection. We will also help you to find the right color, texture, and style to complement your home’s architecture. It can be overwhelming to look at the selection, and since most homeowners have never replaced siding before, we take our time to assist you to ensure you find the perfect fit.
There are Dutch lap styles and vinyl siding that look just like wood, brick, or stone. We can show you what that will look like on your home. Once you’ve made your selections, we schedule the installation of your new siding. This will require us to remove your old siding and dispose of it properly. We then make sure to place every vinyl siding panel with complete precision, allowing room for expansion and contraction. Our work is guaranteed with our workmanship warranties, giving you greater peace of mind for years to come. We also take the time to show you the best way to clean vinyl siding and explain the maintenance you’ll need to do to keep it in prime condition.
Should You Overlay or Remove Old Siding?
It’s generally not a good idea to overlay siding, as you may miss significant damage that can lead to much more expensive home repairs down the road. Lighter materials such as vinyl siding can be installed over existing siding, but as reputable siding contractors, we do not recommend doing this.
In some locations, building codes may also forbid putting new siding up without removing the old siding. If it is permitted, you can save money, but it’s a far better investment for your home to do things the right way and have the old siding taken off first.
Speak to our siding contractors today, and we can assess the condition of your siding. You may only need a few panels repaired, or it may be time for a full siding replacement. Learn more about siding by visiting our siding & exteriors archives and contact us for a free estimate.
