Considering a new aesthetic for your home? Replacing wood with vinyl siding provides a smart solution that’s both long-lasting and easy to care for.
Because vinyl siding is impervious to the effects of weather and never requires repainting, it’s a convenient option for today’s active families. It even offers better insulation, saving homeowners money on their energy bills.
Because vinyl is manufactured in a wide array of colors and styles, it offers plenty of room for getting creative and customizing. Take advantage of everything vinyl siding has to offer for a wise investment in your home’s future.
Conditions for Installing Vinyl Over Wood
1. Check Wood Siding Condition
Before getting started with vinyl siding installation, the wood siding will require a careful inspection. Wood siding needs to be in good condition with no major underlying rot to hold up vinyl over the long haul.
Check for any signs of decay, such as bending, splitting, or deep cracking. These are signs of structural weakness that can necessitate removal of the affected sections.
Peeling paint or water stains are tests of lack of weather protection and may indicate damaged siding underneath. Evidence of pest infestations like droppings or tunnels immediately calls for removal.
Prolonged moisture exposure, as evidenced by the presence of mold or mildew, can compromise the integrity of the wood. You’ll need to fix these issues and possibly plan for replacement before you proceed.
2. Assess Moisture Levels
Controlling moisture content is crucial in preventing problems such as rot when installing vinyl over wood. Cleaning and repairing the existing siding as thoroughly as possible will provide the best surface for vinyl application.
Installing a moisture barrier, like a permeable housewrap, is critical to protect against water intrusion and increase longevity. Adequate ventilation must be provided to promote airflow behind the sidings and prevent moisture accumulation, which would undermine the integrity of the siding.
Evaluate all wood areas thoroughly prior to installation. Replace any rotted materials, as vinyl siding does best on a clean, sound surface. This move is consistent with zoning ordinances across much of the country.
It shows just how important housewrap is for protecting our homes.
3. Evaluate Pest Infestation
Weighing the pros and cons of keeping wood siding against the pros and cons of installing vinyl over it is essential. Wood provides beauty and warmth with natural insulation but requires more upkeep and is still subject to pests.
Vinyl siding needs much less maintenance and adds more curb appeal while shielding your home from water damage. Look at the life cycle costs; wood is more expensive in the long run than vinyl’s affordable life cycle.
Although consumers may pay a premium for wood’s classic appearance, the cost of repeated repairs could outweigh this advantage. In the Kingston area, homeowners frequently install one of two different siding materials.
When installing new vinyl siding, consumers need to be informed and pay attention to the details.
4. Confirm Structural Integrity
Making sure the structural integrity of the home is maintained is essential before even thinking about adding the weight of vinyl siding. Weather and contractor availability factors heavily into timing the installation.
Seasonal benefits include avoiding extreme temperatures, which can affect adhesion. Working with local climate patterns helps to avoid improper installation conditions.
In addition, homeowners can benefit from planning installations in off-peak seasons for cost savings and better service. In Jenkintown, PA, the aesthetic effect of your home’s appearance is very important.
Vinyl siding is a popular option, but the style and color you choose can really help improve its overall curb appeal.
Signs to Remove Old Siding
1. Identify Damage or Decay
First you’ll want to look for signs of damage or decay on your existing wood siding. Then, decide whether it’s time to replace it with vinyl. Older homes often suffer from moisture damage as a result of years of exposure to the elements.
If moisture gets trapped under the siding, it will make its way into the wood, leading to rot or mold. You may see signs of discoloration, swelling, or softness in the wood. This type of damage can compromise your home’s structural integrity.
If you don’t, you might end up having to do more extensive repair work in the future. Siding on historic homes, in particular, are made from materials that can last. These materials might not be able to withstand the test of the environmental challenges of today.
If left unattended, these materials can begin to rot or rust, requiring a new siding. Vinyl siding was designed with these weep holes in its plan. These dog holes enable moisture to escape, greatly diminishing the possibility of rot usually found in wood siding.
2. Spot Insufficient Weather Protection
Additionally, old siding is susceptible to severe cracks and impacts as well as leak-inducing warps that come with old age. You might start to notice paint peeling, the wood warping, or even daylight coming through between the panels of your siding.
These problems rob the home of any curb appeal, but they damage the home’s insulation, increasing energy bills. Vinyl siding has a reputation for going the distance and enduring bitter cold, scorching heat, and everything in between.
Its suppleness means it’s less likely to crack or split because it can stretch and move with the weather. Nine times out of ten, the homeowners have come to you because they first installed wood siding to escape the constant need to repaint.
This decision, though well-intentioned, likely doesn’t provide the best protection in the long-run. Since vinyl siding needs almost no maintenance, you won’t have to worry about spending a fortune on regular painting, providing even more savings in the long run.
3. Detect Pest Infestation Evidence
Pest infestations are another obvious tip-off that it’s time to replace your siding. Old wooden siding is a magnet for termites, ants, and other pests that love to burrow into the wood.
Look for signs like small holes in siding, sawdust-like material, or even the pests themselves. These small infestations can quickly weaken the wood and cause severe damage if not treated immediately.
Replacing wood or cedar siding with vinyl siding can help eliminate pest problems almost entirely. That’s reason enough to skip vinyl, which doesn’t offer a food source for insects, making it a less appealing choice for pests.
Its tight installation makes it difficult for pests to find entry points, giving your home an additional line of defense against invading creatures.
Preparing Wood Siding for Vinyl Installation
First ensure the foundation is set before putting quality siding over traditional wood siding. Taking this step is essential to a smooth vinyl siding replacement. These steps not only protect the infrastructure but also enhance the home exterior, providing a timeless look and durability.
Clean and Repair Existing Siding
First, and most importantly, properly cleaning and removing the original wood siding will ensure the successful installation of the new vinyl siding. This process will clear away any buildup of dirt, mildew, or other debris that may affect the adherence of the new siding.
Pressure washing is usually successful, employing an appropriate setting that cleans the surface dirt without harming the wood. After cleaning, check the siding for signs of damage like rot or insect activity. It’s important to take the time and fix these problems.
If you ignore them, you might find yourself facing a 50% higher risk of future vinyl siding defects. Replacing damaged boards and filling gaps create a stable surface for the new siding to remain firmly attached. In fact, any home more than 50 years old should have a thorough examination for signs of moisture damage.
This step is essential as there could be hidden damage underneath.
Apply Moisture Barrier
Installing a moisture barrier is a crucial step that provides an extra line of defense against water infiltration. This barrier serves as a protective armor, preventing moisture and water from penetrating into the wood material.
Third, it protects against rot, a widespread and costly problem that increases installation costs and often requires the intervention of a seasoned professional. Vinyl siding, by its nature, minimizes moisture trapping with its built-in weep holes and loose nailing that allows for air movement.
This design improvement all but ensures that the moisture barrier is more effective. It makes the most of the siding’s inherent protective capabilities to help shield the home’s structure beneath it. The barrier should be installed smooth and flat, without any holes that would allow it to be rendered ineffective.
Ensure Proper Ventilation
Proper ventilation is critical for allowing airflow behind the vinyl siding. This natural circulation ensures moisture can never build up and creates an environment where mold is virtually impossible.
Although vinyl’s engineering advances have allowed for better air circulation, providing necessary ventilation takes a mindful and watchful effort. That means ensuring that soffit vents are clear and appropriately located to allow for airflow.
Plus, this approach saves the structural integrity of the home. It ensures a longer lifespan for your new siding. This is the most important step for houses located in humid climates or states with a lot of rain. Proper moisture management is critically important when working in these settings.
Pros and Cons of Keeping Wood Siding
Benefits of Retaining Wood Siding
Wood siding provides a classic beauty and aesthetic appeal that many homeowners find irresistible. Nothing compares to the beauty that quality siding materials add to a home with their warmth and authenticity. Suddenly, each property receives a special character that vinyl siding replacement options very much can’t match.
Picture an inviting house with a beautiful facade that inspires envy from neighbors. The natural grains and textures of wood siding are gorgeous and add a depth of character to any house. When left untreated, as wood naturally ages, it patinas, creating even more personality and charm to the home’s exterior, making it a great alternative to other materials.
This natural patina effect can give a home a deeper, richer appearance and an even more welcoming, historic feel with age. Yet another advantage to wood siding is its design versatility. It frees the homeowner from being locked into only a few styles and finishes, giving them access to a virtually limitless array of siding replacement customization options.
This flexibility provides a tremendous benefit to homeowners. It allows them to achieve a certain architectural detail or keep faith with established features on their home. Wood siding can be easily painted or stained to suit changing tastes, allowing homeowners to refresh the look of their exterior without a full replacement.
Drawbacks of Leaving Wood Siding
Though it has a wealth of aesthetic benefits, wood siding does have some negatives. Perhaps the most important of these is the demands of maintenance to keep it at its finest. It requires repainting every three to seven years to shield it from the elements and keep it looking good.
Regular maintenance can be time-consuming and costly. This variety of colors, styles, and textures available with wood makes it a more costly and laborious option than easy-to-fabricate materials such as vinyl. In tough weather climates like Westminster, Colorado, wood siding has a much shorter lifespan.
It will likely not even meet the 20 to 30-year lifespan that is common in perfect world climates. Additionally, wood siding can be prone to rot if not installed and maintained with care. Keeping up with regular maintenance, like staining or painting, is crucial to avoid damage like rot or warping.
Homeowners in climates with extreme precipitation or moisture would be wise to consider this. These circumstances create a perfect storm for moisture damage to their properties. The other factor is cost. With costs anywhere from $6-$12 per square foot, wood siding is generally more costly than vinyl.
This can scare away a lot of budget-minded homeowners or those seeking a less expensive alternative.
When to Install Vinyl Siding
Considerations for Timing
Timing your siding replacement can make all the difference in ensuring a smooth installation process and a stunning final result. Easily customizable, vinyl siding provides an attractive, economical and low-maintenance choice for homeowners. It serves as a lovely, budget-friendly option for those looking to enhance their home exterior.
Installing at the optimal time also helps ensure the vinyl siding won’t warp, buckle, or detach over time. For homes that still have traditional wood siding intact, as many homes in the Kingston area do, the timing for vinyl siding replacement can be even more critical. While wood offers a warm, beautiful look, it also demands a high level of maintenance to avoid costly damage from deterioration.
In other cases, signs of damage start to appear indicating it’s time for a replacement of wood siding, highlighting the importance of proactive home maintenance.
Signs of Trouble
Common indicators are peeling paint, moisture intrusion, or visible decay. In such cases, it’s usually advisable to begin with the removal of the old siding. This allows for the installation of a continuous housewrap.
Second, it acts as a barrier that protects the home’s structure from moisture and increases energy efficiency. In fact, many current zoning ordinances require housewrap, so including it is sometimes not an option but a requirement.
In Kingston, it’s common practice for vinyl siding installation to occur over a layer of sheathing or sometimes directly onto the existing wood. This method saves homeowners significant time and money by not requiring the old siding to be entirely removed.
Seasonal Installation Benefits
The time of year that you choose to install vinyl siding replacement is a major factor involved. Each season provides unique benefits that can help determine when you should undertake your installation. Homeowners stand to benefit immensely by working with the experts at United Better Homes, who have more than 30 years of experience in siding replacement.
Knowing the seasonal advantages that quality siding offers is sometimes the secret to a successful home improvement project. Most people will say that spring or fall are the best times of year to install vinyl siding. During these seasons, temperatures are more temperate, creating the perfect conditions for the vinyl to stretch and shrink without damaging your home siding.
This helps guarantee that the siding is installed tightly and holds up better in the long run. As summer temperatures rise, the siding contracts and expands with great intensity. When cooler weather hits, this expansion results in gaps as the siding naturally shrinks. Installation during winter’s cold temperatures can turn vinyl brittle, which raises the chance of damage during installation.
Approximately 80% of homes in Kingston have been covered in vinyl siding over traditional wood siding by now. This trend not only highlights its ever-growing popularity but also its functionality and beauty during every season. If you’re considering making the switch, the timing will depend on your individual circumstances.
It further depends on the condition of your existing siding. Working with knowledgeable professionals can help you determine when the best time for your home exterior upgrade will be, ensuring a successful installation.
Conclusion
Replacing wood with vinyl siding makes sense for most homeowners. Vinyl siding provides durability and requires less upkeep than wood, making it a smart choice for those looking to ease maintenance efforts. Because the installation process is simple, particularly if existing wood siding is sound, the result is a streamlined, efficient project. Vinyl comes in a wide range of styles and colors, giving homeowners creative freedom to design their home according to their individual taste.
In addition, vinyl siding actually increases energy efficiency, helping to make homes more comfortable in any season. When the right installation techniques and weather conditions come together, vinyl siding can create a beautiful finished product and safeguard the home against the elements. If you’ve been thinking about making a move, check out vinyl siding to see why it’s the smart choice. It truly pairs functionality with style, providing long-term return to your home.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I install vinyl siding over existing wood siding?
In fact, many homeowners can opt for vinyl siding replacement over traditional wood siding. Be sure to ensure that the wood is not rotten, clean, and dry, as proper preparation for siding replacement will help guarantee a positive outcome.
What are signs I should remove old wood siding before installing vinyl?
Signs of trouble, such as pest infestation, rot, or extreme warping, can indicate serious issues with home siding. These concerns compromise structural integrity and should be addressed before vinyl siding replacement.
How do I prepare wood siding for vinyl installation?
You just need to clean the home siding as best as possible. Patch and repair damages, and power wash to remove loose paint or debris. Ensure the surface is clean, sound, smooth, and dry before applying vinyl siding replacement.
What are the benefits of keeping wood siding under vinyl?
Retaining quality siding, especially when combined with the addition of interior insulation, will enhance insulation and soundproofing. It also serves as an effective solution against moisture and pests.
What are the drawbacks of keeping wood siding under vinyl?
Moisture can become trapped under poor quality siding, leading to serious deterioration and rot, which can cover up structural problems that worsen over time.
When is the best time to install vinyl siding?
Installing vinyl siding during moderate temperatures, typically in spring or fall, ensures a better adherence of quality siding and minimizes peeling as the material expands and contracts with temperature extremes.
How does vinyl siding compare to wood in terms of maintenance?
Because of the materials used, vinyl siding replacement is virtually maintenance-free. This quality siding option doesn’t need paint and is resistant to rot and pests, unlike traditional wood siding, which requires periodic painting and may be more vulnerable to deterioration.
