The siding on your home has to be tough. In summer, it gets baked in hot sun. In winter, it gets frozen, thawed and then hammered with the occasional hailstorm. It's no surprise that siding is subject to wear and tear. The problem is that if old siding starts to allow air and moisture penetrate the external fabric of your home, you could be facing substantial repair bills. Here's what to look for.
Damaged siding?
If siding has substantial cracks between panels, especially at the corners, you should consider replacement. Once siding is warped it's difficult to make the planks overlap efficiently. You may feel your home cold in rooms where you have an outside wall with damaged siding. Cold air is probably circulating under the siding. You may also notice dampness on internal walls because rain or melting ice and snow is dripping through damaged siding into your insulating material.
Older siding?
Even when your siding is structurally sound, you may want to replace it for aesthetic reasons. It may have pitting or chipping caused by hail. Older siding is also prone to colour fading, and paint adherence on wood is often poor as the years go by. Some styles of siding are also noticeably out of style, with very limited colour and pattern choices, giving your home a dated look.
New siding solutions
With modern siding, and expert installation, your home will be better protected from the elements. Modern siding requires less maintenance, is more resistant to severe weather, reduces heating bills through better insulation, and offers a wider range of design options. It takes two to three weeks to put siding on an average home but nothing will make a bigger impact on your home's curb appeal than new siding.
GMP recommends two options, one economy and one investment grade.
Economy with vinyl
If you have a limited budget, modern vinyl could be a solution. GMP can offer 33 colour options, with three different profiles. Vinyl is virtually maintenance-free, requiring a gentle power wash every six months. It won't rot like wood, is impervious to pests, and resistant to high winds up to 240 miles per hour.
Investment grade with James Hardie
James Hardie invented their famous HardiePlank® fibre cement siding. Though more expensive than vinyl, it has many advantages.
James Hardie fibre cement siding is tougher than vinyl. It resists warping, cracking and splitting. The material requires almost no maintenance, coming with a 30-year warranty.
James Hardie siding also has strong aesthetic appeal, with a range of patterns, such as shakes, panels and natural timber effects. It comes in 20 long-lasting, fade-resistant colours that are baked on in the factory.