Siding has many jobs to do, from bringing your style to your home’s appearance to protecting the building from the elements. Eventually, it’s time to replace your siding, and these are the signs to watch out for. 

Texture Changes
If you notice changes in the texture of your siding, like peeling, cracks, chips, holes or a new chalkiness, there may be a problem with moisture penetrating the siding. It could also indicate wood rot or mold growing on the surface of the house. The presence of a chalky substance means that the materials originally used in the manufacturing process have started breaking down.

Buckling, Warped Siding
When you look at your Minneapolis home from the side, do you see any bulges or dips in the siding? If so, this means that the materials are warped or buckled, which means there’s underlying water damage. Odds are you need to replace the siding, because it’s no longer doing its job.

Fungus and Mold
The presence of fungus or mold on the outside of the home is a tell tale sign of an ongoing moisture problem. Usually, if there’s mold on the outside of a home, there’s mold on the inside as well, which can pose a serious health risk to you and your family.

Peeling Paint or Wallpaper
If your paint or wallpaper is peeling for no reason, that you can see, it may mean that your siding is failing. This happens because moisture which penetrated your home’s protective layer is seeping in through the wall and breaking down the glue holding your wallpaper in place or the paint on your walls.

Seam Separation
When the seams between pieces of siding look wider than they should, you run the risk of water damage. This can be caused by either improper installation or the aging process of your siding.

If your home is showing any of these signs, it may be time to get your siding replaced.

Quarve Contracting installs siding products such as James Hardie fiber cement siding as well as other siding products. 

If you’ve just gotten estimates for a much-needed exterior repainting of your house, you may want to consider your options before you sign that contract.  At first thought, painting might seem cheaper than having siding installed, but consider these facts:

• An average-size, one-story house can cost $3,000+ to paint, assuming there aren’t any repairs needed to the wood siding.  Multi-level or larger homes can cost $5,000+.  And if your home was built before 1978, it’s probably got lead-containing paint on it, which means an additional charge for EPA-required lead abatement, plus you have to hire a lead-safe certified painting contractor.
• That new paint job will only last a few years.  Assuming it was well prepped and quality paint was used, you may expect to see signs of failing paint in about 7 years or so; up to 10 if two coats of paint were applied.  Areas which get full southern sun may develop problems sooner.
• A new coat of paint won’t contribute anything to reducing your energy costs; energy-efficient siding can cut your heating and cooling bills, which offsets the cost.

In addition to being virtually maintenance-free, modern siding products such as insulated vinyl and fiber cement resist mold and mildew development as well as insect infestation.  Painted wood doesn’t have any resistant to water or insect damage.  Also, a fiber-cement product such as siding from The James Hardie Company is highly fire-resistant, which makes your home safer.  In addition, many insurance companies offer discounts to homeowners who install fiber cement siding.

You can also choose from steel siding, which is a great choice for storm-prone climates such as we have here in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area.  Seamless steel siding is strong and durable, impact-resistant, and is also recyclable, which is a plus if you’re looking for a green product.  It also comes with a lifetime warranty, something your painting contractor won’t offer.

If you’re thinking about repainting your house this spring, think about getting estimates for siding as well.  When you compare the costs, you’ll find that in the long run, new energy-efficient siding is a better option. 

One of the hot trends in home improvement these days is fiber cement siding such as that from The James Hardie Company.  In fact, Hardie siding is the preferred choice of TV’s “Extreme Makeover Home Edition.”   It’s also the #1 siding choice of many builders, remodelers, and homeowners.

Why Is James Hardie Siding Special?

Here are some of the reasons:

• It’s flame-resistant and noncombustible.  That means it won’t catch fire from a lightning strike or a stray ember, and it won’t burn like wood siding or melt like vinyl siding.  It’s such a great fire protection product that many homeowner’s insurance companies offer discounts for homes sided with fiber cement siding.
• James Hardie has been the world leader in siding products for 100* years.  That’s a lot of history behind their products.
• It’s much thicker than vinyl siding – up to five times the thickness.  That means a better insulating product. 
• Hardie’s ColorPlus Technology means a factory-baked-on finish that is much more fade-resistant than vinyl siding.  That beautiful color will stay fresh for years.
• It’s resistant to damage from wind (up to 150 mph), rain, mold, insects, and rodents.
• It replicates the beauty of real wood without all the upkeep.
• For years. homeowners and real estate professionals have ranked it as the #1 siding product in terms of return on investment.
• Unlike vinyl, it’s a green product, made from natural resources.
• Available in a variety of style profiles and colors.

A Great Low-Maintenance Alternative to Vinyl or Wood Siding

If you’ve been contemplating replacing your old wood siding for a more maintenance-free product and you’ve looked at vinyl, take a look at fiber cement siding from The James Hardie Company.  Hardie siding comes complete with trim and accessories to provide a unified and durable look for your home.

Choose the industry leader and the choice of one of TV’s hottest remodeling shows.  Find out why so many people are opting for James Hardie siding.  Quarve Contracting is proud to install James Hardie and other siding products in the St. Paul/Minneapolis area. 

Vinyl siding is an economical choice, and it’s very popular, and with good reason.  Quality vinyl siding is not the flimsy plastic strips which many homes got finished with in the 70′s.  Today’s vinyl siding products have a wide range of profiles, some doing a great job of replicating genuine wood, without all the maintenance and drawbacks.

Vinyl siding first hit the market in the ’50s, as a more attractive alternative to aluminum siding.  While there are homeowners who prefer the natural look of real wood, many people today – especially those who are approaching retirement and would like to do more with their free time and financial resources than exterior maintenance chores – prefer the durable yet low-maintenance benefits vinyl siding provides.

For a good basic understanding of the benefits of vinyl siding, This Old House has an informative overview of vinyl siding, including the benefits as well as the importance of a good installation job.  And while this won’t settle the ongoing debate between vinyl and wood fans, it is noteworthy that approximately a third of American homeowners choose vinyl for their homes.

Quarve Contracting installs a number of quality siding products, including vinyl Quest by Mastic and Royal Woodland 16 siding, which is also available in a board and batten version in addition to the traditional lap siding.  We also offer fiber cement siding from The James Hardie Company as well as steel siding from U.S. Seamless.