• If you’re unsure if it’s time to replace your home’s siding, ask yourself these questions:
• Has your siding begun to rot?
• Is your siding bubbling or blistering?
• Do you see signs of insect or wildlife damage?
• Is your siding cracked?
• Is your existing siding loose or falling off the side of your house?
• Are your energy costs really high?
• Is your siding extremely faded from UV damage?
• Do you see any signs of mold or mildew damage?

If you’ve answered yes to any of these questions, it’s time to have your siding inspected by a qualified siding professional.

The technology and design of vinyl siding have improved by leaps and bounds over the past few decades. Simply put, high-quality vinyl siding provides the highly coveted look of traditional wood siding, but without all of the maintenance or hassle. Vinyl siding won’t rot like wood and it won’t dent or scratch like aluminum siding. It provides the best of both worlds. In addition, premium vinyl siding will maintain its color for years and will also provide a layer of high-performance insulation with an exceptional R-value (resistance to heat flow). You won’t need to paint, stain, or sand as your vinyl siding won’t fade. It also comes with no health warnings as it’s impervious to moisture where wood can be degraded by moisture-causing mold, etc. Learn more on why vinyl siding is superior to other forms of home siding. 

Vinyl siding is virtually maintenance-free. The fade-resistant technology in high-quality vinyl siding will remove the need to ever paint your siding.  In regards to cleaning, you may want to rinse your siding once a year with a garden hose or an all-natural cleaning solution of 70% water and 30% vinegar. You can also use a soft rag or a long-handled gentle bristle brush if needed.

Click here for additional tips to clean vinyl siding. On the flip side, wood requires repainting and caulking, washing and is prone to moisture degradation and fiber cement (Hardie siding) requires periodic caulking, repainting, it chips and scratches, and is also prone to moisture degradation.

High quality vinyl siding is designed to withstand winds of up to 200 MPH. Quality vinyl panels are flexible and strong, won’t bend or break, and will repel rain. In addition, progressive foam insulation fills the gap between the siding and the sheathing, not only providing great insulating value, but this also further aids in stability for a lifetime. With its highest R-Value of cladding, insulating over wall studs, it reduces thermal bridging which cuts down on the energy you lose through the studs of your home’s walls.  This is crucial for our new England weather.

When you’re ready to replace your siding, make sure that your replacement siding will meet the test of time. Your replacement siding should come with a transferable lifetime warranty in both product and installation. Make sure your vinyl siding has a high R-value – at Coastal Windows & Exteriors we offer vinyl siding with an R-Value of up to 1.5” thick which will provide exceptional insulation. Make sure your siding comes with an innovative locking mechanism combined with a rolled top nail hem to stand up to extreme winds.  Look for foam back siding made from Neopor which provides up to 19% better insulating power (R-value) than conventional EPS foam when you need it most.  It also has a very high moisture vapor transmission rate.  As always, make sure to research your siding contractor in advance to make sure they are licensed, insured, and have a trusted reputation.