What to Expect During a Siding Replacement Project

Replacing your siding is a major home improvement project that can transform the appearance of your home while providing important protection from Wisconsin's changing weather. For homeowners throughout southern Wisconsin, including Fort Atkinson, Beloit, Oconomowoc, Madison, and Waukesha, knowing what to expect before a siding replacement can make the entire process easier.

While every home and siding project is different, knowing what to expect can help you prepare for the project and make informed decisions along the way.

What Happens During a Siding Replacement?

A siding replacement involves more than simply removing old siding and installing new material. Your contractor will evaluate your existing exterior, prepare the walls for installation, address problems that may be uncovered, and properly install the new siding and finishing components.

Here is what you can generally expect throughout the process.

1. Siding Inspection and Project Estimate

The process starts with an evaluation of your home's existing siding and exterior. This is also your opportunity to discuss your goals for the project, whether you are replacing siding because of age or damage or simply want to update the appearance of your home.

Your contractor will assess the condition of the siding, take measurements, and look for visible areas of concern. More specifically, the contractor should also pay attention to areas where water is most likely to enter, including around windows and doors, roof intersections, corners, penetrations and areas where siding meets other materials such as brick or stone. Existing trim, soffit and fascia may also affect the scope of the project.

Based on the size and condition of your home, siding selection, and scope of work, your contractor will provide an estimate for the project.

2. Choosing Your New Siding

Next, you will select the siding material, style, and color for your home. Your choice can affect the appearance, durability, maintenance requirements, and overall cost of the project.

Homeowners can choose from several siding materials, including vinyl, wood, fiber cement, and shake siding. Each offers different advantages depending on your home, budget, and desired appearance. Learn more about Vinyl, Wood, Fiber Cement, vs. Shake Siding

Color is another important consideration. Look at how potential siding colors coordinate with permanent or long lasting features of your exterior, including your roof, brick or stone, doors, windows, and trim. Viewing physical siding samples outside your home can also help you see how a color looks in natural light before making your final selection.

3. Preparing Your Home for Siding Replacement

Before installation begins, there are a few things you can do to help prepare your property.

Move patio furniture, grills, planters, decorations, and other belongings away from the exterior walls. Vehicles should also be parked away from the work area to provide the crew with room for materials, equipment, and debris.

You may also want to remove fragile pictures, mirrors, and decorations from exterior walls inside your home. Removing old siding and fastening new materials can create vibrations that travel through the walls.

4. Removing the Existing Siding

Once the property is prepared, the crew can begin removing the existing siding.

Removing the old material gives the contractor access to the exterior wall underneath and provides an opportunity to identify problems that were not visible during the initial inspection.

During removal, homeowners should expect noise and debris around the work area as the crew works section by section around the home.

5. Inspecting for Damage Underneath the Siding

You cannot always tell what is happening underneath your siding by looking at the exterior of your home. Once the existing siding is removed, your contractor has an opportunity to inspect areas that have been covered for years or even decades.

Contractors will look for deteriorated or damaged sheathing, signs of moisture intrusion, rot, mold, insect damage, and other conditions that could affect the new installation. Extra attention may be needed around windows and doors, roof intersections, utility penetrations, and other areas where water can potentially enter the exterior wall system.

Finding damage does not necessarily mean there is a major structural problem. However, damaged materials should be addressed before they are covered with new siding. Installing new siding over deteriorated sheathing or an unresolved moisture problem can allow the damage to continue behind the new exterior.

Some conditions cannot be identified until the existing siding is removed. If unexpected repairs are necessary, your contractor should explain what was discovered, why it needs to be corrected, and how the additional work will affect the project's cost or timeline before proceeding.

6. Preparing the Exterior Walls

Before new siding goes on, the surface underneath needs to be properly prepared. This step is important because siding is only one part of the system designed to protect your home from the elements.

The sheathing covers the home's framing and provides a solid surface for the exterior wall assembly. A weather resistant barrier, commonly referred to as house wrap, helps prevent water that gets behind the siding from reaching the sheathing. Flashing is used around windows, doors, roof intersections, and other vulnerable areas to help direct water away from the structure.

Why does all of this matter if new siding is going to cover it? Siding is designed to shed most rain and moisture, but it is not the home's only defense against water. Wind driven rain and moisture can reach areas behind the siding through joints, openings, and penetrations. The materials underneath need to work together to manage that moisture and protect the structure.

Before installation begins, damaged sheathing or other underlying problems should be repaired and the weather resistant barrier and flashing should be properly incorporated into the exterior wall system. Much of this work will no longer be visible once the siding is installed, but it can have a significant impact on how well the finished exterior performs.

7. Installing the New Siding

Once the exterior walls are prepared, installation of the new siding can begin. The crew will install the siding along with the appropriate corners, trim, and finishing components around windows, doors, vents, utility penetrations, and other exterior features.

The exact installation method depends on the siding material and manufacturer's requirements. Different products have specific requirements for fastening, spacing, clearances, joints, and moisture management. Vinyl siding, for example, expands and contracts as temperatures change and must be installed in a way that allows for that movement.

Details around windows, doors, rooflines, and other transitions are particularly important because these areas can be vulnerable to water intrusion when they are not properly finished and flashed.

Following the manufacturer's installation specifications can also be important for maintaining applicable product warranties. Improper installation can contribute to problems such as buckling, warping, loose siding, uneven seams, gaps, and water intrusion even when a quality siding product was used.

8. Final Inspection and Cleanup

After installation is complete, the contractor should inspect the finished siding and exterior details to make sure the project has been completed properly. The crew will also clean up siding scraps, packaging, fasteners, and other project debris from around the property.

Before the project is considered complete, this is a good opportunity for homeowners to walk around the home, review the finished work, and ask any remaining questions about their new siding.

How Long Does Siding Replacement Take?

There is no single timeline for every siding replacement project.

The amount of time required depends on several factors, including:

• The size of your home

• The type of siding being removed

• The type of siding being installed

• The number of windows, doors, corners, and other architectural features

• The condition of the exterior underneath the existing siding

• Repairs that are discovered after removal

• Weather conditions

A larger or more complex home will naturally take longer than a smaller home with a straightforward exterior. Discovering damaged sheathing or other underlying problems can also add time to the project. Your contractor should provide a general timeline before work begins and keep you informed if weather, unexpected repairs, or other circumstances affect the schedule.

When Is the Best Time to Replace Siding in Wisconsin?

Wisconsin weather can be tough on your home's exterior. From summer storms and high winds to freezing temperatures, snow and ice, siding in communities throughout southern Wisconsin has to withstand changing conditions throughout the year.

Summer and fall can be a good time to evaluate the condition of your siding before Wisconsin's colder weather arrives. Addressing damaged or deteriorating siding before winter helps ensure your home's exterior is ready for snow, ice, wind, and freezing temperatures.

If you are considering siding replacement, it is also important to plan ahead. Contractor schedules can fill quickly during peak exterior remodeling seasons, and some siding materials may need to be ordered in advance.

Frequently Asked Questions About Siding Replacement

How do I know if I need to replace my siding?

Cracks, warping, loose siding, rot, moisture damage, and widespread deterioration can all indicate that siding needs attention. Whether you need a repair or complete replacement depends on the age, material, and extent of the damage. Learn more about the 7 Warning Signs That You Need to Replace Your Siding.

Can You Stay in Your Home During Siding Replacement?

In most cases, homeowners can remain in their homes while siding is being replaced. However, you should be prepared for some disruption during working hours.

Siding removal and installation can be noisy, and fastening materials to the exterior can cause vibrations inside the house. Workers will also need access around the perimeter of your home, so portions of your yard, driveway, patio, or other outdoor spaces may be temporarily unavailable.

Do I need to replace all of my siding if only one area is damaged?

Not necessarily. Localized damage may be repairable, particularly if the remaining siding is still in good condition and a compatible replacement material is available. If damage is widespread or the existing siding is nearing the end of its service life, replacing the entire exterior may make more sense. A professional siding inspection can help determine whether repair or replacement is the better option.

What type of siding should I choose?

The right siding depends on your budget, desired appearance, maintenance preferences, and priorities for your home. Vinyl, wood, fiber cement, and shake siding each offer different advantages.

Siding Replacement in Southern Wisconsin

Whether your existing siding has been damaged, is showing its age, or you are ready to update your home's exterior, PK Contractors provides professional siding installation, repair and replacement throughout southern Wisconsin.

With locations in Fort Atkinson and Beloit, PK Contractors serves homeowners throughout Fort Atkinson, Beloit, Oconomowoc, Madison, Waukesha and surrounding communities. We install vinyl, wood, fiber cement and shake siding from trusted manufacturers including CertainTeed, Mastic, LP SmartSide and James Hardie.

Contact PK Contractors today to request a free siding estimate.