Homeowners who are looking to add value to their home often find the greatest return on investment when they focus on aesthetic upgrades. Increasing a home’s curb appeal is consistently identified by real estate agents as one of the top steps homeowners can take to improve their sales prospects.
The Benefits Of Re-siding A Home
Updating a home’s siding is one of the most effective ways of improving a home’s appearance and appeal to buyers, and it can also provide energy savings and greater protection from the elements.
Increased Curb Appeal
Siding is one of the first things that prospective buyers will notice about a home, so ensuring it is in top condition and visually appealing should be a priority for those looking to sell. The 2018 Remodeling Impact Report from the National Association of Realtors revealed that 99% of Realtors feel curb appeal is important for attracting a buyer. In addition, when recent home buyers were questioned about the features that were most important to them, nearly 30% chose the category of windows, doors and siding installation.
Energy Savings
In addition to adding to a property’s curb appeal, re-siding a home can help to control energy costs. This makes it a smart investment whether homeowners are considering putting their house up for sale or they plan to live in it in the long term.
Greater Protection
Another benefit of new siding is its ability to guard a home against damage related to the outdoors, including fire, water and pests. Aging or damaged siding can result in mold and wall deterioration, and it can even compromise the home’s structural integrity. Poor siding can also result in higher energy costs.
Signs That Siding Should Be Replaced Or Repaired
Some of the signs that a home’s siding should be replaced or repaired include:
- The presence of mold
- The development of bubbles beneath the siding
- Rotted or warped panels
- Higher energy costs
- Loose or cracked panels
- Signs of moisture inside the home
- Holes in panels
- A frequent need for repainting
When Is Repair Appropriate?
It is not always necessary to fully replace the siding if only a few panels or boards are damaged. In some cases, it may be enough to pressure-wash dirty or moldy siding to make it look fresh and clean. Then, homeowners can inspect the siding more closely for signs of damage that go beyond dirt, paint or a small amount of mold.
Professional siding contractors can replace individual panels. If the damage is limited to just one side of the home, another option may be having only one side of the house’s siding replaced.
Different approaches are needed to repair the different types of siding available. For example, wood panels can be removed and replaced or repaired by filling in holes, but aluminum and vinyl siding tend to need the entire panel replaced as there are no easy repairs for these materials.
Types Of Siding That Can Increase A Home’s Value
There are many options available when it comes to siding materials and colors. Some of the best choices for increasing a home’s value include:
- Fiber Cement – Fiber cement is composed of a mixture of cement, wood particles and sand. It has an appearance that is very similar to wood, but it is more durable and is considered a more upscale material than vinyl. When installed correctly, fiber cement is also insect-proof. Some of the benefits of fiber cement siding include its ability to resist fire, termites, rot and moisture. In addition, it is a material that does not flex, which makes it less likely to crack.
- Vinyl – Vinyl is one of the most popular siding materials thanks to its affordable price and lightweight nature. Additionally, it requires very little in the way of maintenance. Homeowners are often drawn to vinyl siding because it is available in a broad variety of colors, styles and prices.
- Foam – Foam core and foam-backed vinyl siding are excellent options because they create a solid foam barrier that allows the vinyl to rest flat against the home and reduce the impact of objects and weather conditions.
- Wood – Many buyers are drawn to the rustic and natural appearance of wood. However, it is a very high-maintenance siding material that is also vulnerable to water damage and insects, which means that it has fallen out of favor among homeowners.
The Cost Of New Siding
When a home’s siding needs to be fully replaced, the cost is often a big concern for homeowners. Although full siding replacement is not considered a cheap home project, it does provide a good return on investment.
The overall cost of a project will depend on the type of materials used, the type of existing siding and the home’s overall size. The average cost ranges from $5,000 to $14,500.
According to Remodeling Magazine’s 2018 Cost Versus Value Report, homeowners can expect an average return on investment of 76.4% on new siding, while the National Association of Realtors’ 2017 Remodeling Impact Report noted an average return on investment of 75% for new siding.
Discuss Your Project With The Experienced Siding Contractors
If you are interested in replacing aging siding on your home, improving its energy efficiency and enhancing its appearance, reach out to the experienced siding contractors at Adelphia Exteriors to find out more about our siding repair and installation services.