Pros & Cons For Painting Old Siding VS Siding Replacement

If only it lasts forever — but sadly, after years of exposure to weathering elements, our siding will start to fade. As property owners, we make every effort to maintain the aesthetic quality of our area. Often, we are faced with a decision task whether to repair the siding or paint it. Millions of property owners around the country, particularly those with vinyl siding cladding on the exterior of their homes, are troubled by this question. To make the task easier for you here’s everything you need to know about painting vinyl siding pros and cons.

PAINTING OLD SIDING VS. SIDING REPLACEMENT

Changing the siding’s color is one of the easiest ways to refresh the look of your real estate. But is it better to paint over your siding or replace it? Benefits can be found in both. There are also reasons not to replace your siding as well as reasons not to paint it. Here’s a checklist to help you decide.

What to check?

• Age of the Siding

When was the last time you painted over your siding? How many times can you really paint your siding? And a list of questions comes to mind but as an owner, you need to prioritize that purpose of the siding is to protect the interior of your property, if your siding is over 20 years old think twice before painting because you’ll probably replace it in the following 5 to 7 years. Consult an expert siding contractor to check your siding and assess its overall condition to help you make the right decision.

• Cost of Painting vs. Replacing

Painting makes more sense in some situations. For instance, painting can seem more appealing if your siding is in good condition and you have a custom color in mind that manufacturers don’t produce. This is a win situation for painting because not you’ll obtain the color you want, but you’ll also save money. But how much does it actually cost to replace your siding — On a 2,000-square-foot structure, the typical property owner will spend $4,300 or more on installation. The size, amount, and type of materials used in your property’s construction all affect how much it will ultimately cost to replace the siding.

• Your property’s aesthetic appearance

Giving your home a striking new look with siding replacement can significantly boost visual appeal in addition to enhancing the structural integrity of your house. Even if the only thing you’ve updated about your property is the siding, it will still seem better and brighter. The ability to entirely modify the color or even the overall appearance of your home is yet another fantastic benefit of siding replacement. It’s important to keep in mind that lighter hues or shades will assist block off the sun’s heat, lowering your electricity costs.

• Preserve or increase home value.

Your structure’s value may rise by two to five percent after receiving a fresh coat of paint on the siding. According to many professional estimates, if you replace your siding to try to sell your house for more money, you’ll probably only earn back about 80% of the costs. But you also need to consider that, it is the exterior appeal that draws buyers to your property if you plan to sell it. If the home’s previous siding had been left in place, would they have been as willing to provide a price?

• The time and effort it takes.

Starting a DIY home improvement can be an intimidating task. You run the danger of developing headaches and nausea from breathing paint fumes, lead poisoning if the property was previously painted with lead-based paints, irritation from mold exposure, and injuries from falling off an unsafe ladder – plus the constant effort it needs to track the progress and costs of the project.  

Here are a few pointers that will be useful for your job – if you have considered painting over replacing your siding.

• Make sure you’re working with a spotless, clean surface ready for a primer for the best possible outcomes.

• Check the weather forecast – it shouldn’t be too hot, windy, humid, or wet.

• You don’t have to do it all by yourself! You can always contact a siding contractor when the work becomes too much.

• Be careful! Choose a paint color that is the same shade as or lighter than the siding present paint. Darker colors require more maintenance so keep that in mind.

• Apply at least two coats of paint and wait at least 24 hours between layers of paint.

It’s likely that you’ve read or heard elsewhere that painting your siding is not the best choice and those who have the budget will probably lean toward replacement. Also, you should note that when painting damaged siding that needs to be replaced you might be setting yourself up for a more costly replacement – merely delaying the inevitable and most likely increasing the project’s ultimate cost.

There are many more varieties of siding available now that may appeal to you far more than a paint job, so if you want a complete overhaul, painting might not be the best alternative. Over the past several years, siding producers have increased their textures and colors. These are alternatives you have with siding replacement that you won’t get through painting, such as adding scallops for a fresh appearance or an underlayment that can increase energy efficiency.

Here are a few things to anticipate when you decide towards replacing your siding.

• When you pick a siding contractor to professionally install new siding, you won’t encounter the “intimidating” flaws that you make when painting.
• Items that are hanging or resting against walls, as well as those on shelves, should be taken away because they could fall and break.
• Expect a higher cost of an initial investment than simply painting over your current siding, but will surely give you a higher ROI for the next 20 to 40 years.
• Construction can be a disruptive process, which cannot be avoided at all. If you conduct your business from your property, plan ahead an alternative schedule to optimize your costs.
• While the replacement project is ongoing, always keep safety in mind. A professional contractor will do their best to tidy up as they work. When the project starts, wear sturdy shoes or work boots to avoid nails or debris from injuring you.

Speak to a certified siding contractor and request an inspection if you still have concerns. This will enable you to decide on the next measures you should take based on the available information.