Installing new sidings is one way to give your home a facelift and improve its curb appeal. Apart from enhancing your home’s curb appeal, new sidings can also significantly increase your home’s value.
Spring is the ideal time for siding installation, because the mild temperatures make it perfect for construction work. Like any other home project, you want a fast and seamless siding installation. Unfortunately, most homeowners are oblivious of common siding installation mistakes that throw off the entire project.
Today, we’ll be highlighting some siding installation mistakes you should avoid for successful siding installation.
1. Using Cheap Low-Quality Sidings
There’s always the temptation to use cheap, low-quality siding in an attempt to cut costs. Cheap sidings tend to deteriorate faster, and are likely to crack, sag, and fade after a short while. That’s why you should always settle for high-quality sidings, despite the hefty price tag.
It’s worth noting that re-siding a mid-sized home will recoup about 78.2% of the project’s cost. This means whatever you spend on your siding project will eventually pay off. Cheap, low-grade sidings are an absolute no-no.
2. Picking the Wrong Color and Style Combination
Your sidings are among the most observable features of your home. As such, it’s important to put a lot of thought and time into picking out a color for your sidings. The wrong color combinations could hurt your home’s aesthetic appeal.
Avoid going with bold colors that may seem a bit eccentric to the average person. These colors may clash with the rest of the exterior and even lower your house value. If you’re having trouble picking a color, you can always find valuable advice online or get help from an exterior designer.
Remember, you might have to sell the home sooner or later. You need to pick a siding style and color that will appeal to most home buyers on the market. Avoid going over the top with your siding colors to make it easier to sell in the future.
3. Picking the Wrong Type of Siding
Before exploring different siding styles, it’s important to first choose the right type of siding for your home. There are many different types of sidings available for your consideration, and picking the right one can be quite a daunting task.
Doing a little research on the various types of sidings can go a long way in helping you pick the right type for your home. It would be a huge bummer to waste a lot of money on the wrong siding.
Vinyl siding is among the cheapest types of siding for your home, but easily bends and breaks under pressure. Stucco sidings are durable and last a lifetime, but will cost you an arm and a leg.
4. Hiring the Wrong People for the Job
It’s vital that you get professional siding contractors for your siding installation. The first thing to check for with a siding contractor is their license and insurance. Next, inquire about their experience and whether they can point you to any clients they’ve worked with before.
Online reviews and testimonials will give you an idea of the company’s proficiency and quality of service. Don’t put too much trust in on-site reviews; instead, look at authority sites like the BBB and Yelp for more accurate reviews. Explore all your options and pick a siding installation company that suits your needs.
5. Doing the Installation By Yourself
You might have built a considerable DIY skillset over the years, but siding installation isn’t a job you can do by yourself. Siding installation is a complex job that requires lots of expertise and experience to get right. A few Youtube videos are nothing compared to years of siding installation experience.
Leave your siding installation to a professional siding installation service for the best results. At the very least, you should hire a handyperson with a solid team to install your sidings. Leaving it to the pros guarantees a perfect job and ensures you don’t spend your money on tools you’ll probably never use again.
6. Overlapping Siding Joints
Your siding installers should be extra careful not to overlap the siding joints. Overlapping joints will give your siding a weird wavy look. You certainly won’t impress your guests and neighbors with a wavy-looking siding.
Give clear instructions about overlapping joints so that the siding installers can be extra careful. The overlap at the end of your sidings should be between 1 to 1 ¼ inches. Anything above that is too much and will look terrible on your house.
7. Wrong Nailing Technique
Despite wanting a firm siding, it’s never a good idea to nail your siding too tightly. That’s because as temperatures fluctuate, so does the siding expand and contract. Nailing the siding too tight will restrict its movement, making it crack or buckle.
That said, it’s also not a good idea to nail your siding too loosely. That’s because loose nails will eventually make your siding sag during summer. As a rule of thumb, ensure there’s a spacing of about 1/32 inches between the siding and the nail head for proper nailing.
Also, ensure you can’t see the nails’ heads or ensure they’re barely visible after nailing the sidings in place. Visible nails may create holes that trap water vapor and lead to rot or mold growth and proliferation.
8. Failing to Leave Enough Clearance
It’s important to leave just enough clearance so you don’t trap moisture between the siding. That means your siding shouldn’t touch the roof, trim or the ground. Too much clearance will lead to wood rot, which could destroy your siding if severe.
Avoid These Siding Installation Mistakes at All Costs
Now that you know some of the most common siding installation mistakes, it’s on you to avoid them at all costs. Remember, your siding is only as good as the material you use for your siding. Also, always leave siding installation to the professionals for immaculate results.
Schedule an appointment today for professional and expedient siding installation.
