3 MIN READ
The Scope Of Your Siding Project
Before you conduct your first web search for a siding contractor, you need to have a good idea of what it is you need. Are you looking for a siding upgrade? Or, do you have some siding that is damaged and needs repairing? Or, maybe what you’re looking for is to have some areas repaired and a fresh coat of paint. Believe it or not, your answers to these questions will lead you down different paths—with dramatically different price points.
Underlying Issues
Check to see if you have any underlying issues like dry rot. Many times you won’t be able to tell if you have dry rot until a dry rot specialist inspects your home; however, signs of rot include:
- You Easily Penetrate Wood Surfaces with a Screwdriver
- Cracked or Peeling Paint Around Windows, Doors, and Trim
- You Notice Wood Beginning to Shrink, Darken, or Crack
Change Orders
If your contractor discovers dry rot during the siding “take-off” process, remediation is required before your house gets new siding. It’s something you can’t cover-up, and a licensed contractor could lose his or her license for doing it. That said, the new siding contract you signed didn’t cover dry rot, and if it did, it probably indicated that those repairs require a change order. Your siding project just became a lot more expensive, and your contractor will likely have to bring in an expert, like SFW Construction, to remediate the dry rot.
Siding Contractor -VS- Siding Repair Contractor
Siding Contractors
Most large siding contractors prefer to work with clients interested in full re-side projects. They typically have strong partnerships with nationally known siding manufacturers, like James Hardie Siding, and some of them are even resellers of those products. For a large siding contractor, their margins are in the product and their ability to do a quick “take-off” and installation of new siding. We want to think these guys are honest and don’t cut corners. However, the easiest way to make more money here is to finish the job early, and that sometimes results in a siding construction defect (mainly on new homes).
Siding Repair Contractors
On the other hand, siding repair contractors focus on targeted areas—sometimes construction defects. They work to replace the damaged siding and any damage underneath. A repair like this costs a fraction of what it costs to re-side an entire home. Depending on the overall shape your siding is in, it may just require some targeted siding repairs, a fresh coat of paint, and it’ll look and function as good as new.
Choosing The Right Siding Contractor
Do You Want New Siding?
Every successful siding project begins with hiring the right contractor. There are many siding contractors to choose from, but not all are the right siding contractor for your job. If you are looking to upgrade old vinyl siding to Hardie Siding, a large contractor might be the right choice because you will see savings in the product, as they buy in bulk. If that’s in your scope, be sure to check out the contractor’s website and look at some online reviews. Better yet, ask your friends and family!
Do You Want Your Siding Repaired?
If a siding repair is in your scope, look at a company like SFW Construction. What sets us apart is our ability to provide a full-service approach to the project. We are dry rot repair experts and can take care of any underlying issue during the discovery process. Next, we can perform a targeted siding repair that integrates the new product with the existing product for a seamless match. Finally, we can bring in a paint crew who can color match the repair, so it looks like you never had an issue.
Make sure whomever you hire is licensed, bonded, insured, and experienced in the siding product you want. Good luck, and if you have questions, please don’t hesitate to get a free consultation from SFW Construction.