How Do I Know if I Need New Siding?

When you are trying to decide on what your next project will be,
there are countless options.
However, few home improvements can pay for
themselves the way a new siding can.
Installing new siding on a home can
relieve you of the hassle of constant painting, as
well as providing greater curb appeal
and enhancing the value of the property.
No matter your motivation,
MW has the variety and expertise to get your project started off right


Siding is your home’s first defense against the wind and rain.
It acts as a skin to shed the
elements down and away from your home as well as to add aesthetic beauty.
There may be many reasons you would consider adding new siding,
some tips on how you know it’s time to update are included below.

Indications that you might need new siding:

• You are building a new home or addition
• The existing siding requires excessive maintenance. You may be tired of having to paint
year after year, or the siding requires frequent repair of damage.
• Additional insulation to improve heating and cooling efficiency is needed. It is much
easier to add insulation before siding and new sidings can increase the R-value (a
measure of insulating ability) of your home.
• Existing siding has dry rot or insect damage
• Some rooms of your home are too warm or too cold, indicating inadequate insulation.
• Blistering wallpaper or peeling paint inside the home.
• Existing siding is showing signs of staining, uneven weathering, buckling or decay.
• You want to update the look of your home’s exterior and improve curb appeal.

Just because your siding meets some of the above criteria,
does not mean you need to replaceyour siding.
Your friendly MW salesperson can help you to determine
whether or not repair or replacement is the right option
and walk you through the decision process.

What are the Main Components of a Siding Project?

Siding Panels: Vinyl, Fiber Cement, Natural Wood (plank and plywood), Wood
Composite, Brick, Stone, or Metal (usually steel) cladding that is meant
to shed water and protect your home from the effects of the weather
while providing aesthetic appeal to your home.

Backer board:
A flat material used on the face of the house, usually plywood or foam
insulating board, applied over the existing wall surface in order to
provide an even surface for installing siding. In new construction
applications, this is usually OSB or another panel product, mounted
directly to the wall studs or over existing siding.

House wrap:
A moisture barrier, preventing precipitation from getting into the stud
wall construction while allowing water vapor to pass out from the
interior living space to the outdoors.

Trim:
Siding accessories, including J-Blocks, starter strip, corners, window &
door surrounds, fascia, soffit, and channel that give a siding job a
professional appearance while creating a weather resistant system.

Flashing:
Metal or other material installed around windows and doors to divert
moisture and protect from water infiltration


A siding project is a system of components working together to shield your home from the
elements.