7 Signs Your Siding Needs Replacing Before Winter in Denver
Late October is when I walk a lot of houses with homeowners who have a nagging feeling about their siding. I'm David Kalec, owner of Remod Exteriors in Arvada, and I want to walk you through the signs your siding needs replacing before winter, and just as important, the signs that it doesn't.
Not every tired looking wall needs new siding. Sometimes a few boards, fresh caulk and good paint will carry a house for years. Other times the damage is hidden, and another winter makes it worse. This is the same walkthrough I give homeowners in Arvada, Westminster, Wheat Ridge, Lakewood, Golden, Broomfield, Aurora and Denver.
Why Winter Is Hard on Siding in the Denver Metro
Front Range winters are not just cold. They swing. A sunny afternoon can melt snow off a south wall, and that water refreezes overnight. Any gap, crack or soft spot in your siding lets that water in, and when it freezes it pushes the gap a little wider. Repeat that through a whole winter and small problems turn into bigger ones by spring.
Add our strong sun, dry air and hail, and siding here works hard. Fall is the best time to take an honest look, while problems are easy to see and you still have time to plan.
7 Signs Your Siding Needs Replacing
1. Soft, Rotting or Crumbling Boards
Push on the siding near the ground, under windows, and around decks and downspouts. If it feels soft, flakes apart or a screwdriver sinks in easily, water has been getting into it. One or two bad boards can often be replaced. Soft spots on several walls usually mean it is time to look at the whole house.
2. Warping, Buckling or Boards Pulling Loose
Siding should lie flat. If boards are wavy, bowed, curling at the ends or pulling away from the wall, something is wrong. On wood products it is usually moisture. On vinyl it can be heat, from a reflective window next door or a grill parked too close, or it can be installation that did not leave the panels room to move. Loose boards let wind driven snow get behind the siding.
3. Cracks, Holes and Hail Damage
Look for cracked or chipped boards, holes from woodpeckers, and dents or punctures from hail. A small crack on one board is a repair. A wall full of hail damage is a different conversation, and depending on your policy it may be worth having your insurance company take a look. Every policy is different, so I always tell people to check with their own agent rather than take a contractor's word for what is covered.
4. Paint That Will Not Stay On
If you painted a few years ago and the paint is already peeling, blistering or bubbling, the problem may not be the paint. Paint fails early when moisture is working its way out through the siding from behind. Good paint over wet or failing boards will not last. Our post on whether it is too late to paint this fall covers the timing side of painting, but if the same wall keeps peeling, have someone look at what is underneath first.
5. Stains, Mold or Water Damage Inside the House
Water stains on walls or ceilings near an exterior wall, or a musty smell in one room, can point to water getting past the siding, especially around windows and doors. Sometimes the fix is flashing or caulk. Sometimes the sheathing behind the siding has been wet for a long time. You will not know until someone takes a careful look.
6. Gaps, Failed Caulk and Missing Pieces
Walk the house and look at every place the siding meets something else: windows, doors, corners, the roofline, vents and the foundation. Cracked or missing caulk, open joints between boards, and pieces that blew off in a windstorm are all easy entry points for water. A few are repairable. When they show up everywhere, the siding is often at the end of its life.
7. The Siding Is Simply Worn Out
Every siding product ages. Faded and chalky vinyl, brittle panels that crack when you bump them, and wood that needs paint every couple of years are signs the product is near the end. If you are spending money on repairs every season, it may cost you less in the long run to replace it once and be done.
Repair or Replace? How I Help Denver Homeowners Decide
A lot of companies jump straight to a full replacement quote. I don't. If your siding is mostly sound and the problems are limited to a few boards, caulk or worn paint, I will tell you that. Repairs and a good paint job can be the smart move, and our exterior painting page explains how we approach it.
Replacement usually makes more sense when:
Damage shows up on several sides of the house, not just one wall
There is soft or rotting material in more than a few spots
The paint keeps failing even after it was done right
You are seeing water damage inside the house
You plan to stay in the home for years and want to stop repairing the same problems
If you decide to replace, the next question is what to put on the house. We install James Hardie fiber cement, vinyl siding, composite siding and engineered wood, and each one fits a different house and budget. Our guide to James Hardie vs vinyl siding in Colorado is a good place to start. You can also see a real example in our Westminster James Hardie siding project, where painting was no longer enough.
Can Siding Be Replaced in Winter in Colorado?
Yes, in a lot of cases. We work through much of the winter here, and plenty of Denver winter days are dry and workable. The siding itself can go up in cool weather. Some steps, like caulking and painting, have temperature limits set by the product manufacturers, so we plan those around the forecast and follow the manufacturer's instructions instead of rushing them.
If water is getting behind your siding now, waiting until spring means one more winter of freezing and thawing in those gaps. Even if you replace in spring, a look now lets you make small repairs before the snow.
What to Check This Weekend Before It Snows
You do not need a ladder for most of this. Grab a flashlight and a screwdriver and walk the house:
Start low. Look at the bottom rows of siding near the ground, decks, patios and driveways, where snow piles up and splashback hits.
Look around every window and door. Check caulk, trim and the siding right below each window.
Follow the downspouts and gutters. Overflowing gutters dump water down the wall all winter.
Check the sunny sides. South and west walls take the most sun and often show fading, cracking and peeling first.
Look inside too. Check walls and closets on exterior walls for stains or musty smells.
Take photos. They help you compare next spring.
If you want to see more on what we install and how, our siding replacement page has the details, and our financing options can help spread out the cost.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know if my siding needs to be replaced or just repaired?
If the damage is limited to a few boards or one wall, repair is often enough. If you find soft or rotting material in several places, paint that keeps failing, or water damage inside the house, replacement is usually the better long term choice.
Is it okay to wait until spring to replace my siding?
Sometimes. If the siding is sound and just looks tired, spring is fine. If water is already getting in, another winter of freezing and thawing can make the damage worse, so it is worth at least sealing the problem areas before snow.
Can you install new siding in the winter in Denver?
Yes, on many winter days. We plan around weather and follow manufacturer temperature limits for steps like caulking and painting, so the work is done right instead of fast.
Does hail damage mean I need all new siding?
Not always. A few dented or cracked boards can be replaced. Widespread damage is a bigger job. Check with your own insurance agent about what your policy covers.
What siding is best for Colorado weather?
It depends on your house, your budget and how long you plan to stay. James Hardie fiber cement, vinyl, composite and engineered wood all have a place. I will walk you through the tradeoffs on your actual house.
Do you replace siding in my area?
We replace siding across the Denver metro, including Arvada, Westminster, Wheat Ridge, Lakewood, Golden, Broomfield, Aurora and Denver. See our service area for more.
Get an Honest Siding Check Before Winter
If any of these signs sound familiar, I will come look at your siding myself. I lead every estimate personally, and I will tell you straight whether you need a few repairs, a good paint job or new siding. No pressure, and we will always reach you the way you prefer, whether that is a call, a text or an email.
Call or text (720) 203-5014 or visit myremod.com to set up a visit.
Remod Exteriors
8557 Salvia Way, Arvada, CO 80007
(720) 203-5014
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