As a homeowner, you do everything you can to keep your property in the best condition possible. Regardless of if it’s hot and humid or freezing and snowing, your monthly to-do list for home maintenance is non-negotiable. This helps you upkeep aesthetics while reducing the number of ongoing repairs you’ll need to make. However, there’s one dispute that many homeowners have—whether to simply paint their siding or replace it completely. There are benefits and downsides to each and it’s important to consider the overall state and age of your siding before making a decision. To help you better understand your options, we’ll explore the pros and cons of painting vs. replacing the siding.
Reasons Why Your Siding Paint Has Faded
There are many reasons why your home’s paint may have faded. High exposure to UV rays can breakdown pigmentation and certain colors absorb more UV rays than others, expediting this process. If you live in an area with high amounts of rainfall, your siding is going to fade faster than those living in more neutral climates. The type of siding that you have may also contribute to premature fading, but the number one reason that paint fades is due to old age. Paint doesn’t last forever, so if you notice things starting to look a little drab, you’ll need to weigh the pros and cons of painting vs. replacing your siding.
Advantages of Painting Your Siding
Depending on the state of your siding, you may not want to undergo the process of completely replacing your siding. You may also just want to change the aesthetics of your home with siding that’s still in great condition. Regardless of your reasoning, some of the pros of painting your siding include a more cost-effective solution with plenty of options to change your home’s aesthetic using unique paint colors or hues. Painting your home is also much faster than a full replacement, which is preferable for many people looking to make simple aesthetic changes.
Cons of Painting Your Siding
The biggest downfall to painting your siding versus replacing it is that it will not repair any damages that your home’s siding has. If you have holes, gaps, or missing areas of siding, paint is not going to make it better or prevent mold or mildew from growing. Freshly painted siding will still have a lower lifespan when compared to brand new siding. Plus, even if you use the best paint on the market, you won’t get the upgraded appearance that new siding brings.
Advantages of Installing New Siding
Replacing your siding is going to have a lot more pros than painting, but you should still consider your options. If your siding is new and undamaged, replacing it completely may not make sense financially. When weighing your options, consider some of the following pros of installing new siding.
Boost Your Home’s Aesthetics
Nothing beats the look of new siding, not even the most expensive paint job. By replacing your siding, you’ll notice that your curb appeal raises dramatically. New siding gives your home a brighter look, making it seem like it was just built. This is especially true if your old siding is outdated. You can choose different colors and materials for new siding to completely revitalize the way your home looks. Afterwards, if you want to take your new look to the next level, you can add smaller details that complement the siding.
Increased Property Value
New siding is going to significantly improve the overall property value of your home. Depending on the type of siding, it can be a big investment. However, if you plan on selling your home in the upcoming years, it’s an investment that’s going to give you a good return. Plus, new siding will help protect your home while you get ready to sell, thus avoiding any structural problems and keeping everything in good shape.
Stronger Energy Efficiency
Even if you don’t plan on moving for years, new siding will increase your home’s overall energy efficiency by providing better insulation and fewer areas of concern. This, in turn, will help you save money on energy costs and lower your environmental impact.
Fewer Damages to Your Home
Damaged siding increases the risk of damage to your home as a whole. Siding, along with the roof, is your home’s first line of defense and its job is to keep your home safe. When your home’s siding is susceptible to problems, you’ll be more likely to experience water damage, which can deteriorate the structural integrity of your home. When you replace your siding, you eliminate this risk and keep your home safe and protected from the elements.
Less Future Maintenance
Old siding requires more maintenance to look its best. Replacing your siding allows you to benefit from strong aesthetics with less work. Plus, if you want to paint your siding in the future, newer siding is easier to manipulate and will hold a fresh coat of paint better than old, deteriorating siding.
Cons of Replacing Your Siding
With so many benefits, it’s hard to imagine what the cons of replacing your siding are. However, the biggest deterrent for many homeowners is the upfront cost. Replacing your siding can be expensive depending on the size of your home, the overall cost of materials, and the installation process itself. Getting a quote for your home can help you get a better idea of what to expect. Another con is that some siding materials only come in a limited number of colors, meaning that you’ll have to paint it anyway to get the look you want. Always check with your siding professionals regarding the colors available in each type of material to better understand your options.
Painting or Replacing Siding: How to Choose the Best Option for You
The choice to paint your siding or replace it depends on different factors. If you’re looking to simply update aesthetics, but your siding is still fairly new and in good condition, painting should suffice. However, make sure that you consider a few things before doing so. You should check your siding’s age, its overall condition, and look at the cost comparisons before making a decision.
Age of Siding
First, consider the age of your current siding. Siding tends to last about 20 years depending on where you live and what the weather conditions are. If your siding is reaching this age, it’s probably best to replace it as you’ll likely end up needing to do so in the upcoming years anyway. Replacing it now will save you the cost of painting.
Cost Comparison
As in the case above, it might make more sense to simply replace your siding. This is especially true if your siding is old, in poor condition, past warranty, or is starting to look like it’s seen better days. Depending on the size of your home and the type of siding that you choose to install, the cost differences may not be too vast, or they may be exponentially different. Work with a professional siding company to better understand your options.
Condition
Most importantly, you need to consider what condition your siding is in when making this decision. If your siding has gaps or areas where it buckles, it’s inviting water and moisture inside, which can cause serious damage to your home. To avoid rotting and weakened structural support, damaged or inefficient siding should be replaced. If you’re unsure about the condition of your home’s siding, schedule an inspection with a reputable siding company like First Star Exteriors.
First Star Exteriors is a professional siding company that works with a variety of materials to give our clients plenty of options to change their home’s aesthetics. When trying to determine the best siding for your home, consider the most popular options: vinyl, pine and cedar, metal, brick, fiber-cement, and stucco. Every material is different and has certain advantages and limitations, so choosing the right fit for your home is important. If you’re not sure where to start, the professionals at First Star Exteriors can help.
First Star Exteriors carries hundreds of brand name options to give you the best siding for your home, regardless of your preferred material. Our siding professionals will work with you to help determine what works best on your home based on your desired style, overall maintenance preferences, color, and textures. To learn more about our siding options or to get a quote from us today within 48 hours, contact us at (479) 267-4800 or fill out our contact form here.
