Preparing for Siding Replacement

When it comes time to get new siding installed for your home, it pays to know what to expect from the process. Siding replacement takes a few days from start to finish even in the hands of professionals. Some prior preparation can make things run more smoothly and allow you to go about your day without too much interruption or worry.

First, the old sliding will be removed. This step can take a day or two by itself, but if the siding company has the manpower to spare, additional workers may follow up with new siding at the same time, covering each wall in turn after the first crew finishes tearing down the siding. In the summer or winter months, or otherwise during extreme weather conditions, this also helps minimize the house’s exposure to the elements without siding to protect it. Otherwise, house wrap will be applied to cover the exposed walls in the meantime.

You will want an open space on your yard during siding replacement, as the old siding will likely be put aside in a pile during this process, to be removed at the end of either the first stage or the whole project. New materials will also need somewhere to go, and likely will be brought in before the actual reapplication. Fortunately, the siding crew will be done before your lawn sustains any damage.

While new siding doesn’t take much preparation to go up after the old siding is removed, the specialists will want to inspect the wall sheathing underneath. If it is damaged or unstable, it will also have to be replaced, which adds little additional material cost but requires more labor. You can also ask about reinforcing the sheathing against wind or water damage.

A good siding contractor is thorough; once the sheathing is inspected and repaired as needed and the new siding is installed, any remaining materials – removed or unused – will be hauled away without you having to do a thing. Siding replacement, when left to specialists, takes care of itself with only a bit of effort on your part.