The Homeowners' Guide to Denton Siding Replacement

Siding is the exterior shell of your home, which makes it the first line of defense against everything from hungry woodpeckers and destructive insects to the ravages of heat transfer and severe moisture damage. It's absolutely critical for the protection of your house and everything inside it, but of course, it doesn't last forever—you'll eventually need siding replacement services from an experienced handyman.

If you recognize the signs that your residential or commercial property needs siding replacement, you can get the help you need before the damage spirals into a more time-consuming and costly problem. Siding replacement in Denton, TX, offers a big dose of curb appeal, and this dramatic home improvement can also increase property value if you're thinking of putting your house on the real estate market. But it's not all about appearances—a complete or partial replacement of your exterior cladding also brings benefits that can save you money and make your home more comfortable.

This guide answers some commonly asked questions our Denton handyman team hears from homeowners about siding replacement. The team of service professionals at Mr. Handyman of Flower Mound, Lewisville, and Denton is dedicated to providing top-quality workmanship and reliable customer service on every job. We are highly experienced with siding replacement and dozens of other repairs, maintenance, and improvement services.

What Are the Types of Siding Available in Denton, TX?

When it comes to siding material, which is also referred to as cladding, there are quite a few different varieties available to choose from. Most homeowners go with the same material they already have installed when it's time for replacement, but it doesn't hurt to know what the possibilities are. Possible options for siding replacement include:

Natural wood, including cedar shingles and clapboard
Engineered wood, including all-wood exterior-grade plywood
Composite siding
Vinyl (PVC)
Fiber cement siding
Brick veneer and solid brick siding
Natural stone and stone veneer siding
Aluminum siding and other metal
Stucco

What Are the Signs That Siding Replacement Service is Needed?

If your cladding has suffered sudden damage from a serious hail storm or falling tree branch, you don't need us to tell you that you're going to need at least partial replacement. But more often than not, damage is the accumulated result of wear and tear over the years. Because it gets incrementally worse as time goes on, it's a lot less obvious to homeowners, and many people don't realize there's a problem until there are blatant problems like interior water damage that simply can't be ignored.

Age is a big factor in determining whether siding replacement is necessary. Like absolutely everything else in life, your cladding is not going to last forever. You may be tempted to just slap a fresh coat of paint over aged cladding that is showing signs of deterioration, but you're not really doing yourself any favors. Once it has passed its prime, it will continue to decay at an accelerated rate, and painting won't stop the ill effects of water damage and other problems. Thesigns that your building needs Denton siding repair or replacement include:

Cracks, gaps, and holes
Missing pieces or sections
Vinyl faded by exposure to direct sunlight
Insect damage
Warped pieces that are bulging outward or cupping inward
Popping or rusty nails and screws
Soft, crumbling, rotten wood
Rust and corrosion
Gutter stains
Interior water damage

Pro Tip: Improve Property Value with Siding Replacement in Denton, TX

You may also want to consider siding replacement if you're looking for ways to increase your property value and get a good return on investment at the sale price of your house. Realtors will be sure to point out new cladding to potential home buyers because it's a huge selling point that reassures buyers they won't need to pay for major home repairs shortly after moving in. On the other hand, if they come to view your house and the first thing they see is deteriorated cladding that is in rough shape, it's a huge red flag warning them away before they even get through your front door.

Can Siding Replacement in Denton, TX Lower Energy Costs?

If you have old, deteriorated siding that has suffered damage such as cracks and holes, wood rot and rust, or has sections of cladding missing altogether, siding replacement will absolutely make your house a lot more energy-efficient, and you will likely see a noticeable reduction on your monthly energy bills.

Deteriorated and damaged cladding can't do its part to prevent heat transfer, the natural process in which thermal energy moves from a warm place to a colder area. That means it's much easier for heat from sunlight to get into your house in the summer when you have your air conditioner on and for heat from your furnace to escape outdoors during the chilly winter months. Heat transfer changes the temperature inside your house, which causes your thermostat to turn on your HVAC system more frequently and for longer periods of time. Your HVAC system already needs to use quite a bit of fuel to keep your house at the temperature you have set on your thermostat so that additional operation time can really add up to a significant increase on your utility bill by lowering the energy efficiency of your home.

Our siding replacement professionals will replace deteriorated cladding and seal up weak points to block heat transfer and give your hardworking heating and cooling systems a break. Your HVAC system won't need to use as much fuel, which is reflected in increased energy savings.

How is Siding Replacement Done?

If you're thinking of saving yourself some time and money by tackling siding replacement all on your own, it may surprise you to discover that DIY can end up being more costly and time-consuming in the long run than hiring professional help from an experienced Denton handyman. It may look simple, but cladding replacement does require skill and expertise that can only be gained through a lot of practice with various materials. In amateur hands, a siding project can easily veer off course and end up costing you extra in wasted or damaged materials. You'll also need to rent or purchase some specialty tools if you don't already have them, which can really add up.

That being said, it's understandable to be curious about siding replacement in Denton, TX, and how exactly it's accomplished, professional or amateur handyman notwithstanding. Here are the steps to siding replacement for a few of the most popular types of vinyl and wood siding.

Vinyl

Vinyl is inexpensive, durable, attractive, and readily available, so it's not surprising that so many builders and homeowners alike choose it for exterior cladding material. It does have some downsides as well—vinyl can warp and bend in extreme heat or crack in extreme cold, and it's prone to color fading on parts that are exposed to a lot of direct sunlight. It can also be seriously damaged by impacts from hail, falling tree branches, and other factors.

When you are replacing sections of damaged or missing vinyl cladding, the first challenge is finding material that matches the cladding you already have installed. It may seem like a simple matter to simply go purchase more in the same style and color, but that's not always the case. It's possible the specific color or model you have installed has been discontinued by the manufacturer or isn't available for another reason. But even if you do find more in the correct color and style, it may not be a perfect match any longer because the material that is installed may have faded somewhat over time while the new section is still bright and bold. A patch of cladding that doesn't match the rest will stick out in all the wrong ways, so if a strong match isn't available, a complete replacement is the best option.

The basic steps for vinyl siding replacement in Denton, TX, are:

Remove all damaged cladding material, including nails used to hold those sections down.
Start at the bottom and trim a new piece of cladding with tin snips to make it fit the gap that is lowest down on your exterior wall. Make sure to cut it large enough to overlap pieces on either side by at least one inch. Check the manufacturers' instructions to see if they recommend a larger overlap area.
Most types of vinyl cladding feature panels with a top channel that locks into the bottom channel of the section above it to form a seal that blocks moisture incursion. Slide your new piece into place, making sure it is interlocked with the piece directly above.
Apply gentle upward pressure to your new piece while you nail it into place to make sure it remains connected to the piece above. While you want to nail it down firmly, it's important not to fasten it too tight. Vinyl shrinks and expands according to the outdoor temperature, and it needs some "wiggle room" to accommodate that movement, so it doesn't crack.
Repeat this process for any other sections that need siding replacement.

Plywood Panels

Premium plywood is a simple, cost-effective choice for cladding that has pretty decent durability and low heat transfer. However, it's common for the bottom of panels to become water damaged and suffer from issues such as rotting. When that happens, the panels need a siding replacement service. Here are the steps to replace plywood cladding panels:

Use a pry bar or claw hammer to gently remove the deteriorated panels. If you're able to keep the old panel in one piece, you can use it as a template to cut the new one.
Remove old paint and caulk from around the edges of the gap.
Measure a new piece of cladding, making sure the grooves go in the right direction to match the rest of the installation. Use a circular saw and jigsaw to cut out holes for vents, outlets, or anything else that needs to be exposed.
Affix your new panel with nails and caulk around its seams with exterior caulk.
Wait for the caulk to cure fully, then prime your panel and paint it to match the rest of the building.

How Can Homeowners Avoid the Need for Siding replacement?

If you've just gone through the process of siding replacement in Denton, TX, you're probably interested in ways you can keep damage at a minimum and avoid needing replacement services again soon. The exact maintenance steps will vary a bit depending on the type of material you have installed, but regular cleaning and maintenance are key steps to prolonging the life expectancy of your cladding. Not up to the task of handling siding maintenance once or twice per year? No problem—your local Denton handyman can take care of pressure washing and other services to keep it well-maintained all year round.

Some homeowners are surprised to learn that regular gutter cleaning is one of the best things they can do to preserve the condition of their cladding and avoid Siding replacement for longer. Gutters collect all the rainwater that falls on your roof—adding up to tens of thousands of gallons every year—and channel it into downspouts so it can be safely disposed of away from your house. When they're broken or clogged with dead leaves, pine needles, dirt, and other debris, all that water spills over the edge instead and causes severe damage to your siding, roofing, foundation, and landscaping. Our team can take care of gutter cleaning, repair, and installation services, so you have peace of mind knowing your home is protected against water damage.

Count On Your Local Handyman for Expert Siding Replacement Services

Whether you're in Denton, TX, or another community in this part of the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex, such as Highland Village, Ponder, or Argyle, you can rely on the team of professionals at Mr. Handyman of Flower Mound, Lewisville, and Denton to deliver the highest standards of customer service and workmanship. Give us a call today at 9726274793 to find out more about our reliable handyman services or to schedule a convenient appointment.