Generally speaking, there are three main types of siding. Historically, homes were sided with cedar shingles and/or clapboards due to their relatively low cost going back decades and centuries. Cedar is impervious to most insects and can be coated or left natural. Today there is a variety of siding, manufacturers. They can be grouped into two categories:  1. Vinyl-based or other composite materials and 2. Fiber cement board. James Hardie's products such as HardiePlank and HardieShingle are the most well-known and dominate the fiber cement board portion of the siding market. Vinyl and composite siding are also very popular siding choices and can be the most economical choice, especially the lap style (think clapboard) siding. If you are looking for more information on the different types of siding materials, you can speak with a siding contractor from our team at ProShield Exteriors.

As a professional siding company, we can attest that wood, fiber cement, and vinyl all hold up well in both high temperatures and cooler climates. However, in very cold climates, vinyl can become brittle and as a result, can be damaged more easily.

All of the siding types are designed to last for decades. In our experience, today's vinyl and fiber cement siding will retain their colors for two or more decades. Cedar siding, if left uncoated will also last two or more decades. If coated on a regular basis, cedar can last for three or more decades. It's important to hire a professional siding contractor for proper installation to extend the lifespan of your siding material.

As a professional siding company, we recommend using fiber cement boards and vinyl siding products. These materials are designed to be virtually maintenance-free. That means they do not require coating every five to seven years, in our experience. The only care that may be required is pressure washing to remove surface contaminants that will accumulate over time. 

Yes, you can "go over" existing siding, however, it is not considered to be a best practice. At ProShield Exteriors, we recommend having a siding contractor remove the existing siding down to the plywood sheathing. The reasons for this are as follows: 

1. To inspect the sheathing to ensure integrity, ensure there has been no damage caused by moisture, and that the sheathing holds nails.

2. If two layers of siding are installed, the trim (window trim, corner boards, etc.) areas may appear recessed. Normally the trim areas will protrude from beyond the siding. 

Removing the existing siding is a small percentage of the overall cost and should be performed for the aforementioned reasons.

The cost of siding installation will vary based on both the siding material selected and the square footage of the siding area of your home. Naturally, the larger the home, the more labor and material are required to reside it. Trim is also a factor that you should take into account when considering residing. Most homeowners decide to have a siding company replace their old wood trim with PVC trim board (Azek being the most well-known).

Once the contractor vetting process has been concluded and the homeowner has selected a siding contractor and signed an agreement (said agreement should detail exactly what is being replaced in the Scope of Work), the contractor will order the dumpster and the materials the homeowner has requested for installation. You can expect the delivery of materials within the next week. It should be noted that ProShield Exteriors will not accept any deposit at the time of contract signing, only when the dumpster and materials have been delivered onsite and work has begun. Said deposit corresponds with the cost of materials and dumpster only. After this has been organized, we move on to the installation process. The steps are as follows: 

1. Remove all siding and trim if included, as well as the moisture barrier, and dispose of them in the dumpster. 

2. Inspect all surfaces to ensure they are undamaged and will support new siding installation. 

3. Install the moisture barrier over all bare surfaces. 

4. If trim has been removed, new PVC trim installation will be performed along with flashing and drip edge around openings. 

5. Siding will be installed once all trim replacements have been completed. Different siding types have different installation best practices. 

6. Cleaning is performed daily and in full upon project completion. 

7. Homeowner inspection.

To ensure that our siding company can begin work on your home, the only potential preparation required on your part would be to trim any vegetation that is within two feet of the sides of the house. This will allow for a smooth installation process.

Anything can be accomplished by the homeowner with the right knowledge and a sufficient amount of time. According to This Old House, homes built before 1980 could contain asbestos, which would require the help of a professional. Additionally, the homeowner will likely pay more for the material than a siding contractor who works closely with suppliers and spends hundreds of thousands of dollars per year with them. 

Warranties vary from manufacturer to manufacturer and product to product. Most vinyl companies offer a 25-year, and sometimes 20-year, warranty on their products. James Hardie fiber cement is covered by a 30-year warranty and to our knowledge, is the longest, and best, in the siding industry. Speak with your siding contractor to learn more about warranty coverage on siding materials.