New Siding Can Boost Value

When you want to sell your home, you need to improve its curb appeal. There are many ways to do this. One of the current trends is to replace older styles of siding with some of the newer materials available on the market.

You are probably thinking that siding is not a good option for most homes, but that is probably because you are unaware of what building material manufacturers are offering these days. Siding was a cheap alternative to high-quality supplies like brick or stone in the past. Today’s options are a bit more expensive, sometimes even more than the materials that they traditionally would have replaced.
Faux brick, for example, is significantly more expensive than real brick. The advantage is that its installation cost is much less than that of hiring a bricklayer team. It also provides better insulation. Since most of today’s newer building products are as functional as they are beautiful, many homeowners are using them to update their home’s exterior.

Cedar has become a common siding material over the past few decades. Cedar siding has several problems, including maintenance and weather resistance. Now homeowners can choose products that simulate the look of real wood, but are made from composite materials designed to resist water damage and other signs of aging. Many synthetic look-alike building materials are getting rave reviews in comparison to the real thing.

Re-siding a home with one of these synthetic materials is expensive, since they cost more than the real thing, with perhaps the exception of stone. Nevertheless, you can save significantly on installation costs.

Consider updating your home’s siding when the exterior of your home looks drab or run-down. The investment may help you increase the home’s sale price. If your home has been for sale for some time and you believe it might be due to a lack of curb appeal, consider modifying the exterior to make the home more attractive to potential buyers who are viewing your home by driving by or looking online.
Here is some information about what is involved in a re-siding project:

• Remove old siding first, rather than placing new siding directly on top of the old. This reduces the likelihood of water and wind damage due to gaps.
• Conduct a complete exterior wall inspection, since the wall is exposed during the re-siding process. A certified home inspector can give you a valid report to present to potential buyers.
• Always call the local building office to ensure that your proposed project is acceptable before purchasing any materials for the project.

If you have decided to re-side your home, check the references of your contractors and ask to see a portfolio of their work. Always speak with other people who have used that contractor before making your selection.