When checking your commercial property, you might ask whether a worn-out siding should be repaired or replaced. The answer to this will depend on a few factors.
Siding repair is the way to go for minor damages limited to a few siding boards.
For example, if your vinyl siding starts to crack, replace the specific piece without having to overhaul the entire siding.
Minor to moderate mildew can be eliminated from your siding. Faulty loose siding panels can also be replaced. This method is also applicable to aluminum siding.
On the other hand, a complete siding replacement by a Commercial Roofing service is needed if your siding has reached the end of its lifespan. Widespread damage to a siding may require a total replacement.
The good news is that siding replacement provides your commercial building with many noticeable benefits. New siding enhances the appearance of your property and makes it look brand-new. Moreover, it dramatically improves your property’s energy efficiency.
When Do You Know Your Siding Needs Commercial Siding Services?
Siding is critical to commercial buildings for several reasons. For starters, it looks appealing. If your commercial establishment has siding, it creates an excellent first impression on clients.
Although sidings may not be one of your top priorities, it is crucial to maintain them.
It may involve a considerable investment to replace your siding by Commercial Window Contractor Experts. Still, the issues an old siding can cause, including damage to the interior of your property, insect infestation, and many others, cost money as well. Hence, how do you know it is time to hire a commercial siding contractor? This section discusses a few things to look for.
Cracked Siding
Sidings protect the interior of commercial buildings from weather elements. If there are cracks, warps, holes, or gaps, these are signs it is time to replace your sidings.
Holes and cracks look bad and compromise your property’s integrity.
The inside of your property isn’t as well protected if damp can penetrate inside. If water can leak inside, so can insects and small animals.
Rot Formation
If there are holes in your siding, if it crumbles, or has signs of rot, the siding will be unable to hold up and protect your home.
But if the rot is contained to a limited area, it may be possible to repair that specific section. But if the rot has spread throughout the exterior of your property, there is no other option but to replace everything.
Blistered Siding
If bubbles or blisters appear on your siding, your property’s integrity has been compromised. Water has seeped into the siding and caused the blisters. Bear in mind that if water enters your siding, it can also get into your property. It is an indicator that it is time for a siding overhaul.
Warped Siding
If you notice that the sidings in your home are warping, it could be due to water damage or incorrect installation.
Warping of the siding causes cracks and gaps between panels which allows moisture to penetrate your home’s exterior.
If there are areas where the paint peels off because of moisture, it could indicate that your exterior siding would need replacement.
Mold Formation
If there is mold, mildew, or fungus growth on your siding, this is another indicator of a moisture problem. Even if the siding structure isn’t bubbling or blistering, mold and fungus only grow where there is water. Hence, water is undoubtedly getting through your siding and leaking into your property.
Higher Energy Bills
Sidings play a crucial role in your property’s insulation. The better your property is insulated, the more energy-efficient it will be. But if your siding is old or damaged, it is not insulating your property optimally.
You might be surprised your energy bills are higher than usual.
Sidings could be blamed for this. Siding replacement could therefore save you money on your energy bills.
The Siding Is Faded and Needs a Repainting Job
If your siding’s color is fading or doesn’t hold paint well, it is an indication that the weatherproofing is starting to weaken.
In most cases, the color of your siding should last for up to 10 years before it needs repainting from a commercial siding company. But if you are repainting more often, there could be an issue with your siding.
Peeling Paint
In some cases, problems inside your property or establishment indicate a problem with your exteriors.
If the walls inside your home are peeling or the wallpaper is loosening, it can signify that moisture is leaking into your home. Perform a thorough check of your siding. It may have damage that indicates it is time to get it replaced.
Top 3 Factors to Look for When Choosing Commercial Siding
A commercial siding is an excellent way to enhance your commercial building’s energy consumption, aesthetics and durability. But what type of commercial siding should you install? When selecting from commercial siding materials, there are three primary considerations.
Finish and Material
The material of the finish should be your top concern. There are a few popular siding materials:
Vinyl is the easiest to maintain and most affordable option.
It comes in beautiful plastic planks that can be hung vertically or horizontally. Vinyl comes in wide-ranging colors, textures, and styles, including designs that matchwood and brick siding.
Engineered wood siding is often installed for a rustic vibe. It comes in large shingles sheets and smaller shakes.
It is usually installed in rows, with each piece hanging vertically. Cedar sidings are popular because cedar is repellent to water and insects. Wood siding takes more time to clean and maintain but adds more value.
Brick facades, in many cases, are utilized to protect a building’s exterior from the elements. It also provides a hefty amount of insulation.
But these facades are more expensive than vinyl or wood and would usually need a moisture barrier behind them; otherwise, they could leak water. They also come in countless finishes, depending on the brick facade’s color and style.
The type of siding you select will depend on your budget and the aesthetic you want for your commercial building.
Style
Your commercial siding’s style will mostly be aesthetic, down to the color pattern and texture you want it to have.
Overall, vinyl has the most style options because it can be acquired in nearly any form and texture. Wood has a narrower selection of styles, whereas brick facades usually come down to the specific type of brick used.
You can visit a siding showroom and review the many types of commercial siding available before committing to one. It is recommended to take samples of the colors that stoke your interest. The siding may look different in your area because of the sunlight and surrounding elements.
Maintenance
In many cases, siding is chosen based on maintenance.
Vinyl is the easiest to maintain because it only needs to be rinsed and washed occasionally. Otherwise, it almost maintains itself. On the other hand, wood needs to be cleaned thoroughly because it can draw mold and mildew, especially in humid areas.
Sidings made of brick don’t require direct maintenance, but they can cause water issues if the water barriers are not correctly installed.
Commercial siding is manufactured to be durable, long-lasting, and protect the building’s structure. A majority of commercial siding will not involve a lot of maintenance, no matter the material and style. Every type of siding should be regularly inspected for damage and repairs as needed.
There are many kinds of commercial siding on the market.
If you don’t know which materials and installation type are best for your property, it is time to call building professionals for a quote and consultation.
4 Benefits of Hiring Commercial Siding Contractors
There are several benefits to hiring commercial siding services to install the new home siding. Hence you shouldn’t put off this project any longer.
Boost Your Property’s Value
Experts in real estate will be the first ones to tell you that commercial siding installation is a fast and effective way to hike your property’s market value.
It is one of the leading home renovations owners undertake before listing their property for sale.
The new look of your property could make buyers interested. More so, increased resistance of the exterior commercial siding ensures that it will not be repaired for years to come.
Improves Overall Energy Efficiency
Commercial siding is terrific for improving your property’s energy efficiency. With better-insulated materials installed on the exterior of your property, it is less likely that cooled or heated air will escape from the interiors.
This mitigates the amount of energy required to cool or heat an area, thus saving you hundreds of dollars on energy bills.
Additional insulation also keeps outdoor air from leaking into your interior walls making your indoor environment much comfier.
Allows You to Repair Hidden Structural Damage
Another main benefit of installing new commercial siding is that it enables you to repair interior wall damage. Even slight damage to your siding can mean a significant issue in the walls behind it.
The problems can eat away at your walls and cause deterioration if left unresolved. Hence, removing your siding is critical to getting to these spots and fixing them before they become a severe issue.
Preserve the Quality of a New Paint Job
Ultimately a new siding is better at retaining colors and much easier to paint.
The new siding materials will keep their color for years following installation. When you need a repainting job, it can hold the pigment much better.
Top Options for Commercial and Residential Siding
Siding is one of the critical elements of commercial and residential siding.
The right siding is a crucial element of a beautiful finished product that holds up well to the weather and protects the structure of the building.
The cost of a new siding varies widely, as can the maintenance required for specific materials. Besides improving appearance or curb appeal, the following are the top considerations when selecting a siding material for your next building project:
Vinyl Siding
The best thing about vinyl siding is it is easy to install and relatively inexpensive. It is low maintenance. Vinyl never needs a paint job and can withstand cold, wet climates and even coastal air.
While vinyl resembles traditional clapboard at a distance, up close, it is not as striking as wood.
Vinyl’s flexibility means it will follow the contours of the exterior wall and can rattle in strong winds.
Insulated vinyl siding is conventional vinyl incorporated with a form-fitting rigid foam backing and performs better. It is much stiffer and installs flatter than hollow back vinyl. But this version comes with a hefty cost increase.
Wood Siding
Engineered wood siding is highly prized for its looks and being a natural material. The same cannot be said for other types of siding.
Wood siding comes in various forms, from traditional clapboard to tongue-and-groove planks.
Premium wood siding is also durable and long-lasting if properly maintained.
But therein lies one of wood’s drawbacks: it is high maintenance. Wood siding must be painted repeatedly; otherwise, it is vulnerable to rot, weathering, UV rays and insect damage. In addition, the other drawback of wood is its high cost.
Fiber-Cement Siding
The best alternative to wood is perhaps fiber cement siding. It looks almost exactly like a wood clapboard or shingle when painted over.
Fiber cement comes in a sheet that mimics vertical board or plywood siding.
Fiber cement is painted similar to wood but is somewhat less maintained because the material is less prone to weather and moisture damage.
It is insect resistant, doesn’t warp like wood or rot.
Once installed, fiber cement is durable. But it can be quite brittle and tends to break during installation. It is in the same price spectrum as mid-grade wood siding.
Aluminum Siding
Several decades ago, aluminum sidings peaked in popularity but are still used as a low-maintenance siding material.
Aluminum is lightweight, fireproof, rot-proof as well as rust-proof.
It never needs a repainting job and comes in various styles that even simulate wood siding.
Aluminum is also considered an option for vinyl. It is less flimsy than vinyl and doesn’t share its plastic-like look. But the drawback to aluminum is that it is prone to denting and considerably more expensive than vinyl.
Brick Siding
Natural brick is considered a high-end siding material.
It is the most expensive option, excluding high-end wood siding.
Brick has a solid natural look with undeniable beauty.
It is also low-maintenance and, like fiber cement, is fireproof, rot-proof, and insect-proof.
But bear in mind that brick siding is merely a veneer.
It does not add to a wall’s structural support. A majority of brick is thinner than building brick and can be installed onto the surface of the wood frame and masonry wall.
Brick siding tends to crack due to extreme movement or pressure in the wall or foundation. But in most cases, the only maintenance it requires is an occasional repair to the mortar joints.
Stucco Siding
Stucco is one of the classic siding materials and is prized for its distinctive appearance and fantastic durability. Classical cement-based stucco is incorporated into wood or masonry walls in three coats.
The topcoat holds the stucco’s finished color.
Although stucco can be painted like brick, the paint will only create an unnecessary maintenance issue.
A well-known alternative to traditional stucco is EIFS, otherwise known as synthetic stucco. It is a polymer cement material sprayed onto the insulation board or other materials. But synthetic stucco isn’t as attractive or durable as classical three-coat stucco.
However, it is less prone to damage like cracks and can be one third less expensive.
Stone Veneer Siding
Manufactured veneer stone is a concrete-like material that resembles natural stone. One type consists of individual pieces installed with mortar, whereas another type is a panel form fastened to the wall. Veneer stone is considered low-maintenance and highly durable, similar to the brick siding. More so, it is less expensive and easier to install compared to natural stone. Stone veneer is more affordable than brick.
Conclusion: Why Is Siding So Expensive?
Siding materials are engineered to guard your commercial building against fire, pests, heavy downpours, winter storms, and nearly anything Mother Nature throws your way. Hence, a lot of work from a commercial siding contractor goes into ensuring the siding withstands these elements. Improperly installed siding falls apart quickly and gets soaked when exposed to these harsh weather elements.
When it comes to the siding material, you need to ensure that you select a durable product.
A high-quality siding will last for a lifetime but comes at a cost.
Siding enhances your commercial building’s energy efficiency and covers structural damage. Although sidings themselves and hiring a commercial siding contractor can be expensive, it is worth your investment.
You could recoup the cost of installing new siding when you sell your commercial property. An exterior placement project such as wall sidings gives you the best bang for your buck for remodeling projects.