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Astro FAQ: Answering Your Questions About Home Siding

Why is siding important?

Siding is important because it protects your home from the elements. The design will keep you and your family safe and dry throughout all four seasons, provide some insulation from extreme temperatures, and prevent any moisture from seeping into your house and causing structural damage. Siding also protects your home from pests like rodents and insects. 

But siding isn’t just important for your safety. It’s also a key feature of your home’s curb appeal! A house would look pretty strange without siding, don’t you think? You can customize the color and material of your siding to suit your tastes, and ultimately, it adds to your home’s value.

Colorful siding on many houses

What are siding materials?

Engineered wood and vinyl are two of the most popular choices for siding, and we carry them both at Astro UP! Engineered wood offers the classic look of wood siding without the high risk of rot, infestation or weather damage. Vinyl siding is currently the most popular siding material in America–it’s budget friendly, low maintenance, and highly customizable. You can learn more about types of siding in our blog!

Can siding be done in winter?

Yes! Experienced siding companies can still accomplish siding jobs in the winter. Keep in mind that a winter siding job may take a bit longer than a summer siding job because contractors do have to take extra steps to keep both their employees and their building materials safe in extreme weather. This is especially true for vinyl siding, which has to be measured and placed with extra care in the winter because it can contract slightly in cold temperatures. But, long story short, you can replace your siding in the winter.

Can winter weather damage siding?

Yes: cold, snow and ice can damage your siding. Extreme cold can cause certain types of siding to crack, moisture can warp the boards and powerful storms can loosen them. We know that’s bad news to our clients in the Upper Peninsula. The good news is, certain types of siding are more durable than others, and you can find them here at Astro UP in Rock, Michigan! 

While wood siding is very susceptible to harsh weather conditions, vinyl and engineered wood siding are much hardier. As long as you have your siding properly installed and you keep it maintained, it should last you through many winters.

Siding standing up to winter weather

Can siding be repaired?

Yes, depending on the extent of the damage. You may be able to fix minor scuffs and dents on your own with the appropriate tools. For larger cracks or holes, you may need to call a contractor for repairs. They can replace segments of your siding. If there is widespread damage, you may need a siding replacement. 

When does siding need to be replaced?

Sometimes, siding is damaged too widely or too severely to replace. Here are some signs indicating that your siding needs to be replaced:

  • Warping
  • Rotting
  • Presence of mold or fungus
  • Large cracks
  • Pieces of siding falling off
  • Bubbling

Installing new siding

How much siding do I need?

Siding is measured in squares, with one square of siding equal to 100 square feet. You can get a good estimate of your house’s square footage by following these steps:

  1. Measure the height and width of each side of your house. For each side, multiply height by width to get the total square footage.
  2. Measure the height and width of other parts of your house, such as dormers. For triangular areas, measure from the base to the tip of the triangle, and then multiply that measurement by half of the base length. 
  3. Measure the height and width of each door, window, or other areas of your house that are not covered by siding. Subtract the square footage of these areas from the total square footage of the rest of your house. 
  4. Divide that number by 100 to get the total number of siding squares you’ll need. 

Always do your final measurements with the help of an experienced professional. A contractor can perform the most accurate measurements possible to tell you exactly how much you will need. 

What siding is best?

It depends on what you need! There are three major factors to take into account when choosing your home’s siding: environment, budget and personal taste. 

The environment surrounding your home should play a huge role in your decision. For an Upper Peninsula home, you’ll need siding that can withstand extreme winter weather. 

Your budget is another important factor. Keep in mind that the up-front cost of quality siding and installation is a small price to pay compared to all the money–not to mention time, energy and stress–it will save you in the future. With that being said, siding prices depend on material, brand, and where you purchase the product. Here at Astro UP in Rock, Michigan, we do our best to offer customers a fairer price than they’ll find anywhere else.

Will siding increase home value?

Yes, well maintained siding can certainly increase your home’s value. A recent study by Remodeling Magazine found that siding can raise a home’s value by almost 77%!