Ready to Explore Siding for the walls of your home in Penn Township Pennsylvania?
The team at The Roofing Company can lay out what a siding job involves from start to finish, and where moisture hides behind the boards
Dial 412-858-8858 to ask what a siding visit covers
What Siding Actually Does: Drainage and Drying
Siding is not meant to be waterproof, since the layers behind it are what stop the leftover moisture; a gap or a flaw in any layer can let water reach the wood.
A plan for Siding is really a plan for the whole wall, not just the surface; ask what the walls are made of and how they were put together.
Vinyl, Fiber Cement, Wood and Metal: Matching the Material to the House
Vinyl siding is the most common choice, though panels can crack on a bitterly cold day if they are struck; the color goes all the way through the panel, so scratches show less.
Cement-based boards resist rot, insects and flame, though they are heavy and need careful cutting and painting; the dust from cutting needs proper controls.
Wood siding looks the most natural and can be repaired board by board, but it needs paint or stain and regular attention; a kiln-dried, primed board holds up better.
Aluminum and steel siding are durable, but they dent and fade, and they are found mostly on older houses; some owners cover old metal siding with newer material.
Comparing proposals for Siding gets easier once you have seen vinyl, fiber cement and wood on real houses; drive past houses clad in each material and note what you like.
What Pittsburgh Weather Does to Siding, From January to July
Freeze and thaw cycles stress joints, caulk and fasteners, and moisture that gets behind the siding can freeze and push things apart; a wall that dries quickly lasts longer.
Dark streaks under eaves and at the bottom of walls show where water sits or splashes; trim shrubs and trees back from the walls.
Flashing Where the Wall Is Cut Open: Small Parts, Big Effect
- Corner boards and trim are the weak points where a wall is most likely to leak.
- Caulk beads at joints and trim should keep water running outward and down instead of into the wall.
Caulk dries out with age, and the cracks it leaves let water run behind the siding; do not rely on sealant alone to solve a flashing problem.
Comparing proposals for Siding is the moment to ask how openings, corners and joints will be handled; ask to see how the flashing is layered.
When Part of a Wall Needs Work: Honest Guidance
Replacing a short run of siding makes sense when the wall behind it is dry and sound; wood and fiber cement can be painted to blend.
Water stains, bubbling paint or a spongy feel when you press the wall are signs of damage underneath; the siding may be fine while the wall behind it is not.
What is found behind the siding, not how the wall looks from the street, sets the scope of Siding; a plan should cover that case before it happens.
Roof Lines and the Walls Below Them: an Often Missed Link
Where a roof ends against a wall, a missing piece of flashing can send water straight down behind the boards; stains below a roof edge are an early warning.
Where siding meets a porch roof or a lower addition, the joint is a classic spot for hidden rot; mulch and soil piled against siding invite rot and insects.
Before you settle on Siding, walk around the house and note every place a roof meets a wall; point out each junction to the crew so it gets attention.
Opening Up a Wall in an Older Home: Honest Expectations
Older houses around Pittsburgh often have layers of earlier siding, wood sheathing and paper behind the surface, and nobody knows what is there until it comes off; leave some flexibility in the plan for repairs that were not visible before.
A siding job on an older house should leave the wall flat, dry and tight before anything new is fastened; ask what a surprise would do to the schedule.
Your questions on Siding for a house with history should cover what will happen if rot turns up; mention the age and the type of walls when you first call.
From Old Boards to the Last Trim Board: What You Will See
The crew first protects shrubs, walkways and windows, then takes off the old siding and any damaged trim; old trim is removed and replaced where it has failed.
Next the housewrap and flashing go on, then the siding is hung from the bottom upward, with trim and corners set as the courses rise; fasteners are set to suit the material and are never driven too tight.
- Will you remove the old siding or cover it, and how soon will I know?
- How will the color look in sun and in shade, and what do you recommend?
What Siding Adds Inside the House, From Draft to Hum
New siding is a chance to add a layer of rigid foam or to seal gaps in the wall, which can make rooms feel less drafty; the choice of backing should match the rest of the wall.
A thicker wall assembly can make rooms a little quieter, since traffic and weather noise have more to pass through; keep expectations modest and focus on the water protection.
Before you decide on Siding, tell the crew which rooms are cold, drafty or noisy; the crew can point out what is realistic for each wall.
Getting Clear Answers on Siding, and What Good Answers Sound Like
Good answers are specific, referring to your house, your walls and the materials you have discussed; note what each crew says about hidden damage.
Take the Next Step, and Get Started
A house wall works hard through every season, and a well-built covering helps everything behind it last; we are happy to explain the options in plain terms.
Reach us at 412-858-8858 to start a conversation about Siding for your house; we can begin with a look at the house as it stands.
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