If your home’s outside walls are looking tired, faded, or damaged, siding replacement in Staten Island might be worth thinking about. Siding is what protects your walls from rain, wind, and salt air, and when it wears out, the damage can work its way inside.

Signs your siding needs replacing

A few cracked or loose pieces do not always mean a full replacement. But watch for these signs that the whole job is due:

• Warping or buckling. When panels pull away from the wall or bow outward, moisture is usually getting in behind them.
• Faded color that will not wash off. Fading means the protective coating is gone, and the siding is breaking down.
• Soft spots or rot. Press on the siding near the ground or around windows. If it feels soft or crumbles, water has been getting in for a while.
• Paint that keeps peeling. If you repaint and the paint bubbles or peels again within a year or two, the siding underneath is the problem, not the paint.
• Higher energy bills. Old, loose siding lets drafts in and lets heat out, which shows up on your utility bill.

Homes near the water, like many in Tottenville and other south-shore neighborhoods, take extra wear from wind and salt air, so they often need siding work sooner.

What a siding replacement involves

A standard job follows a clear order. First, the old siding comes off. Then the crew checks what is underneath — the sheathing and the house wrap. If they find soft or rotted spots, those get fixed before anything new goes on. Skipping that step just covers up a problem that keeps growing. Next comes new house wrap and any needed flashing around windows and doors. Then the new siding goes up, piece by piece, starting from the bottom. Most jobs on an average Staten Island single-family home take about a week, depending on the size of the house and the weather.

Vinyl, fiber cement, or wood?

Most homeowners here choose between vinyl and fiber cement. Vinyl costs less, needs almost no maintenance, and comes in plenty of colors. Fiber cement costs more but holds up better against impacts and lasts longer. Wood looks great but needs regular painting and does not handle our winters well. Your budget and how much upkeep you want will usually point to the right choice. Getting new siding also improves curb appeal, which matters if you plan to sell. It is one of the exterior projects buyers notice right away.

If you are unsure whether your siding is due, a professional opinion costs nothing and takes less than an hour. Best Roof Contracting does free siding assessments across New York. Call 917-500-9573 or visit bestroofcontracting.com to schedule one.