5 Reasons to Replace your Siding in the Fall

If you’re looking for a remodeling project that can amp up your curb appeal this fall, replacing your home’s siding is a good start.

Replacing your siding is one of the best ways to improve the look of your home, while also providing a protective barrier against the elements.

And according to Remodeling Magazine’s 2013 “Cost vs. Value Report,” it’s also one of the best ways to increase your property’s value. And while price and return-on-investment (ROI) will vary depending on the materials and contractor used, the report reveals that homeowners can expect to recoup 72.9 percent of their investment on a vinyl siding replacement job, which costs an average of $11,192.

Intrigued by this project? If so, you’re in luck, because there’s no better time to replace your siding than during the fall season. Keep reading to find out why.

Reason #1: Siding Materials are Conducive to Fall Temperatures

Goldilocks and The Three Bears showed us the importance of being not too hot and not too cold. However, this principle applies to more than just porridge.

“In some regions of the country, the winter is too cold to put siding on houses because the material is too rigid,” says William Robertson, CEO of Monumental Contracting Service in Birmingham, Alabama. “Therefore, fall is the perfect combination because it is not too hot and not too cold.”

In fact, 50 degrees Fahrenheit is the ideal weather to install vinyl siding, says Todd Fratzel, chief engineer and project manager for the Building Division at United Construction.

“If you install the siding at a temperature of 30 degrees F, when the temperature warms up to let’s say 100 degrees F it will expand almost 40 percent more than if you had installed it at 50 degrees,” says Fratzel.

This can be extremely problematic with siding that surrounds windows and door casings.

“If the siding is too close to these areas it will expand until it hits the casing and then [it will] begin to buckle,” adds Fratzel.

What’s more, the fall season provides a respite from spring showers, unpredictable summer monsoons, and winter sleet, all of which could lead to mold and mildew problems with the home’s exterior.

 “In addition, you’re jeopardizing the integrity of new construction materials sitting on the job site to the elements, so fall’s dry season can be an ideal time to replace exterior cladding,” says Jery Y. Huntley, president and CEO of the Vinyl Siding Institute, the trade association for manufacturers of vinyl siding.

 Reason #2: Siding Materials are Cheaper in the Fall

The fall season can also be a great time to get some plum deals on that siding replacement.

“Many people do home repair projects in the spring or early summer, so by the fall, stores are trying to move supplies to make room for seasonal stuff like Christmas trees, etc.” says Robertson.

And the need to move inventory works to your advantage.

“They will be more inclined to lower prices on siding in the fall months to move it out of the way,” Robertson says.

Robertson explains that at the end of the day, it’s all about supply and demand.

“By next year, there may be new and improved products on the market, so they don’t want to keep inventory lying around after a certain period of time,” he explains.

Reason #3: Contractors Can be More Efficient in the Fall

The fall season may also provide a more favorable work environment for contractors.

“The workers can be more productive in the fall,” says Robertson. “In the summer or winter, they can only spend so much time outdoors before they’re either freezing or burning up.”

As a result, they need to stop frequently to either warm up or cool off.

However, “The fall weather is perfect, and workers can stay out there all day,” Robertson says.

And unlike the spring and summer when there’s a high demand for outdoor entertaining projects such as adding decks, swimming pools, covered porches, and outdoor kitchens, the fall tends to be a less chaotic season for contractors.

As a result, contractors will have more time to focus on your siding replacement.

“Seasonal demand for contractors may vary by region, but since fall tends to be a less busy season, the vinyl siding job will be completed sooner,” says Robertson. “Fewer projects decrease the chances that your job will be delayed as a result of other contracting obligations.”

Reason #4: Reduce Heating Costs during the Winter Months

If your siding needs replacing, you don’t want to go through the harsh winter months without a proper exterior barrier to keep the inclement weather at bay. This is important because any gaps or holes in your siding will allow heat to escape from your home and as result, cause your heating costs to be higher.

“The sooner you can put insulation around the house, the sooner you will start seeing the benefits from lower heating costs,” says Robertson.

“It takes several years to actually recoup the cost of siding, but you can start seeing the initial benefits immediately if you complete the project in the fall,” Robertson explains. “Having your house properly insulated during the fall will greatly reduce your heating costs during those winter months.”

Licensed contractor, Mark Clement, agrees.

“While siding alone does not have much insulation value unless it’s insulated vinyl siding or Western Red Cedar wood cider, removing and replacing siding in the fall while the weather is temperate gives you an opportunity to add insulation, from blown in products to sheeting the exterior of the home with rigid foam insulation.”

“However, if you wait until winter to take the siding off, and that winter wind starts blowing, your heating bill will go up,” warns Clement, who along with his wife, Theresa, hosts MyFixItUp Life, a radio show that airs nationally on BlogTalkRadio.

Reason #5: Your Kids are Back in School and Won’t Interrupt the Progress

If you have kids, you know how crazy the summer months can be with pool parties and sleepovers. And while having kids running around the house can be fun (at times), it’s a surefire disaster when a construction crew is at your home.

That said, the back-to-school season for your kids should also be the back-to-fixing-up-the-house season for you.

“Many homeowners might benefit from their younger kids being at school during much of the work, which means they won’t be prone to play with or inspect the various tools, machines and scaffolding in use as they might during the summer when they’re out of school,” explains Clement.

So, to keep your kids safe and your contractor’s sanity in check, you may want to schedule your siding replacement now, while your kids are back in school.

As a whole, “Remodeling projects are popular in the fall because families retreat from front yards and back lawns to head back to school, which allows contractors to work without interruption,” says Huntley.