Siding Problems

1. How can I tell if my siding is bad?
2. Can I side over wood siding?
3. How do I know if my home has dry-rot?

Before You Reside

1. Should I replace my siding before I sell my home?
2. What is the best type of siding for my home?
3. Do I need to replace my corner trim?
4. Do I need to replace my moisture barrier?
5. Can I replace my siding during the winter months?

Residing Process

1. Once I decide to replace my siding, how long does it take?
2. What hours will the siding crew be working on my project?
3. How much siding does the siding crew tear-off / put up during the course of a day?
4. What will happen to my landscaping during my siding project?
5. Does siding replacement affect the interior of my home?
6. Will your workers need access to my home or my restroom?

Siding Costs and Payment

1. Can I really justify paying more for a quality job?
2. What methods of payment does American Classic Exteriors accept?
3. I am in the process of selling my home. Does American Classic Exteriors accept payment out of escrow?

Windows Problems

Before I Replace My Windows

Window Replacement Process

Windows Cost's and Payment

Door Problems

Before I Replace My Doors

Door Replacement Process

Door Cost's and Payment

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SIDING PROBLEMS

1. How can I tell if my siding is bad?

Appearance of fungus, obvious separation of seams, caulking failure, swelling, de-lamination, boards that no longer lay flat against your house, paint failure, moisture on the inside of your house, all are signs of siding failure, with aluminum siding, fading, blotchy appearance and chalking (paint finish comes off)

See examples of siding problems in our gallery

2. Can I side over wood siding?

Yes, however if parts of your wood siding are badly warped or rotted, those sections should be cut out and replaced first. If the entire wood siding is defective, it should be replaced.

3. How do I know if my home has dry-rot?

It can be difficult to tell if your home has dry-rot without removing the siding first; then we can tell how extensive the damage is and repair it. In extreme cases you may see signs of excessive moisture on the surface of your siding or moisture on the inside of your house. Dry-rot is characterized as soft wood.

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BEFORE YOU RESIDE

1. Should I replace my siding before I sell my home?

Most Realtors will tell you that it is necessary to replace your defective siding if you wish to sell your home in a timely manner and for a good price. You will find that trying to sell your home with defective siding can be major deterrent. If you do get an offer the buyer will almost always want a hefty discount because of your siding. Even if your siding is in good shape, you will usually need to replace it because of the negative stigmatism in the market place. Having Louisiana-Pacific, Masonite Omni, or EIFS (synthetic stucco) is like having a nasty contagious disease and most people will run if they find out you have any of these products on your home.

2. What is the best type of siding for my home?

Your home style, desired effect, and your budget determine the best solution for you. With vinyl siding new corner posts will be installed and are available in decorating styles and various colors.

3. Do I need to replace my corner trim?

In most cases we find that replacing corner trim is necessary in order to achieve a quality application. We find that most original trim was installed unprimed and extensive splitting and non-repairable paint degradation has occurred. In addition, if you install a new moisture barrier and underlayment, you need to replace your corner trim to ensure proper wrapping on all of your corners.

4. Do I need to replace my moisture barrier?

Replacement of your moisture barrier is highly recommended. During the tear-off process your old barrier usually gets torn and oftentimes your old barrier was not installed correctly. We are willing to patch your existing barrier free of charge, but we cannot warranty that patching will adequately protect your home. In most cases we will install a Styrofoam underlayment over all wall surfaces which will make replacement of the moisture barrier unnecessary.

5. Can I replace my siding during the winter months?

Winter is a good time to start your siding project. Oftentimes it is much easier to reserve a space in the winter than it is any other time of year. The only drawback to having your project started in the winter may be paint delays. During winter months we tear-off small sections and reside those sections before we move on. That ensures that your home will always have limited exposure to the elements.

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RESIDING PROCESS

1. Once I decide to replace my siding, how long does it take?

Typically, 7 to 14 days for siding. It depends on the size of your home, the type of siding, the time of year we do your job, and weather conditions.

2. What hours will the siding crew be working on my project?

Our crews generally start work between 7:30 - 8:00 AM and work until 5:00 - 6:00 PM (daylight permitting) Monday through Friday. On occasion we may work Saturdays upon your approval.

3. How much siding does the siding crew tear-off/put up during the course of a day?

During rainy days we will only remove as much siding as we can replace during that same day. During dry periods, we may remove more siding than can be replaced in the same day.

4. What will happen to my landscaping during my siding project?

All of our Siding, Trim & Gutters crews work as carefully as possible to avoid doing any damage to your landscaping when they are on the job. However, we do suggest that before your siding project begins, you should move and/or tie back all plants that are important to you. While our installers are careful, sometimes damage to plants is unavoidable.

5. Does siding replacement affect the interior of my home?

Residing may cause your walls to rattle when the siding is being torn-off and when your new siding is nailed on. We suggest that you remove any fragile items from your interior walls that may fall during the residing process. On occasion, caulking around your windows may crack and you may experience small drywall cracks or drywall 'nail-pops'. These side effects are unavoidable and the cost of fixing them is minimal.

6. Will your workers need access to my home or my restroom?

Our workers will never need to access the inside of your home unless we are working on the inside. In rare circumstances, we may trip a power circuit and our workers will need to access your electrical panel to flip a tripped breaker.

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COSTS & PAYMENT

1. Can I really justify paying more for a quality job?

Most siding is replaced because of product failure or improper application. In order to increase the value of your home, it is important that you select a siding company that can aide you in the selection of a product with proven integrity. This company must also have a proven record for professional application and finishing.

2. What methods of payment does American Classic Exteriors accept?

We accept cash, check, Visa, MasterCard, Discover, and American Express.

3. I am in the process of selling my home. Does American Classic Exteriors accept payment out of escrow?

American Classic Exteriors has a successful history of working with realtors, home sellers, and homebuyers during real estate transactions. We will talk with you to determine the best payment options and we can usually accept payment out of escrow on sold homes.

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