Is it too late in 2021 to start your new siding project? Many homeowners carefully plan their big decisions like replacing their home’s siding. If you live in a state with four seasons, you may think you’ve missed your opportunity to replace your siding this year. But this begs the question, which season is the best for working on your house’s exterior?
Hot summer weather might seem like the ideal time, but extremely warm temperatures can have negative effects on the installation of vinyl siding. Then again, there are other reasons not to install vinyl regardless of the season. See our article 6 Compelling Reasons NOT To Use Vinyl Siding. If you’re looking at cedar siding or James Hardie siding, then summer can be a great time to schedule an installation. The only downside for summer installation with other siding materials is that contractors tend to get a lot of calls in the summer and can be very busy. It might be hard to find someone to do the work in the summer or it may cost more because of the increased demand.
Fall is generally considered a good time to work on siding and might be more competitive pricing for labor as the busy season winds down. Fall temperatures are typically within a safe range and there isn’t too much rainfall or moisture in most parts of the country. The other advantage of a fall installation is that something like cedar offers natural insulation for your home and you can potentially cut your energy bill. Between lower prices and increased availability, the fall might be the ideal time for your new siding.
Winter is typically not a very busy season for contractors, but when it is extremely cold it can be hard to work 8 hour days. Not to mention that you wouldn’t want to lose the insulation from your home during a cold winter while they pull off the old siding. While it is technically safe to install cedar or James Hardie in the coldest months of the year, it is not ideal. Vinyl siding can crack and damage in the winter so those installations should be avoided in the cold.
Spring is warm and if you act early you can book a contractor. However, for many places, spring is a rainy season. The last thing that you want is to have to pause midway through an installation for a rainstorm. The moisture could create problems for the installation process and expose your walls to mold infestations. That is the worst-case scenario and not too common. The bigger issue will be planning ahead so that you’re ready to start as soon as it gets warm and you can schedule an installation before things get busy.
If you’re interested in replacing your siding this summer or fall in the greater Cincinnati area, then contact EMA today to get a free estimate!