Spring Means It’s Siding Replacement Time

As springtime rolls around, contractors everywhere swing into action as the demand for repairs, upgrades, and remodels rises. It’s a good time of year to do a lot of different types of jobs—and that includes home siding replacement.

We’ll explore why spring is a great time to replace siding, and we’re also going to look at the FASCO® (a BECK member) F44AC CN15W-PS65 nailer, which is a great tool that will help you repair and replace siding.

Why Replace Siding in the Spring?

Siding takes a lot of abuse year-round. After years of enduring harsh weather, siding will at the very least look a little dingy. It may also have a greenish tint where moisture has caused algae to grow. In addition, things like ice, hail, or even stones shot out from a lawnmower can leave their mark in the form of cracks and holes. Additionally, wind can lift siding—and in the case of vinyl siding, leave it warped, which opens it up to the potential for moisture damage to the structures beneath the siding.

Those are some reasons that can lead to siding replacement, but why do it in the spring? For one thing, spring weather is some of the best for getting projects done. Not too hot, not too cold—you’ll only have to worry about dodging rain showers. Secondly, winter tends to be the roughest month on siding. Wait till spring so that you can undo the damage caused by the previous winter and let homeowners enjoy a summer and fall with a fresh fresh look before the next winter comes to take its toll.

In more practical terms, spring is a good time because it’s typically without the wild temperature swings that can damage siding while you’re installing it. In the winter when it’s cold outside, vinyl siding becomes more brittle—and that can lead to the siding cracking when you install it. The same thing can happen in the summer, only the weakness is caused by heat instead of cold.

Speaking of wild temperature swings, spring is also the best time to do the job while also upgrading insulation and keeping the homeowners comfortable. You wouldn’t want to remove siding and replace insulation in the winter because that would make it incredibly difficult, and expensive, to heat the home during the job. Similarly, this is a job that can make it tough to keep the home air conditioned in the summer.

Alternatives to Siding Replacement

Siding is an expensive job for homeowners. On average, it will cost them between $7,000 and $10,000 for the average home in an average-priced market. If you can offer ways to repair or upgrade siding for a lower cost than full replacement, you’ll build a lot of goodwill.

So how can you go about saving your clients money?

Start by determining whether replacement is truly necessary. In most cases, you’ll discover that unless the homeowner wants a completely new look—like switching from brick or wood to the look of vinyl, for example—replacement isn’t truly necessary. Most of the time, the only time siding for homes needs to be replaced completely is when the home is sided with vinyl that has holes or cracks. In this instance, full replacement is usually the only alternative since it’s impossible to color-match repair pieces after years of the original color fading under UV rays.

Here are some other alternatives to replacement:

• Power wash vinyl siding that is dingy or stained with algae to freshen up the color.
• Wood and metal siding can be repainted—and in the case of wood siding, you can often replace individual boards or shingles that are rotted or damaged.

Use the Right Tools to Make Siding Repair and Replacement Easier

Looking at springtime siding jobs coming up? Make sure you’ve got a nailer to help you do the job more efficiently. The FASCO® F44AC CN15W-PS65 is the tool you need.

This nailer offers a lot in the way of versatility. To start, it gives you a lightweight design with great balance, which makes it a comfortable tool to use day in and day out. It also has a switchable trigger for bump fire and full sequential fire—two modes that can help you nail siding in place fast.

You can use the FASCO® F44AC CN15W-PS65 with both wire coil nails and plastic sheet coil nails in sizes between 1 inch to 2 ½ inches—and that makes this product ideal for more than just siding. You can also put it to work on the rest of your projects, from fencing and landscaping work to sheathing, flooring, and more.

Want to learn more about the FASCO® F44AC CN15W-PS65? Click below for additional details.