How do you install new siding on old house?
Question:My house has cedar siding and most of it is either beginning to or already rotting. A contractor said he would install new siding (Craneboard) on top of the old siding. Wouldn't it be better to remove the old rotting siding first?
Answers:
Putting new siding on the old is standard installation procedure. The only caveat is that the new must be well anchored to as sound substrate be it studs or sheathing.
im not sure what craneboard siding is, but i've never heard of anybody, especially a professional, putting new siding over old siding. please have the old siding removed first. It will look better, much much better.
Whether to remove the old is generally related to the conditioning of the old siding and the manner in which it is attached...is it warped? or contain rot? the best way is to remove although it obviously is the most expensive. which ever way is done, be sure and go to the additional expense of placing a weather barrier such as tyvek wrap (made by Dupont) under the new siding...also, rotten siding can contain termites, etc.
If any siding company tells you it's "standard procedure" to put new siding over old, RUN! They're just lazy and don't want to bother w/removing the old stuff! In our state, most contractors won't even TOUCH a house without removing the old siding.
The reasons are many: 1) The shape of the existing siding. Why cover something that's rotting? BAD PLAN!
2) If you're not SURE what's under there (like, say, you have asbestos on top of clapboards, there could be significant rot, insect, water damage, no insulation, etc. but you won't KNOW, if you cover it up...and then you lose a sale down the road when the HOME INSPECTOR finds it...and find it they usually DO!)
3) Any REPUTABLE siding company will NOT want to risk a lawsuit, if they put new siding on top of junk.
And DON'T let them convince you that you have to pay MORE to have them rip the old stuff off! That's a scam! Or, if they DO charge more, they MUST state as much IN WRITING, up front.
IN closing, make SURE your siding co. does NOT subcontract to people they really don't know! This happened to us and we're STILL dealing with the mistakes and deliberate cut corners, 3 yrs. later!
The siding biz. is one of the most corrupt areas of construction...so get your facts and KEEP YOUR EYE ON THEM! References are also useless, since they only give you the ones who stupidly thought they did a "good" job!
P.S.: the previous guy mentioned "housewrap", like Tyvek! Many siders will try to get out of putting THAT on too! DO NOT LET THEM! You'll pay for it in winter!
you are correct. Any reputable contractor I have ever worked with, or for would not allow this. For starters all you will be doing is covering the rot. It will still be behind the siding and no matter what he tells you after, it starts to rot, it will continue to rot, even covered by the siding which will cause other problems down the road. Also there is the possibility some of the wood under the wall could be rotten,this wont be discovered and fix properly unless the siding is removed. Secondly I assume your cedar siding is lap siding? Craneboard is siding filled solid with foam backing for insulation and noise. Your going to get the best possible look and protection on a smooth wall. It wouldn't be hugely noticeable but when you looked down a wall you would see small variations because you'll never get it uniform going up over lap. Any company that tries and take shortcuts like this I would have to wonder what else he will shortcut on.
Removing the old siding will require more labor and of course more money, but once the new siding is up, you cannot change your mind later and remove the old siding that is underneath. Personally would remove the old siding. It will look better and you will know what is underneath the new siding and the condition of the exterior wall. It is possible that the exterior wall underneath the rotten siding is also rotten.
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