How to Prepare for a Re-Side with LP® SmartSide® Trim & Siding

If you haven't gone through it before, the siding installation process can be full of unknowns. From weighing the types of siding and costs to figuring out how to pick a good contractor, we're here to help you navigate your re-side project. Our goal is to make sure you end up with new siding you love.

With guidance from Steve and Randy Kruse of the Kruse Brothers, check out our recommendations for what to do—and what not to do—as you prepare for new siding.

What to Do to Prepare for the Re-Siding Installation Process

• Know the signs. “Depending on the type of siding you have, it may begin to show cracks, warping or fading,” says Steve.

• Know your budget. The Kruse Brothers suggest thinking carefully about the cost to put new siding on a house and how much you are able to spend so your contractor can provide a solution that fits your needs.

• Research color, house siding options and cost**, and more.** “Color is a good place to start,” Steve says. “Once you have a main color, you can move on to accent colors and other elements of the home.” You can also take a look at different substrates and the pros and cons of each.

• Hire a contractor. “Finding a good contractor so you can start building a good relationship would come from a referral,” says Randy. “That referral may happen through social media or through references from friends or other homeowners.” When it comes to how to pick a good contractor, Steve recommends looking for an LP® BuildSmart™ Preferred Contractor since they have been trained in installing LP SmartSide products. You can also check out our hiring a contractor checklist for more information.

• Ask good questions about the siding installation process. “As a homeowner, it’s important to ask questions about how the siding is going to be installed,” says Steve. “We often ask what type of weather resistant barrier is going to go on the home and whether your contractor has been trained in the installation of the siding that’s going to be installed.” Find more questions to ask here.

• Remove wall hangings from inside your home. During the installation process, your contractor will be knocking on your walls and creating some disturbances. To ensure nothing inside the home is damaged, simply take breakables down off the walls for the time being.

• Expect your re-side to be a full construction job. While it shouldn’t disrupt your life inside your home, a re-side will be a significant project. Expect contractors and installers to be on-site for several days with a full setup of equipment.

Watch-Outs Within the Steps to Siding a House

• Don’t prolong re-siding or ignore problems. If a home needs to be re-sided, rotten boards under the siding, water leaks and cold spots can begin to happen. “A tremendous amount of damage can be happening behind the siding that you don't even see,” says Steve. “Structural damage can actually happen if you don’t re-side at the proper time.” Randy adds that there could be changes in price and labor costs over time, “so if a home needs to be re-sided, it’s best to get it done here and now.”

• Don’t expect your contractor to clear access to the walls. “As contractors, we’re going to be walking around the house and working there,” Steve says. “We need the trees and the bushes cut back as well as possible for us to do our jobs.” If you have any obstructive landscaping, clear a path before your contractors arrive as one of the first steps to re-siding a house.

• Don’t wait to order external accessories that need to be installed after the re-side is complete. Ordering new light fixtures or other external accessories ahead of time means that your contractors can install them as they work. When your re-side is complete, your home will be back to normal quickly.

How LP® SmartSide® Trim & Siding Makes Re-Sides Easier

As one of the most durable siding solutions on the market, LP SmartSide Trim & Siding allows you to create the look you want for your home without sacrificing the durability you need so that your siding can stand up to weather, the passage of time, and even impacts from everyday objects and storm debris. For example, when it comes to hail damage vinyl siding may quickly succumb to dents and cracks, but LP SmartSide siding is made be strong and impact-resistant.

With options from lap siding and vertical siding that can be used to create the board and batten look to shakes, trim and more, LP SmartSide products can be used for most parts of the home’s exterior. LP SmartSide ExpertFinish® siding also offers many of the same products in 16 versatile colors that make the process of re-siding even easier.

“We’ve got homeowners covered from the siding and trim to Outside Corners, J-Blocks and Mini-Splits as well,” says Randy. “It all creates one nice package.”

What’s My Next Step?

Ready to start your re-side project? Request a quote here and get connected with an LP BuildSmart Preferred Contractor. If you’re in the research phase now, be sure to read up on the benefits of LP SmartSide siding.