Homeowning is a constant responsibility. An everlasting issue is deciding when you need to renovate or replace your home’s exterior. When that day arrives, it would be a smart move to seek counsel from a professional. Homeowners do have the capacity to perform some of these undertakings by themselves, but it is still recommended you find outside help. Below is a timeline for three common home exteriors and when you should take action on replacement.
Normally, your exterior’s lifespan can be prolonged with standard maintenance. A good example of this is siding. Depending on the material, siding can be repainted to counteract fading due to harsh weather conditions, or dilapidated sections can be replaced altogether thanks to insect and water damage. In order to correctly determine when your siding needs replacement, you must be aware of which material was used when the siding was put in.
Vinyl, a very common siding material, can last 30 to 40 years taking on normal wear and tear. More durable options, such as stucco and steel can survive more than 40 years while fiber cement has been known to last over 100 years. Wood, a natural material, only has the capacity to last about 20 to 40 years depending on upkeep. Replacement may need to be done sooner if there are any signs of condensation buildup, mold, or excessive wear.
Regarding garage doors, often times it is dependent on the material, but your average garage door could survive for 15-30 years. Other factors that shorten the lifespan include harsh weather conditions and frequent usage. Homeowners can extend the life expectancy of their garage doors by replacing different parts at different times, such as rollers and weather seals, and appropriately maintaining certain components with lubricant.
One more exterior that requires maintenance are the gutters. If the gutters are not in adequate shape, the water meant to be moved away from the home’s foundation could wind up exactly there, leading to damaged wall components. Gutters should be cleaned twice a year depending on climate and weather. While cleaning, be on the lookout for any punctures, rust, sagging or splitting. Vinyl, steel and aluminum gutters are known to last 20 years without needing replacement. Copper gutters, however, can last longer than 50 years.
Before committing to a single home restoration task, go over the fine print of the homeowner’s insurance policy and seek help from professionals. For more information on when to replace these home exteriors, please see the accompanying resource created by CMB Garage Doors.
Infographic created by CMB Garage Doors, New Mexico specialists in garage door installation
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