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Homeowners wanting to update their homes hear the sound of multiple cash registers when they look at their siding. Siding, even the best brands, will wear over time. It will dull, fade, and even become damaged. It is also one of the more expensive things to replace.
Can you replace the siding only on the front of the house?
You can replace siding only on the home’s front side. However, many design and home experts discourage the idea saying it’s hard to do a portion without damaging the rest, difficult to match the siding, and it makes a home look cheap.
In the article below, we’ll take a look at the issue, offer tips and advice about how to reduce the cost of siding on your home, and help you make the one-side siding option a good choice.
Table of Contents
The Issue of Siding
A couple of decades ago, there was a lawsuit against Lousiana Pacific siding. Those who filed claims could have siding on their homes replaced for free under a settlement.
However, there was a deadline for filing a claim and many new homeowners buying homes with this siding weren’t told in closing about the settlement.
That meant that homeowners found out they missed the deadline when their home’s siding started falling apart, leaving them with a significant and expensive repair way too early in the home’s history.
Siding is expensive. A 1,800-square-foot home would cost around $4,559 to replace vinyl siding, according to the most current figures. However, that doesn’t take into account recent inflation. Some recent estimates showed companies wanting $2,000 just to replace siding on a chimney section.
Here is a look at projected costs for other types of siding for the same house.
- Aluminum costs $1.50 to $7 per square foot with a projected cost of $3,000 – $14,000
- Brick siding costs between $5 and $15 a square foot with a projected cost of $10,000 – $30,000
- Fiber cement costs $5 to $12 per square foot with a total projected cost of $11,000 to $24,000
- Hardie board costs between $.80 and $5 per square foot with a total cost of $1,600 to $11,000
- Natural stone costs $28 to $50 per square foot with a projected cost of $56,000 to $100,000
- Stucco siding costs between $5 to $9 per square foot with a total cost of $10,000 to $19,000
Siding Just the Front Section
Homeowners facing increased costs want to know if it’s acceptable to side only the front of the house. The short answer is yes. There are several aspects of this.
Damage
One section of a home could have damage from storms, baseballs, or golfballs. You can remove the damaged siding and replace it DIY.
Replacing by Section
Some homeowners wanting to replace their siding may consider replacing it by section. This is a great option, according to contractors, because it is easier to replace a whole section than a few bad boards.
The problem with replacing a few bad boards is that work could damage other nearby siding boards since they are essentially laying over one another. It can create a domino effect. Replacing an entire section resolves that problem.
Contractors are promoting this idea while home experts discourage it. As long as your contractor will do it for the price you expect, you shouldn’t care what home experts claim. After all, it’s your home.
The Controversy
The reason why home experts don’t like the idea of doing one section of siding at a time is two-fold. One, you may not be able to get the exact siding to match.
It won’t match your old siding if you have an older home because products have shifted and the color may be different.
It may be challenging to find the same siding you used in one section for the rest of the sections if it’s a discontinued item or if you wait too long to complete the house.
Both of these scenarios make a home look cheap, according to home experts.
You have some choices to resolve both issues. You can keep the colors the same if you are switching to a different siding to be somewhat consistent. You can paint the old siding to match the new or paint the new to match the old.
You can go with a different color altogether if you were originally looking at doing that anyway. Then, the whole house will look fresher and different as if you did all new siding.
When you buy siding for the front, don’t just go with the least expensive. It may have a price reduction because it is being discontinued or had issues with other homes. Ask the salesperson for a brand of siding that will be around for a few years because it will take time to do the whole home.
Be sure to keep the name and type of siding stored in a folder for your reference later. You will need it if you get a new salesperson when you go back for the rest of your home.
Doing Siding DIY
Those who are handy can replace siding themselves but it is a lot of work. However, replacing damaged siding in one area isn’t a huge problem.
Take a piece of the old siding that is broken to siding sales distributors to find something that is close. It will not be a match.
You may have to also go to the paint store to have the color-matched. Using a primer with house paint will get you the look you want.
All you need for this 15-minute repair job is a pry bar, a zip siding removal tool, and a replacement board.
To do the replacement, use the zip siding removal tool to remove the siding from the pice below. Pull the tool down to unhook the siding and then slide down the edge. Use the flat bar to remove the nails.
Now, install the new replacement siding by pushing it up. The lip should lock into the siding below it. Nail in 1 1/4-inch roofing nails to secure it.
They should go near the old nail holes Leave a 1/32-inch of space with the nail head. You don’t want the siding to buckle in warm weather.
Use the zip removing tool to lock the upper piece onto the new board. Pull the lip down and force the edge down. Move the tool along and press with your free hand to snap it down over the replacement board.
Dealing with Contractors
Ask about their different projects, look at the samples and research the brands. Also, ask if the contractor guarantees both the product and the work.
Final Thoughts
You can just put new siding on the front of the home but that shouldn’t be your final project. Eventually, all siding will need to be replaced so you should consider planning for the entire project when you set out to do the first section.
Have a timeline, a product you want and can get in the future, and a contractor that will work with you over the long haul. That will make the whole project run more smoothly and your home won’t look like a patchwork quilt in the process.