Is it a good idea to install vinyl siding in the fall? Yes. Fall is one of the best times of year for the job. Temperatures are mild, which suits the material, and the work is finished before cold weather arrives. Here is why the timing works and what to plan for.
Why Homeowners Replace Siding
Most homeowners who replace their siding with vinyl want one of two things. They want a better looking exterior, or they want a more comfortable, efficient home. If your winter heating bills have been high, worn siding with gaps and holes may be part of the reason.
Benefits of Installing Vinyl Siding in the Fall
Your home is sealed up before winter
New siding creates a barrier between your home and the cold. Gaps and holes in the old exterior are covered, which helps keep cold air from leaking in. Insulation can also be added during the project for another layer of protection. Tell your contractor about any drafty areas so they can be inspected while the walls are open.
Mild temperatures suit the material
Vinyl expands and contracts as temperatures change. Installed correctly, with room to move, it will not warp or buckle. That is easier to get right in moderate fall weather than in summer heat or winter cold, when the material is harder to work with and can even be damaged during installation.
Scheduling can be easier
Fall is often a less hectic time for siding work than the peak summer season, which can make it easier to get on a contractor’s calendar. Book early all the same. The window between summer and the first hard cold is short in Connecticut.
Other Places Your Home Loses Heat
Siding is only part of the picture. If rooms are still drafty, look at the windows and doors. Old, loose units let a lot of heat escape.
Energy-efficient vinyl replacement windows are a direct fix for drafty glass. New entry doors and patio doors seal far better than worn ones, and storm doors add another barrier against winter wind. Like siding, these are projects worth finishing before the cold sets in.
Choose the Right Installer
Whatever the project, pick a contractor with the skill to recommend a quality product and install it so it lasts for years. Ask how they handle expansion gaps, flashing and trim around windows and doors, since that is where problems tend to start.
Get Your Home Ready for Winter
Aladdin Inc. has provided home exterior renovations for Connecticut residents since 1949. To tighten up your home with new windows or doors before winter, ask us for an estimate or call (203) 776-9996.