Should my friend replace all the warped siding or just portions of it, and do you have any DIY tips for the project?
Asked by Jayaraj Bal 
4 months ago
Last Updated: July 26, 2024
I have a buddy who’s dealing with some warped siding and maybe some mold underneath. Do you think he should replace the whole thing or just parts of it?
If we were to tackle this ourselves, any advice on how to approach the project from start to finish would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance!
All of it
Reece Mahon
I’m kind of interested in what the material behind that looks like
All!
Poor installation, poor quality product, those windows will deteriorate quickly. Who still installs rough wood windows? No flashing at all. There are probably underlying issues as well. I notice rows of nails scattered everywhere!
The roof seems sturdy, from what little I can see. I would recommend checking for proper airflow with air intakes and exhausts. Additionally, consider installing flashing or soffits on the exposed beams at the top while you’re at it.
All of it.
Who installed the siding so poorly? No drip edge at all.
Take it down
Flash the windows
Add drip edge and J mold
Then put the siding back on, making sure it’s not too tight.
It seems like it was done pretty badly – I think it all needs to be redone. The wall shouldn’t have that twisted look like it does now.
Can he find the exact color match for the old paint? And is he just replacing one side of the house while leaving the other 3 sides the original color? Can he live with two different colors on his house?
I’m interested in knowing what material the siding is made of. My suggestion would be to replace all of it, and make sure the job is done correctly this time.
It really depends – you’ll know if it can be repaired or if it needs to be replaced once he begins to remove it… I frequently sell houses and patching usually does the trick.
I’m wondering about the material of the siding.
They really need to replace all of that siding. It appears to be LP Smartside based on the photo. Face nailing lap siding is not the proper way to install it. It should be blind nailed with staggered and sealed joints, and there should be a moisture barrier between the siding and sheathing.
No content
Got any ideas for a quick fix until we have enough money saved up?
It looks like that’s Masonite hardboard siding, which was commonly used on homes from 1980 to 1997. It’s known to be defective and often fails like in the photo. There was a huge class action lawsuit settlement in the late 90s over it. I think we can’t share links here, but you can try googling “masonite siding lawsuit” to see similar photos. Louisiana Pacific (LP) had issues with their “inner seal” product line too. The current LP siding, “smart side,” is different and has a good track record. From my experience, trying to repair these old composite sidings is like playing whack-a-mole – it’s a never-ending and expensive process. Hope this info helps!
Does that siding look like PVC to you?