You're ready for new siding, which is fantastic! But before those shiny new panels go up, the old stuff has to come down. People often overlook this part of the job, but it's super important. I get a lot of questions about it, so I figured I'd answer the most common ones right here.
What's the trickiest part about taking off old siding?
Honestly, it's usually the surprises. You just never really know what's hiding underneath until you start pulling those layers back. We've seen everything: old, rotted sheathing; insect damage; water that's been sitting there for years; even crummy repair work from way back. Sometimes, especially on older homes around the Redwood Road area, we find original wood siding that someone just covered up with aluminum or vinyl without doing any proper prep. That kind of thing can definitely add time and make the job more complicated, because we have to fix those underlying problems correctly before we can even think about putting up new siding.
How long does it usually take to remove siding?
That's a tough one to give a single answer for, because it really depends on a few things. The size of your house is a big deal, obviously. A small rambler will be much quicker than a two-story place with dormers and lots of tricky angles. The type of siding coming off matters too. Vinyl and aluminum can often come down pretty fast. But old, nailed-on wood siding, especially if it's been painted over a dozen times? That can be a real bear to remove without messing up the structure underneath. As a rough guess, for an average-sized home here in Taylorsville, we're usually looking at anywhere from one to three days just for the removal and cleanup. That's assuming no big surprises, of course.
Will my house be exposed to the weather while you're removing siding?
That's a smart question to ask, especially with our wild Utah weather – you know how fast a sunny morning can turn into an afternoon thunderstorm. We don't just strip your entire house bare all at once. Nope. We work in sections. We'll take siding off one area, check the sheathing, fix anything that needs it, and then get the new house wrap and often some of the new siding up pretty quickly. Our main goal is to keep your home exposed for as little time as possible. If we see rain in the forecast, we'll tarp off sections or focus on getting that weather barrier up fast. We're not going to leave your home vulnerable overnight if we can help it.
What happens to all the old siding material?
We handle all the disposal. That's part of our service. We'll have a dumpster right there on-site, and as we pull the old siding off, it goes straight into that bin. We're pretty careful about keeping the job site clean and safe. Nobody wants old siding scraps blowing around their yard or neighborhood, do they? Once the job's done, we arrange for the dumpster to be hauled away. We also try to recycle materials whenever we can, depending on what kind of siding it is and what local facilities accept. It's not just about getting it off your house; it's about getting it off your property responsibly.
Do I need to do anything to get my home ready for siding removal?
Yes, you absolutely do! It makes a huge difference. First, clear out anything around the edge of your house that could get damaged or be in the way. Think patio furniture, grills, planters, garden hoses, anything hanging on the walls. If you have any delicate landscaping really close to the house, you might want to cover it with tarps. Also, if you have valuable or fragile stuff inside your home, especially on walls near where we'll be working, take it down. There's going to be some vibration and noise during the removal process, and we really don't want anything falling off the walls. Majestic Siding Solutions will always give you a specific checklist before we start, but those are the main things to remember.
Can I save money by removing the old siding myself?
I get why you'd ask that. Everyone wants to save a buck, right? And technically, yes, you could remove it yourself. But I rarely recommend it. Here's why: first, it's hard, dirty, and potentially dangerous work. You're dealing with sharp edges, nails, and working at heights. Second, you might not know what to look for underneath. If you pull off siding and miss signs of rot or insect damage, you're just covering up a bigger problem. Third, getting rid of it properly isn't as simple as throwing it in your regular trash. You'll need a dumpster, and those aren't cheap. Finally, if you damage the sheathing or underlying structure during removal, you'll end up costing yourself more in repairs than you saved. It's usually best to leave this to the pros who know what they're doing and have the right tools and insurance.
What if you find mold or asbestos during removal?
That's a serious question, and it's something we're always ready for. If we uncover what looks like a lot of mold, we'll stop work in that spot and talk to you right away. We're not mold remediation specialists, but we can tell you what to do next, which usually means bringing in a professional who focuses on mold. As for asbestos, that's less common with modern siding, but if we're working on a really old home, especially one built before the 1980s, and we suspect asbestos-containing materials (like certain types of old cement siding or asphalt shingles), we're trained to spot potential risks. We'd stop work, secure the area, and suggest professional testing and removal by a certified company. Your safety and our crew's safety are the most important things, and we don't mess around with hazardous materials.