Siding Installation: What to Expect

The decisions have been made: you have selected your new siding for your home, including the style and color, and now you are awaiting the arrival of the siding contractor to begin the job. While it may be tempting to sit back and dream of your home's new look, the preparation steps you take before siding installation can make the whole process a better experience and ensure an optimal result.

Before the siding contractor arrives, walk around your home's exterior and prepare the space. Move planters, outdoor furniture, barbecue grills, and anything else near your home's exterior walls. The contractor can move things themselves before beginning the siding installation process, but they may not handle your items with care or store them in the same place as you would. If you have a special garden that you want to protect, mark it off with stakes or some other barrier to prevent it from being trampled.

Now it's time to take a tour of your walls from the inside of your home. During siding installation, it is not unusual for the pressure from the exterior to dislodge items on the inside of the walls. In case this was to happen, remove paintings, photographs, mirrors, and anything else that might be damaged if it should fall. Store these items against an interior wall rather than an exterior wall.

Siding installation is a noisy endeavor. To be a good neighbor, it's an excellent idea to warn your nearby neighbors about the impending project. They will appreciate the advance notice, and they are likely to be happy about the subsequent improvement in your home's appearance and market value, which helps the value of every other house in your neighborhood, as well.

If you have pets or babies who need naps, you may want to make alternate arrangements for them during the days that siding installation is scheduled to occur. The noise is likely to be disturbing to your pets and may keep your baby from a much-needed nap.

If you work from a home office and need relative quiet to perform your job, you may want to investigate locating an alternate workspace during the days of siding installation. The noise level may make it difficult to concentrate or to hold phone conversations, so preserve your sanity and your business by temporarily relocating.

Although preparing for siding installation may seem like a bother, the steps you take in advance of the project can help the whole project to proceed more smoothly, which will make everyone involved happier.