While driving throughout Greatwood and Sugar Land, I’ve noticed a significant amount of wood and particleboard siding built on both one story and two story homes. Most of the homes built from the early 90’s and even through today are constructed of a cheaper, weaker wood or composite material that represents a major new home improvement. Whether it is today or ten years from now, I guarantee your wood or particleboard siding will probably need to be replaced.

Builders have long used these products because quite frankly they are cheaper than building an all-brick home. They allow the builder to save time and money building multiple houses and thus generate greater profits, as well as keeping the costs of houses relatively affordable. The shame is that in neighborhoods such as Greatwood, New Territory, First Colony and others throughout Sugar Land, even the higher priced homes are constructed with this material. You have paid a significant amount for your home investment, but unfortunately you’re not getting your money’s worth.

In fact, there has been a long-standing and large class action lawsuit against manufacturers of these siding products, such as Masonite, Omniwood and Woodruf (www.masoniteclaims.com/). These products are ones that have been used on homes throughout the greater Houston area since roughly around the late 70’s and have significantly affected the investment of thousands of homeowners. If you have this type of siding on your home (see website), you may be eligible to file a claim and receive money for your damaged siding. I have seen numerous homes throughout this area that qualify to receive a small portion of money back for siding.

It is fairly obvious to tell if you have siding damage, and if you do, you either need to have it resealed and repainted or totally resided and repainted. You can tell if you have damage if your siding is warped, not straight, or seems to be easily chipping off at the corners and the edges of your siding. Simplistically the siding that could be on your home is made of compressed particleboard and glue. Overtime, water seeps through the siding and warps due to weathering such as rain, humidity, pounding sun and overall depreciation. Your siding then acts more as a sponge than it does as a protector. Once your siding gets to this point, it is unfortunately time to replace your siding.

We have replaced scores of homes that have had this Masonite type of siding. It is important at this point of deterioration to replace your siding because your outer protection layer has been compromised and is now quickly deteriorating. Once your siding starts to rot, you now expose yourself to potentially significant structural problems. The studs and sheeting that help frame your house now are continuously exposed to this wet, hot, humid environment that will begin to rot these studs and framing at an exponential rate! Not only do you now have to worry about additional structural problems, but you also have to worry about creating conditions that are conducive to rapid mold and mildew growth. It also can create an environment that is inviting to termites, roaches and other insects that may now have easy access to your home.

Thus, as you probably may see, it is extremely important to take care of these potential problems before they get worse. Although this preventative renovation may be expensive, it is worth it considering what the alternative may be.

Once you realize that it is time to either file a claim or replace your siding, there are a number of options available. However, one product that we use for a majority of our residing jobs is a product created by James Hardie, called Hardi-Plank www.jameshardie.com/homeowner/prodcomp/vhardboard.php). Unlike siding, the Hardi-Plank that we use is not flammable, will not rot, is resistant to hail damage, holds paint three to four times longer and basically lasts a lifetime! In my opinion, using Hardi-Plank can be one of the best investments you can make to preserve the life of your home’s exterior. The great news is that its price is comparable to that of other kinds of siding that does deteriorate. On many occasions, we also will use cedar wood that is affordable and also fairly resistant to warping, as compared to pine.

If you need any help in trying to determine if you have siding damage or need someone to replace your siding, you know whom to call.

New Home Improvement Product Update: Reflective Paint. There is a paint that is available and can be purchased at Sherwin Williams, Lowe’s or Home Depot. This paint can be painted on the back of your roof decking or the inside of your new siding job. This reflective paint reflects the heat of the sun away from your home and helps to cool your home considerably � potentially up to 15 degrees! This means greater home energy efficiency, translating into lower utility bills! However a gallon of reflective paint can be quite expensive. If you are planning on living in your home for a length of time, it might be worth investing in this paint if you are going to re-roof your home or re-side your home. If you are planning on re-roofing your home, the best idea is to use a sprayer, however this type of paint can quickly deteriorate a paint sprayer. You might want to hire a painter for this product, but you can definitely do it yourself; just be careful while you are in your attic!

Next month: “A Home Portrait: Let Paint & Molding Transform Your Home”

If you have any questions or comments about this month’s, last month’s or next month’s article, and/or any other comments/questions, feel free to either call or email your neighborly, turn-key solution - Ames Home Improvements, LLC at: 281-343-5600, Garrett_Ashmore@tamu.edu
www.amesinvestments.com

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