Siding repairs can be quite tricky if you don’t know much about siding and how to spot damage before it becomes serious. One mistake many homeowners make is waiting too long before making repairs to their siding. After all, “you’re only as good as your last siding job”, so if you think you can take on a major repair project without professional help, think again! The national average for Siding Repair costs is around $300, but costs can range from just $50 up to over a thousand.

In order to avoid hiring the wrong contractor, here are some things to look for when trying to find a good siding repair specialist. The National Siding Contractors Association (NSACA) publishes an annual report detailing the top ten different contractors in the industry. The report also breaks down which types of jobs the most expensive contractors focus on, so you’ll know exactly who to avoid when looking for repairs.
Dry Rot Repair Dry rot is basically termite damage, except it happens to your siding. It starts with a small hole in the siding where moisture is allowed to penetrate through to the wood, creating cracks and eventually rotting out the wood underneath. There are many different types of dry rot repair techniques, from using chemicals to penetrating the wood with a laser, and even grinding the wood down to smooth out the spots. Because this kind of damage can occur gradually over time without any noticeable signs, sometimes it’s hard to tell dry rot from other kinds of damage until it’s significantly advanced. If you’re planning to hire a siding repair contractor, ask them to inspect the home first and to give you an estimate on what it will cost to fix the damages.
Metal Siding Repair Metal siding contractors use a variety of techniques to fix metal siding. For example, some will use high-pressure water jets that are designed to blast holes through the sheet metal in order to expose the underlying metal. Other ways to fix metal siding include cementing them back into shape, using high-pressure hot water jets or metal polishing. No matter how they perform their repairs, all siding contractors will state that they start with a basic inspection in order to determine if there are any potential problems that can’t be fixed with DIY methods.
Slate Siding Repair Most homeowners don’t think about slate when they’re thinking of replacing or repairing their homes, but it’s actually one of the most resilient materials you can use. Even when damage has been done to the siding by storms or large falling objects, the beauty of slate means that it’s a surprisingly easy material to fix. Most contractors will suggest that you buy new slate for your home rather than trying to cut and piece together shoddy old shingles. Slate is typically rated according to its degree of resistance to both scratching and breaking. The greater the number of different fibers in the material, the better the durability. And if the damage is severe enough, many slate shingles can even be removed entirely and replaced with better ones.
Wood Siding Repair Wood can be an extremely labor-intensive repair job if done at home, and costs more than other materials like vinyl and metal. It’s not uncommon for wood siding repair to cost upwards of $1000, but it still remains to be seen if such cost factors influenced the national average cost. In general, wood is probably the most versatile material available, allowing craftsmen to create artistic structures and works of art with ease. However, the problem comes when the underlying layers of cellulose decay or get damaged.
Rot Removal If you live in areas where the summer or winter rains are too much to handle, then you may want to consider calling a siding contractor to take care of your rotting siding repair needs. There are basically two types of rot removal procedures: surface-level rot under the bottom board rot. Surface-level rot will only cause the siding fabric to start to flake. Under the bottom board rot will actually allow the wood rot to spread underneath the siding fabric, causing the entire thing to crumble away. Both types of repairs are quite labor-intensive, which can drive up siding costs.
Dry Rot Repair A common problem for most homeowners is that a certain amount of water gets into the wood rot on their house frames. This water will eventually turn the wood to mush and will start to deteriorate its aesthetic qualities. Luckily, most siding repair companies can also perform wet and dry rot repairs. But if your siding has already deteriorated to the point where it needs attention from a siding contractor, then it’s best to go with the dry method. At least that way, you won’t have to worry about having to put up with peeling paint or rotten boards.