Getting Your Home Ready: The Ultimate Pre-Installation Prep Guide for Siding Replacement Success
Replacing your home’s siding is one of the most significant exterior improvements you can make, but proper preparation is crucial for ensuring a smooth installation process. When you have the siding replaced on your house, you should prepare ahead of time to make the surrounding areas ready for siding installation. When you’re about to have your siding replaced, there are simple things you can do to alleviate stress and make way for its installation to run smoothly. Understanding what to expect and how to prepare your property will help create a seamless experience for both you and your installation team.
Why Preparation Matters for Your Siding Project
Siding replacement is a significant investment for most homeowners. It will enhance your home’s aesthetic appeal and increase its energy efficiency capabilities. However, before the siding project can begin, it’s best that you first ensure you and your home is adequately prepared for the work a qualified and experienced siding contractor will do. Any home improvement project like new siding installation requires ample preparation on the part of the homeowner.
Professional contractors like Gualan Brothers Home Remodeling Corp understand that honest and set: We provide upfront pricing and transparent details in every stage of the process. Attention to Detail: We exceed your expectations with detailed craftsmanship. Problem Solvers: We find creative solutions to any remodeling challenge. This commitment to excellence begins with proper preparation.
Essential Exterior Preparation Steps
Clear Your Property Perimeter
Cover your outdoor furniture, and if possible, move it away from your home’s perimeter. You’ll safeguard it from damage and dust while making it easier for the contractor to access your exterior. Your siding contractor needs a clear path to your home siding, so ensure there are at least 6-8 inches of clearance all the way around your house’s perimeter between your current siding and any landscaping.
Move all outdoor furniture, potted plants, and appliances away from your siding. Items like benches, chairs, grills, and more will all need to find a new, temporary home during the installation to avoid any damage. Additionally, put all outdoor décor in the garage for now. If your children have toys, bikes, or other items outside, gather them and bring them indoors if possible.
Landscaping and Yard Maintenance
Trim, or tie back, trees and shrubbery near your home. Cut your grass short before your siding installation begins. Shorter grass will make it easier for your contractors to use a magnetic nail finder to recover any nails or staples that go astray during your siding replacement. Trim trees and shrubs in close proximity to your siding. Your installation crew will require adequate space to remove and install the boards. You can help prevent damage to your landscaping with proper maintenance.
Vehicle and Driveway Considerations
The siding crew will need ample room in your driveway to place a dumpster where they can dispose of your current siding. The siding contractor will have a dumpster placed in your driveway so they can dispose of your old siding appropriately. Park your car either in the garage or down the street when your new siding is being installed to protect it from damage.
Interior Preparation Requirements
Protecting Fragile Items
There can be a bit of a rumble when your current siding is removed and new planks are installed—so remove any fragile décor from the outside walls of your home interior. Take your artwork off the walls, and relocate any glass objects to avoid damage. During your siding removal and installation, the interior walls of your home may shake. Remove pictures, shelves, and valuables that may risk falling.
Because anything fragile (like pictures, knickknacks, glass items…) that border the particular walls of your home that will have replacement siding installed on them should be moved to prevent damage. Your walls may vibrate during siding installation, causing fragile keepsakes to fall from shelves because of the motion.
Safety and Utility Preparations
Electrical Safety Measures
Avoid the possibility of electrical shock by cutting off your exterior power before the siding contractor arrives each day of your installation. Siding replacement experts recommend turning off the electricity for your exterior lights to prevent the risk of shock. This simple step protects both the installation crew and your property.
Noise and Disruption Management
Siding installation is a noisy project. Ensure that your children and pets are away from the work area. If you work from home, you may want to make alternate arrangements. Siding installation can be pretty noisy. So your children and pets don’t have to endure the sounds associated with the removal and installation of your home’s protective layer, plan ahead for an outing for your young children, and consider getting a pet sitter. If you work from home, consider relocating your office temporarily to a coffee shop or library so you don’t have to try to concentrate amidst the siding installation bustle.
Communication and Timeline Planning
It’s important to have a conversation before the work gets started. Talk to your siding contractor about start and stop times, which yard features to look out for, parking preferences, and weekend working hour options. A good relationship with your project manager and crew will help ensure you have a better siding replacement experience.
Keep the communication fluid with the contractor’s point person or project manager before and throughout your siding replacement. If you have any parking preferences for their crew, let them know in advance. Also, ask specific questions like: What dates will my siding replacement begin and end? How does that change if the weather is not optimal? What time should I expect your crew to arrive and leave each day? Is there anything else I should know about the installation process?
What to Expect During Installation
Homeowners should expect their siding installation to take approximately 10 to 14 days. If your siding requires painting, this will add a few additional days to the project timeline. This lengthy time frame includes the removal of your existing siding, prep, adding insulation, the installation of the new siding, and any final touches — like trim work.
The best opportunity to discover and repair damage to your home is when your old siding has been removed. These unexpected issues may seem like trouble, but it’s best to know about and fix them before your brand-new siding is installed. No contractor will know exactly what to expect without tearing off all of the existing siding.
Choosing the Right Contractor
When searching for quality siding installation services milan, it’s essential to work with experienced professionals who understand local conditions and requirements. Gualan Brothers is a trusted residential contracting company serving Orange and Dutchess County. We’re about creating beautiful, functional spaces that enhance your lifestyle.
Gualan Brothers Home Remodeling Corp isn’t just another siding company in NY. We’re a team of dedicated craftspeople who believe in doing things right. Our team, deeply rooted in Milan, blends traditional methods with contemporary materials such as weather-resistant vinyl and durable fiber cement.
Final Preparation Checklist
Before your siding installation begins, ensure you’ve completed these essential preparation steps:
- Remove or cover all outdoor furniture and decorations
- Clear pathways around your home’s perimeter
- Trim trees and shrubs near the house
- Cut grass short for easy cleanup
- Move vehicles away from the work area
- Remove fragile items from interior walls
- Turn off exterior electrical power
- Make arrangements for children and pets
- Establish clear communication with your contractor
- Confirm project timeline and daily schedules
Having your siding replaced does not have to be stressful or overly time-consuming. With the right contractor spearheading the process and the proper preparation on your part as a homeowner, you can get a smooth installation with as little discomfort to your life as possible. Proper preparation is the foundation of a successful siding replacement project that will protect and beautify your home for years to come.