Check out the video below for tips on how to prevent & fix faded siding.
If your siding is faded or you’re worried about it fading then stick around. We’re breaking it down what you can do to prevent fading and know when it’s time to fully replace your siding.
Why Does Siding Fade?
The most common type of siding that experiences fading is vinyl. Vinyl siding will fade after years of being exposed to UV rays, and the elements like rain and snow. The sun’s rays will deteriorate the color off of vinyl siding, and other things like boats or jungle gyms that sit outside for an extremely long time.
If your house, or a part of your house, is shaded and doesn’t get direct sunlight all day you may not have to worry about fading as much as siding that is fully exposed to UV rays all day long. Shaded areas can also cause uneven fading, which can be cumbersome and annoying. When it comes to replacing your siding, it can be difficult when you only need to replace half of your siding—you may as well do the whole thing.
Your siding might also look faded, but actually just has some chalky residue on it that occurs due to oxidation and build-up of dust and grime and things like that. Oxidation happens when a material is exposed to oxygen for a long period of time, think a rusted vehicle. Rust is caused by a form of oxidation, and the same can go for your siding. That white, chalky residue can simply be cleaned off and brighten up the appearance of your siding just by being washed. We recommend soft washing your siding every so often to keep your siding looking good as new.
How Can I Prevent My Siding From Looking Faded and Worn?
Like we said before, soft washing with gentle chemicals can keep your siding super clean and looking new. Regularly washing your siding with water or a vinegar wash can also help prevent fading and oxidation. Even sprinklers can leave rust stains and wear away your siding. So, if you ever use a sprinkler to water your lawn, make sure it doesn’t consistently spray your siding for any long periods of time.
This one is a little hard to execute, but more shade will provide prolonged life against fading and oxidation. Make sure a lot of consideration is put in before trees are planted or removed on your property. One of the major benefits of a tree is not only privacy and improve heating or cooling, but it also affects the longevity of your siding. If that’s something you care about, it may be worthy to leave those shaded trees. If you have a south-facing home, with no trees, you may expect to see some fading, especially if you don’t make an effort to prevent it.
Choosing a lighter shade for your siding can also help fight against unsightly fading and oxidation. Lighter colors will hide fade much better than say a red or dark gray colored house. Also, dark shades will absorb more of the sun’s damaging UV rays.
Is Fading Covered by My Manufacturer’s Warranty?
Fading of vinyl siding is not uncommon and will likely have some sort of coverage under your warranty, to a point. The manufacturer may allow for some level of natural fading, but for anything beyond that, you may still be able to file a warranty claim. Whether or not you deem the fading acceptable, it will be covered to some degree in your warranty. So make sure to check the details on that, so that you don’t outlive your warranty and will be stuck with faded siding and no coverage.
How Long Will My Vinyl Siding Take to Fade?
For the most part, it’s safe to say that all vinyl siding will eventually fade, but to what extent will vary. Most vinyl siding is covered by a 20-40 year warranty but will last for much longer with proper maintenance. Unfortunately, if it’s going to happen, the first signs of fading will show at around 10-15 years, getting worse as the years go on past that.
Despite this risk of fading, vinyl remains the most popular type of siding used on homes today. It is durable, timeless, comes in a wide variety of colors and styles, and will last for decades to come. By maintaining it using the prevention tips we’ve shared, and being mindful of any signs of fading, wear and tear, or damage, you should be in pretty good shape for decades.
If you are looking for a refresh, cleaning and painting your siding can be a lot easier and a lot cheaper than replacing it all. If you think a good soft wash can do the trick, go for it! Painting is also always an option, but you will probably want to wash it first anyways. If the siding is oxidized the new paint may not adhere to it, so you can wash it and see how it looks. You can then determine if a paint job would spruce it right up, or if it’s beyond a cosmetic polish and you decide to replace your siding instead.
The Best Way to Replace Your Siding
If you do decide that new siding is in the cards for you, we would be happy to send out one of our project coordinators to take a look! We can tell you what we think the extent of the fading is, and what would be the best course of action. Call us today to schedule an in-person or virtual consultation, plus request a FREE quote!
