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Pick a timeSiding decisions, answered
These are the siding questions homeowners ask us most, and search for most: whether to repair or replace, which material, whether to paint old aluminum, whether to tear off, and what to do after a storm. Each guide gives the answer first, then the details to check it against your own house.
- Decision guideShould you repair or replace your siding?Repair your siding when the damage is on one or two walls, the sheathing behind it is dry and solid, and you can get panels that match or a hidden wall to borrow them from.
- Decision guideVinyl vs fiber cement vs engineered wood sidingFor most Northern Indiana homes the choice comes down to budget and how long you will stay.
- Decision guidePaint or replace aluminum siding?Paint aluminum siding when the panels are straight, tight to the wall and only chalky or faded: a proper repaint costs roughly a third to half as much as new vinyl and looks good for 8 to 10 years.
- Decision guideCan you put new siding over old siding?Yes, vinyl can go over one flat, sound layer of wood or aluminum siding, and it saves the $1,000–$3,000 cost of tear-off.
- Decision guideIs insulated vinyl siding worth it?Insulated vinyl costs about $2 more per square foot than standard vinyl in Northern Indiana ($7.50–$10.50 vs $5.50–$8.50 installed).
- Decision guideStorm-damaged siding: repair, replace and your claimAfter hail or high wind, document the damage before anyone talks about replacement.
- Decision guideHow long siding lasts, and when to replace itIn Northern Indiana, vinyl siding usually lasts 20 to 40 years, fiber cement 30 to 50, engineered wood 25 to 40 and aluminum 30 to 40.
Questions people ask
Who writes these siding guides?
The Hoosier Cladding crew in South Bend, who install and repair siding across Northern Indiana and southwest Michigan. Prices come from the same price list used for our quotes and are updated when that list changes.
I read the guide and still cannot decide. What next?
Book a free visit. We look at the walls, measure, and give you a written price for each option you are weighing, such as repair and full replacement, or vinyl and fiber cement, so you can compare real numbers for your house.
Next step: a free siding estimate
A free one-hour visit to your home. We measure every wall, check the sheathing and trim, walk you through vinyl, fiber cement and engineered wood options with samples, and send a written, itemized quote.