Your home's exterior can last a long time, even when exposed to elements, because it
is designed to withstand wind, rain, sun, etc. However, it
doesn't last forever, and if your siding is starting to age, peel, or crack, now may be the time to overhaul your home's exterior. Before you do, however, check out these three tips that can help.
1. Consider Your Needs
Before you start any project, consider your needs. One factor that determines the type of siding you need is the weather. Certain siding materials do better in warmer climates when compared to cooler climates. Wood, for example, may be an excellent option for an area with limited temperature fluctuations.
Wood expands when exposed to hot weather and contracts when exposed to cold temperatures. If this happens too frequently, the wood experiences a lot of stress, causing it to break down sooner. In areas like San Francisco, however, the weather
doesn't drastically change from 100-degree days to 30-degree days throughout the year.
You also need to consider how much maintenance you want to deal with. Wood, for example, is beautiful but requires a lot of maintenance to prevent rot and infestation. Fiber cement, on the other hand, requires little maintenance. You may need to pressure wash it occasionally.
2. Rent Scaffolding
If your home has a second or third floor, a ladder can be a dangerous choice. In fact, every year, more than
90,000 people need emergency treatment from ladder-related injuries. In addition, about half of those people
were injured because they were trying to climb up the ladder while carrying items. Naturally, if
you're remodeling your home's exterior, you'll need to carry heavy materials.
For this reason, you should rent scaffolding. Scaffolding has two major advantages over ladders: they are safe and make projects easy. With a ladder, you have to climb down and move the ladder each time you need to reach a new section. Scaffolding, however, allows you to reach every part of the exterior, so you
don't have to keep climbing up and down a ladder.
In addition, the scaffolding is secure and balanced. This means you
don't need to focus on keeping your balance while you work; you just have to focus on your work. As a result, the job takes much less time.
3. Get a Dumpster
If
you're tearing off old siding, you're going to have a lot of waste, which is why many homeowners choose to rent a dumpster before they even start. You can easily toss the old siding into the dumpster, and once full, the dumpster rental company will come collect it to take the waste to the dump. Dumpster rental costs between $300 and $400, depending on the size.
If
you're doing more than just replacing siding, however, be mindful of what you toss in the dumpster. E-waste, such as computers and batteries,
cannot be sent to the dump because they can contaminate soil and water. The dumpster rental company should be able to help you with the proper removal of E-waste.
On the downside, dumpsters can damage your yard and landscaping. Some homeowners prefer to park the dumpster on their driveway, but the heavy weight can cause cracking. Finally, if you try to park the dumpster on the street, you may end up with a fine, depending on the local laws.
When improving any part of your home, the main goal should always be to stay safe. Siding can be hard to replace with just a ladder, but scaffolding is safe and makes the project much easier. If you would like to know more about scaffolding,
contact us at Pacific Scaffold Company.
