Whether a hail storm recently blew through, leaving your home looking like a golf ball, or your kid was a bit too zealous with a baseball and bat, any damage to your home’s siding should be taken care of as quickly as possible. Not only does damage to your siding look awful, even one small dent can be enough of an opening to allow water or pests in and cause a great deal of damage. When hail comes through and damages an entire side of your house, it probably seems logical to call up your insurance company and have your homeowner’s policy cover the cost of repairs. When it’s just one small dent or two, however, the line between needing help from professional siding contractors and choosing to DIY becomes a bit less clear.
To DIY or Not?
As with any home repair project, the question of doing it yourself should come down to your own abilities, first and foremost. If you’re handy with power tools and know your way around a home improvement store, it’s worth considering. On the other hand, if you have trouble figuring out how to hang a picture, well, it’s probably a good idea to work your way up from smaller projects; maybe don’t dive straight into siding repair. Installing or replacing siding takes some special considerations; it can go wrong at basically any point through the process, so it’s important to be sure you know what you’re doing before you begin.
Pros & Cons
The biggest benefit of handling those siding repairs on your own is the potential to save money. At least, at face value, you may be saving some; however, if something goes wrong, it may be more costly in the end—this is why it’s important you know what you’re doing. Here are the factors you’ll want to consider before choosing to DIY your siding project:
- Cost – Not only will you need to consider cost for materials, but also the cost to buy or rent all the necessary tools. If you choose to do the repairs yourself, also factor in a bit extra buffer in the budget in the event that something goes wrong.
- Time – Choosing to DIY means you can do the repairs on your own schedule; this way, it’s not necessary to take a day off to wait for the siding contractor to arrive. On the flip side, you are giving up your Saturday to the project and, if something goes wrong, you’re the one putting in the hours to get it done.
- Experience – Yes, we know how great it feels to successfully complete a project. However, do you have the experience to know what to do if you remove a panel and find water damage or pests swarming?
The moral of the story here is, unless you have experience installing siding, you probably shouldn’t undertake the project on your own. You could very easily end up costing yourself more money and time and calling your local siding company anyway. So, save yourself the hassle and expense; if you need siding repairs or replacement, contact DJK Siding for siding help across Colorado!
