Mobile homes are supposed to be classy and stylish. If you own one, your sense of style and aesthetics- and your family’s lifestyle- is impeccable. Speaking of style and aesthetics, how classy and stylish is your mobile home’s siding? The siding is the exterior of your abode, which means it’s the one part of your home that displays your family’s class and elegance. 

Visual aesthetics aside, siding is key to a mobile home’s insect resistance, safety, and energy efficiency. So, if your siding is old and outdated, your next home improvement project should be a siding upgrade. And because of how important siding is to your home, you cannot afford to fumble with a siding project. Please go through this ultimate guide to understand the ins and outs of mobile home siding replacement.

The Importance of Mobile Home Siding Replacement 

Installing new siding to your mobile home is a no-brainer, for 4 main reasons:

 i. A new siding enhances your home’s R-value

After taking down the old siding, you can decide to add extra insulation (fiberglass roll or foam board) first before installing the new siding. That enhances the mobile home’s R-value. The thermal resistance (R-value) of a home is the home’s ability to resist unwanted heat flow from the exteriors into the interiors, and vice versa. In other words, with a high R-value, your mobile home will be able to maintain a constant interior temperature regardless of outdoor weather changes. This further means enhanced energy efficiency and lower heating & cooling costs in your mobile home.  

ii. Enhanced street appeal

As we said earlier, a mobile home has to have a stylish and classy feel. That’s important for its curb appeal. A new siding is the surefire home improvement project that will instantly upscale the street appeal of your mobile home. Just one simple project and the home will be as good as new.

iii. Enhancing your home’s lifespan

When the old siding is off, just before you install a new one, you have the opportunity to install a second line of defense (exterior sheathing, vapor barriers, house wraps, etc.) to weatherproof the home. The second line of defense will not only enhance your home’s lifespan but also boost interior comfort levels.

iv. Soundproofing the home

As you work on a new siding, it is advisable to soundproof the exterior walls and the windows to block out as much noise as possible. There’s no other way of coexisting with noisy animals or loud/nosy neighbors in the park. 

v. Pest control

Pests and animals can be unwanted intruders in your mobile home. Wood-boring insects, pesky birds, spiders, snakes- name them! If your old siding has holes and cracks in it, technically, you’re inviting these intruders into your home. A new siding will fix that problem for you.

Signs That Indicate The Need For Siding Replacement 

How do you tell that time’s up for your mobile home’s old siding; that it’s beyond repair and has to be replaced? Here are the signs:

i.  The siding is either blistered or bubbled 

Vinyl siding has for many years been notorious for blistering or bubbling after a long battle with extreme weather. If your home is aged, you should consider switching the old vinyl with modern vinyl. Today’s manufacturing technology has enabled vinyl to hold up quite well when exposed to blazing hot sun or sub-zero temperatures. 

ii. Hail damage

If you notice cracks and chips on your home’s siding after a hailstorm, you have to worry about possible moisture damage. The best thing to do in such a case is to replace the siding to safeguard the structural integrity of your home. 

iii. Birds or rodents encroachment 

Birds and rodents (squirrels and field mice) love to crawl under the siding of a warm home during winter. They crave warmth and comfort under the siding. Unfortunately for them, their encroachment is a recipe for property damage. You have to replace the damaged siding soon before the animals cause more damage.

iv. Warping and rippling 

When your not-too-old siding starts to warp and ripple, that could be a sign of poor siding installation. You may need to call a siding expert to repair it before your home gets water damage. However, if the siding is sagged out of old age, it is most likely too damaged to repair. You should consider replacing it.

v. Increased energy consumption

If you notice a sudden hike in energy bills, it’s probably because the siding has lost its R-value. That’s, of course, unless there’s a new power-hungry appliance in the home. Increased energy consumption is an indication that warm air is leaking from the home, mainly due to the exterior cladding being worn out. Installing new siding will raise the home’s R-value and fix the leak.

Different Types Of Siding Materials Available

Before we get to your siding options, it’s important to mention that hiring a professional mobile home siding installer is your best bet if you’re not experienced in this line of work. You don’t want to gamble with such a huge and impactful home improvement project. While you’re at it, be sure to do your due diligence before hiring a siding contractor. Choose a contractor with a solid reputation for similar projects and whose rates are reasonable. Check out the Sacramento home remodeling services provider to get an idea of what a good contractor is like. Don’t be scared to contact them for any siding replacement questions you may have. 

With that being said, here are your best siding options:

i. Red cedar siding

The pros of cedar siding include:

• It’s timeless. Cedar complements both contemporary and traditional architectural styles. 
• It injects texture and uniqueness into a mobile home. 
• It comes in a variety of shapes: log cabin cut, regular board & batten, wedge planks, etc. 
• It has natural insect repulsion abilities. 
• It’s decay and moisture-resistant. Oil-based water sealant is, however, important for added protection.
• It’s naturally beautiful and can go for up to 15 years without paint. 
• It’s not as heavy as fiber siding, making it perfect for mobile homes.
• Reclaimed cedar supports sustainability. 

Cons: 

• Cedar can be quite pricey both to buy and install.
• Not easy to install. You must hire a professional. 

ii. Vinyl siding

Pros:

• It’s cheaper than cedar and aluminum siding.
• It’s durable- can last more than 20 years. 
• Easy to install- you can do it yourself.  
• Easy to clean and maintain.
• Withstands hail damage fairly well. 
• Comes in an almost endless variety of colors.
• It’s lightweight. Perfect for mobile homes. 

Cons:

• It warps and fades with time. 
• It is vulnerable to heatwave damage. 
• It can easily crack in extremely cold climates. 

iii. Fiber cement siding 

Pros: 

• Available in numerous, sizes, shapes, and styles. 
• It’s rot and insect resistant.
• It’s fade resistant. 
• Durable- can last over 5 decades in perfect condition.
• Has a better visual appeal than vinyl. 

Cons:

• 100 square feet of fiber cement weighs approximately 300 pounds. Quite bulky for a mobile home. 
• It’s more expensive than vinyl. 

iv. Metal siding 

Pros: 

• It’s lightweight. 
• Indestructible by fire or insects. 

Cons:

• It can dent and scratch easily. 
• Metal is a good heat conductor, making metal siding a poor insulator. It’s energy inefficient. 

Final word

You can bet on fresh new siding to completely update and improve your mobile home’s appearance. Don’t put up with outdated or worn-out siding any longer because, on top of being unattractive, aging siding leaves your home prone to structural damage. Siding is more than just aesthetics.