In recent years, more and more contractors who do not have a lot of experience with stucco/siding problems will blame any exterior problem on the stucco/siding. As a result, many homeowners believe that their mold or water damage is caused by the cladding itself, when in reality, this is a huge misconception. The leading causes of the water problems are:
- Poor installation
- Improper flashing
- Missing components
- Inadequate products
- Outdated techniques
So, if you’re experiencing problems with your stucco/siding, know that is most likely what is under the stucco/siding that’s causing the issue, not the cladding itself. Which means that if you really want to resolve the problem, simply replacing the cladding will not do the trick—you’ll only be putting a band aid on a much larger issue.
What does “re-side” mean?
Re-siding is a general term used when a contractor takes off existing stucco/siding and replaces it with new stucco/siding or an alternative option. Re-siding does NOT include any remediation of underlying problems or addressing of potential concerns.
Homeowners are often led to believe that a re-side is a less expensive way to solve their exterior problems, though it is usually much more costly. Cutting corners by re-siding instead of remediating might save money initially, but when the same problems start showing up again (and getting worse under the surface!) your bills will start to increase ten-fold. Your best bet is to solve the problem correctly the first time with true remediation.
What is remediation?
Remediation is the “act or process of correcting a fault or deficiency.” Remediating a stucco/siding home means removing the cladding, fixing any damage found, fixing deficiencies, addressing inadequacies, resetting windows/doors, addressing stoops, addressing decks, addressing high grading issues, addressing roof lines, flashing details, installing a comprehensive water-moisture-air barrier, and installing a new cladding product per manufacturer’s specifications.
That sounds a lot more involved than just replacing the exterior siding, right? It is—and it is the only way to ensure you’ve fully eradicated water problems that can have catastrophic effects on your home.
Is Remediation Worth It If I Plan On Selling My Home?
As a homeowner, if you accept subpar work when it comes to remediation, you could be liable for damages if you decide to sell your home. More and more instances are cropping up where the new homeowner (buyer) is suing the previous homeowner (seller) because they believe the previous homeowner was aware of the water problems and chose not to fix them or chose to go cheap and not fix them correctly.
Warranties for Re-side vs. Warranties for Remediation
Re-side companies will try to entice homeowners with seemingly long warranties, but what is not always obvious is that these warranties are very specific to the siding product and the installation of that particular siding product, giving the re-side company an “out” when future problems arise.
What happens when water starts leaking a few months after the re-side? The re-side company can blame it on someone else and avoid having to make any repairs. For example, they might say it is the windows that are leaking, so it is the window installer’s problem. They might say the flashing at the roof lines is bad so it is the roofer’s problem. They might say that the stoop, deck, patio was not properly installed, etc., etc. Homeowners in this situation will end up chasing down contractors and very probably end up paying out-of-pocket for repairs.
Warranties with a full remediation, on the other hand, are much more comprehensive, especially with Ai Restoration. Because we are a full remediation company, we can fix all the problems associated with the exterior structure of your home, and all of that work is fully warrantied. We like to say that our warranties hold water, because they keep water out.
