Pittsburgh Siding Contractors
Full re-sides

Pittsburgh Siding Replacement

Patching the same walls every year? A full replacement fixes what's underneath and gives you siding you can stop worrying about.

Call (412) 830-0567
  • Tear-off down to sheathing
  • Rotted boards replaced
  • New wrap, flashing and trim
Pittsburgh Siding Replacement: crew working on a house exterior

Siding Replacement Pittsburgh: Signs It's Time

Crew installing blue lap siding on a Pittsburgh home above the city skyline
A full re-side on a two-story home overlooking the city

Replacement makes sense when the problems are spread out instead of in one spot. A few signs it's time:

  • Repairs on more than one side of the house in recent years
  • Panels that crack when touched, or wood that won't hold paint
  • Soft sheathing when you press near the bottom of the wall
  • Two layers of old siding already on the house

If only one wall is bad, a repair or a single-wall re-side may be the better spend, and we'll say so.

Not ready for a full job? Our Pittsburgh-area siding contractor team also handles smaller repairs.

How a Re-Side Goes

Most of the work happens before the first new panel goes up.

  1. 01

    Set up

    Staging and ladders go up, and the area along the foundation is cleared for work.

  2. 02

    Tear off

    Old siding and trim are removed down to the sheathing, one section at a time.

  3. 03

    Fix the sheathing

    Soft or rotted boards are cut out and replaced so the new siding has something solid to fasten to.

  4. 04

    Wrap and flash

    New housewrap goes on, and every window, door and roof line is flashed.

  5. 05

    Side and trim

    Starter strip, corners, panels, then soffit, fascia and window trim as quoted.

Old Houses, Hidden Layers

Work van parked beside a house during a siding job

Pittsburgh's housing is old, with a median age of about 62 years, so a tear-off can turn up more than one generation of siding. Common finds:

  • Original wood clapboard. Often still sound under aluminum or vinyl, but sometimes soft at the bottom courses.
  • Cement-shingle siding. Some older homes have it. It can contain asbestos, so it should be tested before anyone breaks it, and the Allegheny County Health Department has rules on asbestos removal.
  • Missing or failed flashing. Some older re-sides went straight over windows with no flashing at all.

That's why the quote should say how hidden damage is priced. Sheathing repair is the biggest unknown on an older house.

What the Job Includes

Tear-Off

Everything comes off down to the sheathing so we can see its condition.

Sheathing Repairs

Rotted or soft boards are cut out and replaced.

Wrap and Flashing

New housewrap, plus flashing at openings and roof lines.

Trim and Finish

Corners, J-channel, soffit and fascia as quoted.

What Replacement Costs

A full vinyl re-side on a Pittsburgh house typically runs about $5,750 to $13,050. Fiber cement, extra stories and steep lots raise the price. Ranges like these are for budgeting only; your quote depends on the house.

Ask how sheathing is priced, per board or per sheet, before signing. It's the line that changes most once the old siding is off.

Planning the Rest of the Exterior

Trim, soffit and fascia

A re-side is the easiest time to deal with everything attached to the walls. Rotted fascia, peeling window casings and old soffit can all be replaced or covered while the crew and staging are already there, which costs less than coming back later.

Windows

If new windows are on your list in the next few years, put them in before or with the siding. Installing windows after a re-side means cutting back new siding and re-flashing around each opening.

Timing

Pittsburgh winters bring freezing nights and plenty of wet weather, so spring through fall is the easiest stretch for tear-off.

Siding failing on more than one wall? Call about a full re-side.

Call (412) 830-0567

Before You Re-Side

How long does a re-side take?

Size, material and the condition of the sheathing all affect it. The schedule comes with your quote.

Do I have to leave the house?

No. The work is all outside, though it gets noisy during tear-off.

Is a permit needed?

Often, yes. Inside the city, the Department of Permits, Licenses, and Inspections issues it, and historic districts also need Historic Review Commission approval.

Can I re-side in winter?

Yes, though vinyl is stiffer in the cold and needs careful spacing. Many people plan re-sides for spring through fall.

Start Over With Sound Walls

Call and we'll see whether replacement or a repair is the better spend.

Call (412) 830-0567