In new home construction, exterior installation sequencing is pretty simple. First comes the framing and sheathing, obviously. The in quick succession you’ll get the roof and the windows installed. Next come the envelope and the siding. Easy.
In the world of renovations, however, it’s not always so clear which of these projects should come before the others. Here’s our opinion on how these projects should be sequenced (in an ideal world).
Should Windows Be Installed Before Siding?
If you are planning on new windows, it’s usually best to arrange for the windows to be changed out before your siding renovation project.
When a window replacement company installs an insert window (also known as a “renovation window”), they have no way to properly seal the new window to the original weather resistive barrier (usually building paper). When your siding contractor arrives (months or years later) you should insist that they do a good job of sealing your new windows to the sheathing to ensure the health of your walls for decades to come.
If for some reason you have no choice but to have new siding installed before new windows, that’s okay too. In these cases, consider adding a 4” trim board surround to your existing openings. This would allow your window contractor to install a nail-fin window in the future, which are much easier to seal for the long-term.
Roofing or Siding First?
Since the roofing and siding don’t directly interact with each other, you might be surprised to learn that it can actually matter which one goes first! Here are a couple things to consider:
Siding set-up: If your home is larger than a bungalow, we will likely be setting up pump-jack scaffolding to help us install your new siding. Pump-jacks are attached to your roof trusses, which requires screws attached through your roofing membrane.
Roof access: If your home has multiple levels, such as a split-level home, we may have to walk on a section of your roof to complete the installation. tearing off old siding or stucco could cause extra wear and tear on your shingles (no matter how careful the installer tries to be).
If you’re planning to purchase a specialty roof, such as standing-seam or cedar shake, these concerns are even more important.
Of course if you already completed a roofing project, we will do everything that we can to make sure we take the best care of your new roof. But if you do have the flexibility to schedule your siding replacement ahead of your roofing project, it’s worth considering!
Soffit, fascia, and eavestrough
This is an easy one for a siding contractor to answer! Please, if at all possible, let the siding contractor install your new soffit and fascia at the same time as the rest of your siding project. This will make our job much easier. In some cases, such as when we are removing old stucco, existing aluminum soffits can’t be salvaged.
Summary
Of course, these are just guidelines rather than hard and fast rules. In the world of exterior renovations, sometimes projects have to be completed out of order because of a material failure, storm damage, or just poor planning by a previous homeowner. A good renovation contractor can almost always find a solution.
Contact us if you’d like our opinion on the scheduling of your specific projects!