If your cedar shakes have turned gray or the stain on your wood siding is peeling, it’s easy to assume the whole exterior needs replacing. Start by asking a simpler question: Is the finish wearing out, or is the wood itself damaged? The answer can be different from one side of the house to the next.
When wood siding is worth restoring
If the boards or shakes are firm, well attached, and largely intact, faded stain or a worn finish may be something we can address through restoration. Depending on the siding and the existing coating, that may involve cleaning, removing failing finish, and preparing the wood for a new stain or coating. It’s a way to keep the original look of the house when the wood is still in good shape.
When replacing a few pieces makes sense
Sometimes one section takes more of a beating than the rest. Think of the bottom boards beside a porch where rain splashes back, or a few shakes under a window where water keeps running down the wall. If the damage is limited, replacing those pieces and restoring the surrounding wood may be an option. Fixing whatever is keeping that spot wet is part of making the repair last.
When a larger replacement deserves a look
If boards are soft or crumbling across multiple sections, or if many pieces have warped or pulled loose, it’s worth checking what’s happening behind the siding before paying to refinish it. The scope might be one wall or a larger portion of the house. A closer look can help you decide what’s worth keeping and where replacement makes sense.
Want to see what can be saved? Browse our log home and wood siding restoration gallery for examples from South Jersey homes.
Find out what’s worth saving before winter
From our shop in Shamong, we work with homeowners in nearby Medford Lakes, Tabernacle, and Southampton in Burlington County and across our South Jersey service area. Even if the weather limits when a new finish can go on, November is a good time to find out which areas need attention and plan the work around suitable conditions.
Call Deck Restoration Plus at 609-268-3436 for a free wood siding restoration estimate, or contact us online.
