Replacing the siding or roofing on your house is a big job, but there is plenty of professional help around to guide you through it. For do-it-yourselfers, some suppliers have illustrative models, how-to videos and installation manuals.

Telltale signs that your siding may need an update are chalking, fading and spotting, according to Stan Campbell, who is in charge of outside sales at Siding World in Kalamazoo.

¡°Chalking is probably the biggest thing on aluminum siding,¡± he said.

Vinyl siding, which requires little maintenance, is the biggest seller, Campbell said. There also is cement board, which can be three times the cost of vinyl siding.

¡°You¡¯ll see stone on entrance ways and the front of garages ¡ª anywhere you want an accent,¡± he added.

Siding World¡¯s showroom staff of certified siders and roofers are available to answer customers¡¯ questions, give estimates for materials for a specific project or provide a free home measurement, according to Campbell.

¡°If (customers) sketch it on a piece of paper ¡­ we can get them in the ballpark,¡± he said.

If homeowners are not comfortable undertaking a project on their own, many suppliers will recommend contractors. Campbell advised getting referrals, checking references and ensuring the contractor is insured and someone who is going to be around awhile.

View full sizeSam ZomerJohn Crouch of Steve Grimm Siding works on siding and roofing a home in Portage.

Roofing concerns

If your roof is a concern, signs to look for are streaking, granules at the bottom of downspouts, curling shingles and, most obvious, leaks, Campbell said.

Rick Hebert, Kalamazoo district manager for Sherriff-Goslin, added that the age of the roof enters into the equation.

¡°One of the things that somebody would want to be concerned about is if the roof has reached a certain age, somewhere between 15 and 20 years,¡± he said. ¡°If there were some issues up there, they would see some cracked or broken or missing shingles.¡±

Other areas to examine for leaks are valleys and the flashing around chimneys or roof protrusions, such as vents.

¡°The most important thing is to get some confirmation as to the condition of the roof, and then proceed (with) an estimate,¡± Hebert said. ¡°We¡¯d suggest that they stick with someone who¡¯s a licensed and insured contractor.¡±

Many contractors will do a roof inspection for free.

¡°We also provide estimates for free, but at that point (during the inspection) we¡¯re more concerned with, number one, if it needs a new roof, and, number two, what kind of roofing issues do we need to be concerned with,¡± Hebert added.

Once homeowners have determined they need a new roof, the next step is deciding the type of roofing material.

¡°The most popular these days are architectural (or) dimensional shingles,¡± Campbell said. ¡°You don¡¯t see many 3-in-1 shingles anymore.¡±

Architectural shingles look better and are easier to install than the old three-tab shingles, according to Campbell.

¡°Fifteen years ago they really started to come into the market and push the 3-in-1s out,¡± he said.

Another option is metal roofing  ¡ª which is paintable and easily repels snow ¡ª but it hasn¡¯t caught on in this part of the country, according to Campbell.

¡°Metal roofing really hasn¡¯t taken off in southwestern Michigan, but we think we¡¯re going to see more of it,¡± he said.

Those wanting a ¡°green¡± roof could choose rubber or plastic roofing made from recycled products.

¡°You can have the look of slate ¡­ (but) you won¡¯t have the weight,¡± Campbell said.

The drawback is price ¡ª about $400 to $500 for 100 square feet of a recycled product, compared with $75 for 100 square feet for traditional shingles. Roofing can be done nearly year-round, Hebert said.

¡°We need to have temperatures at least above freezing in order to do a good job. (A new roof can be installed) anytime  ¡ª summer, spring or fall. ... We do (lots) of repair work in the wintertime ... trying to help (customers) get through until they can get a new roof.¡±

Hebert said the two most important things he would recommend are to purchase a high-quality shingle and have it professionally installed.

¡°We suggest they stay away from the economy-grade shingles,¡± he said. ¡°The roof is really essential to get right.¡±

Safe installation is another important consideration.

¡°You want to choose a contractor who has all the equipment and understands the safety issue of getting a roof installed,¡± Hebert cautioned. ¡°Make sure the contractor is current in building codes and OSHA regulations. They (OSHA) are taking a very hard-line approach to fall protection in residential roofing.¡±

Original:mlive.com