How to Tell if Your Siding Is Discontinued

Siding has a long lifespan, but you may need to replace siding panels after damage or fading over time. If your siding has been discontinued, replacement can become more complicated. We’ll explain how to tell if your siding has been discontinued, what to do if it is, and how to avoid problems from discontinued siding.

Why Does Siding Get Discontinued?

Styles and consumer preferences are always changing, and siding manufacturers may discontinue siding styles if they’re no longer selling well enough to justify continuing to make them. New advancements in technology and manufacturing methods can also lead to discontinued siding models—if materials or fabrication processes change, outdated siding may be discontinued to make space for new offerings.

How to Check if Your Siding Is Discontinued

If you need a partial siding replacement, you’ll first need to check if your siding is still available. Since you’re not likely to know the product information off the top of your head, especially if you moved into a house with existing siding, there are a few ways you can check if your siding has been discontinued.

Check the Product Code

With many kinds of siding, there may be a product code or label on the backside of the siding. If you have any spare pieces of siding left from installation, check for a label. If you don’t have extra siding, you may be able to carefully remove a piece of siding from an inconspicuous area to check.

Contact the Installer

If you know who installed your siding, they may be able to help you figure out if it’s still manufactured. Your siding’s product number will likely be on your order paperwork and receipt, and your installer may have a record of it. The local siding repair pro who installed your siding is a great resource for checking whether it’s currently available.

Consult the Manufacturer’s Website

You can also check directly with your siding’s manufacturer to see if it is still offered in their catalog or website. You can cross-reference by product code or even by appearance to see if it’s in their current product line.

Call a Local Supplier

If you still can’t determine the status of your siding, a local supplier may be able to help. They have extensive resources for sourcing siding and can help you track down your product’s availability. 

What to Do if Your Siding Is Discontinued

If your siding is discontinued but needs to be partially replaced, you don’t need to invest in the cost of replacing siding for your entire house, or let your house sit without siding because you can’t get your original siding. Some options include:

• Hire a siding contractor to find a replacement that closely matches your existing siding.

• Get as close a match as you can in structure and texture, and paint all of the siding so the new and the old are the same color.

• Choose a complementary siding style or material to replace a section, and repurpose any usable existing siding from that section elsewhere. 

• Find a manufacturer that offers custom matching to get as close to your original siding as possible.

How to Avoid Discontinued Siding Problems

When it’s time to replace siding after damage, not having access to your original siding can end up costing you time and money. If you have storage space, ordering extra siding during installation can ensure you have replacement panels when you need them. If you don’t have the space to stash spare siding, write down all the relevant product information and keep it handy. 

Check with the manufacturer periodically to see if it’s still made—if you find out it’s been discontinued soon after they stop making it, you may be able to purchase leftover stock, maybe even at a discount.