Repair makes sense when
- Damage is isolated — one wall, a few panels, impact from a branch
- Underlying sheathing is dry and sound
- Matching material and color is still available
- Flashing at windows and doors is intact
Replacement is smarter when
- Soft or spongy sheathing behind multiple openings
- Widespread fading, brittleness, or wind-lifted courses
- No reliable color match — patches look like a quilt
- You are already replacing windows and want one integrated water-management scope
NH moisture reality
Freeze–thaw cycles push water into small gaps at J-channels and trim. What looks like one soft spot often indicates a larger wrap or flashing problem.
We probe carefully on site and say in writing what repair can fix versus what will fail again in two seasons.