Guide
Choosing siding for Greer's weather
The National Weather Service office that forecasts for the Upstate sits in Greer itself. Its research points to the weather your siding has to handle.
The weather
What Upstate weather does to siding
Thunderstorm wind
Damaging thunderstorm gusts are the most common severe weather in the region and peak in summer (NWS). Siding that is well locked and fastened, with secure trim, holds up.
Afternoon storms
Over the foothills and Piedmont, severe storms favor the middle to late afternoon, often in late spring and summer, according to the same NWS study.
Humidity
Most of the Upstate has a humid subtropical climate fed by moisture from the Atlantic and the Gulf of Mexico (NWS). Walls need to drain and dry.
Shade and mildew
Tall trees keep north walls shaded and damp, where mildew and algae grow. Cleaning, trimming and good drainage help more than any product.
Summer sun
Long, hot summers make vinyl expand; dark colors on sunny walls work hardest. Correct nailing and heat-rated colors matter.
Hail
Large hail is far less common here than damaging wind, according to the NWS study, but it can crack old, brittle vinyl.
Materials
How the materials compare here
| Material | Strong points in this climate | Watch for |
|---|---|---|
| Vinyl | No paint; sheds rain; repairs are simple | Loose panels in gusts; rippling in heat; brittleness with age |
| Insulated vinyl | Stiffer, flatter wall; better impact resistance | Thicker trim needed at windows and doors |
| Fiber cement | Rigid; holds paint; resists dents | Weight; cut-edge sealing; roof and ground clearance |
| Engineered wood | Wood look, lighter weight, takes impacts | Cut edges and bottom edges must be sealed and kept dry |
| Wood clapboard and cedar | Repairable board by board; traditional look | Paint upkeep; rot where water sits |
Every material needs a sound barrier and flashing behind it. The installation decides more than the product.
Shade, mildew and drying
Tall pines and hardwoods keep many Greer-area walls in shade. Shaded walls stay damp longer, and that is where mildew and algae show up first. Trimming back branches, keeping gutters clear and making sure sprinklers don't wet the walls do more than any product.
Most of the Upstate's Piedmont has a humid subtropical climate with moisture from both the Atlantic and the Gulf of Mexico (NWS). Whatever siding you choose, ask the contractor how water that gets behind it will drain out and how the wall will dry.
Siding cracked, loose or worn out?
Talk with a siding contractor who works in Greer
One call connects you with an independent siding contractor serving Greer, Taylors, Duncan, Lyman and Travelers Rest. Have the walls looked at, then ask for a written price for the repair or the new siding.
Cracked panels, soft boards or siding that has had its day? Talk it through with a local contractor.
Your call goes to an independent siding contractor serving the Greer area that takes on repairs as well as full replacements.
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