If your roof is due and your siding is tired, you’ve probably wondered whether to tackle both at once or spread the cost over a couple of years. It’s one of the most common questions we hear from Edmonton homeowners, and the right answer depends on the condition of each, how the two systems meet, and whether a hail claim is involved.
Here’s how we help homeowners think it through.
Why roof and siding are more connected than they look
Your roof and walls share a seam that runs the whole way around the house: the eaves. That’s where the soffit, fascia, eavestroughs, drip edge and the top course of siding all meet. Water that gets past any one of them ends up in the same place: behind the siding and into the wall.
When you replace only the roof, the crew works around existing soffit and fascia and reattaches the old eavestroughs. When you replace only the siding, the crew works up to the existing fascia and drip edge. Each job is done properly, but neither gets to fix the junction itself. Doing both in one project lets the crew rebuild that whole edge correctly, with new flashing, new vented soffit and properly sloped eavestroughs tied in from the start.
When it makes sense to do both at once
- Both are near end of life. If the shingles are 20+ years old and the siding is cracked, faded or loose, you’ll be doing both within a few years anyway. One project means one mobilization, one set of scaffolding and one disruption to your household.
- Hail hit both. Edmonton hailstorms often damage more than the roof. If your insurer has approved a roof claim, have the siding, soffit and fascia inspected too; damage on the north and west elevations is often missed. Our hail damage claim guide covers how to document it.
- You’re changing the look of the house. New shingle colour and new siding colour should be chosen together. Picking one now and the other later tends to end with a combination nobody would have chosen on purpose.
- Soffit and fascia need replacing. These sit between the two systems. If they’re rotten or sagging, replacing them during a combined project is far cleaner than squeezing them in with one job and working around them on the other.
When it’s fine to split them up
- One system has plenty of life left. Replacing sound siding because the roof is due is a waste. The same goes the other way.
- Budget. A combined project is a bigger cheque. If financing isn’t an option you want, a staged approach is reasonable, and our roofing financing guide explains what’s available.
- Only a repair is needed. A few hail-cracked panels or a section of lifted shingles calls for siding repair or roof repair in Edmonton, not a full exterior.
If you’re staging the work, do the roof first
Almost always. The roof keeps water out of everything below it, and roofing crews walk, lean ladders and drop debris along the walls, which can scuff or dent brand-new siding. Doing the roof replacement first, then the siding, means the final job is the one that gets protected.
The exception: if the siding is letting water into the wall right now, that’s the emergency and it goes first. Water in a wall cavity does more damage per month than a tired but intact roof.
Matching materials that work together in Edmonton
A few combinations we see hold up well in this climate:
- Architectural asphalt shingles with insulated vinyl siding. The most common and cost-effective pairing. Choose impact-rated shingles and thicker vinyl from a cold-climate brand such as Gentek or Kaycan.
- Metal roofing with James Hardie or metal siding. A long-life, low-maintenance exterior. Metal roofing and James Hardie both shrug off hail, and some insurers offer premium discounts for impact-resistant exteriors, so it’s worth asking your broker.
- Rubber shingles with ChamClad. For homeowners who want a premium look with almost no upkeep: Euroshield rubber roofing on top and ChamClad wood-look PVC on the walls.
Questions to ask before you commit
- Will the same crew or company handle both, so there’s one point of accountability at the eaves?
- Is soffit, fascia and eavestrough replacement included, and is it itemized?
- What happens to the siding if sheathing repair is needed under it, and what does that cost per sheet?
- Is there a combined-project discount, and does it show on the quote?
- What’s the sequence and timeline, and how is the house protected between phases?
Silverline Roofing handles roofing, siding, soffit, fascia and eavestroughs with our own crews, so a combined exterior project has one team and one point of accountability. Book a free exterior assessment and we’ll tell you honestly whether both are due, or whether one can wait.