Maybe a storm damaged one side of your house. Maybe you’re building an addition. Or maybe a small section of siding needs to be replaced, but the rest of the exterior is still in perfectly good shape.
Naturally, the next question is: Can you match new siding to the siding that’s already on your house?
Sometimes, yes. But getting a perfect match can be more complicated than finding siding that looks like the same color.
The manufacturer, product line, profile, texture, age, and availability of your existing siding can all make a difference. Even if you find the exact product originally installed, years of sunlight and weather exposure can cause the siding already on your home to look different from a brand-new piece.
At Barringer Brothers Roofing, we’ve served homeowners throughout Collinsville, IL and the Metro East since 2004, earning 200+ five-star reviews. We provide siding installation and replacement using Royal siding, and one of the first things to understand about matching siding is that “close enough” and “identical” aren’t always the same thing.
Can New Siding Match Existing Siding Exactly?
It depends.
The best-case scenario is fairly straightforward: the existing siding is still being manufactured, you can identify the exact manufacturer, product line, profile, and color, and the existing siding hasn’t changed significantly in appearance.
In that situation, finding the same siding may be possible.
But the older the siding is, the more variables you can run into.
The original product may have been changed or discontinued. A color may no longer be available. And even when the exact siding is still sold, the siding that’s been on your house for years has been exposed to conditions that the brand-new material hasn’t.
So, the replacement can technically be the same color and still not look exactly the same on the wall.
Why Does New Siding Sometimes Look Different From the Same Old Siding?
Imagine putting a brand-new outdoor chair next to an identical chair that’s spent the last ten years sitting outside.
Even if they started as the exact same product, you wouldn’t necessarily expect them to look identical anymore.
Siding can be similar.
The exterior of your home is constantly exposed to sunlight, rain, temperature changes, dirt, and other outdoor conditions. Over time, that exposure can affect its appearance.
If you install a brand-new piece next to older siding, there may be a noticeable difference—especially when you’re looking at the wall up close.
How noticeable that difference is will depend on the siding and its condition.
Color Isn’t the Only Thing That Has to Match
This is where siding matching gets more complicated.
Let’s say your existing siding is gray. Finding another gray siding isn’t necessarily enough.
You also have to consider the profile.
Different siding products can have different dimensions, textures, shapes, and appearances. Even small differences may become obvious when two products meet on the same wall.
When trying to identify existing siding, you’ll want to know as much as possible about:
- Manufacturer
- Product line
- Color
- Profile
- Texture
- Dimensions
The more information you have, the better chance you have of determining whether a true match is available.
What If I Don’t Know What Siding Is on My House?
That’s pretty normal.
Most homeowners don’t have the manufacturer and product information for every exterior material on their house sitting in a kitchen drawer.
If you weren’t the person who originally had the siding installed, you may have no idea what it is.
A siding contractor can evaluate the existing exterior and determine what options may be available.
If you do have old paperwork from the original installation, builder records, invoices, product information, or leftover siding stored somewhere, keep it. That information can make identifying the product easier.
What If My Original Siding Has Been Discontinued?
This is one of the biggest obstacles to getting an exact siding match.
Manufacturers don’t necessarily produce every siding product and color forever. Product lines change, colors are updated, and older products can eventually become unavailable.
If the exact siding on your house is no longer manufactured, your contractor can discuss the closest available options.
But trying to disguise a slightly different product isn’t always the best solution.
Sometimes it makes more sense to approach the repair intentionally.
Can You Use a Similar Color Instead?
Possibly, but where the siding is located matters.
Putting a slightly different color directly in the middle of a large uninterrupted wall may make the difference much more obvious.
If there’s a natural transition in the home’s exterior—such as an inside or outside corner, addition, gable, porch, or architectural break—a change may be easier to incorporate.
In some situations, an intentional contrast can actually look better than trying unsuccessfully to create a perfect match.
The right approach depends on the house and how much siding needs to be replaced.
Can You Replace Siding on Just One Side of a House?
In some situations, yes.
You don’t automatically have to replace every piece of siding on the entire house because one area has a problem.
If the remaining siding is in good condition and an appropriate replacement can be found, replacing a particular section or side may be an option.
However, the ability to match the existing material becomes much more important when you’re keeping most of the original siding.
If a close match isn’t available, you’ll need to consider how noticeable the difference will be and whether replacing a larger section would create a better finished appearance.
What About Siding Repairs After a Storm?
Storm damage is one situation where matching existing siding can suddenly become important.
A storm doesn’t necessarily damage every side of a house equally. One area may take the brunt of the wind or impact while other sections remain in good condition.
If only part of the siding needs attention, the existing product needs to be evaluated to determine what can realistically be matched.
This is another reason it’s useful to know what siding is on your home before you ever need a repair.
What Happens When You Build an Addition?
Additions create an interesting situation because you’re putting brand-new exterior materials next to an existing home.
If the original siding is still available, using the same product may help the addition feel like it has always belonged there.
But if the house is older and the original siding can’t be matched well, you aren’t necessarily stuck.
The transition between the original home and addition can sometimes be used intentionally. Different siding styles, colors, or exterior materials can distinguish the addition while still coordinating with the rest of the house.
A deliberate design usually looks better than an almost-match that obviously isn’t quite right.
Can Cleaning the Old Siding Help It Match?
If the existing siding is simply dirty, cleaning it may give you a better idea of its true current color before comparing it with replacement material.
But cleaning can’t reverse every change that happens after years of exterior exposure.
You also want to use cleaning methods appropriate for the siding rather than aggressively trying to make older material look brand new.
The goal is to accurately compare the materials—not damage the siding you’re trying to keep.
Should You Keep Leftover Siding After Installation?
Yes, if you have extra material available after your siding project, keeping a small amount can be useful.
Having leftover pieces gives you a physical reference for the exact siding originally installed and may provide matching material for a future small repair.
It’s also smart to keep your project paperwork.
Write down or save the manufacturer, product line, style, and color rather than assuming you’ll remember it ten years from now.
Future you will appreciate it.
When Does It Make More Sense to Replace More Siding?
Matching isn’t always the best goal.
If the existing siding is significantly older, in poor condition, unavailable, or very difficult to match, replacing a larger section—or eventually the entire exterior—may make more sense.
That doesn’t mean every mismatched piece of siding requires a whole-house replacement.
It simply means the condition of the rest of the siding should be part of the decision.
If you’re spending money trying to perfectly match material that’s approaching the end of its useful life anyway, it’s worth discussing your other options.
How Can I Make Matching Siding Easier in the Future?
If you’re installing new siding now, save the details.
Keep records of:
Manufacturer → Product Line → Profile/Style → Color
If you have leftover siding, store a few usable pieces somewhere protected.
Take photos of the completed exterior too.
Hopefully, you’ll never need any of it. But if a storm damages one wall several years from now, you’ll have a much better starting point than, “I think it was some kind of dark gray.”
So, Can You Match Existing Siding?
Often, you can get close—and sometimes you can find the exact product.
But homeowners should know that an exact product number doesn’t always guarantee an invisible repair.
The age and condition of the existing siding, product availability, weather exposure, profile, texture, and location of the repair all affect the finished result.
The best first step is to identify what’s currently on the house and determine what’s still available before deciding how much siding should be replaced.
Frequently Asked Questions
Sometimes. The chances of a close match depend on whether the original manufacturer, product line, color, and profile are still available and how much the existing siding’s appearance has changed over time.
The existing siding has been exposed to sunlight and weather for years, while the replacement material is brand new. That can create a visible difference even if the original and replacement siding are technically the same color.
Depending on the damage, siding type, and availability of compatible material, a smaller repair may be possible. A contractor should evaluate the area and existing siding before determining the best approach.
If the original product is no longer available, your contractor can look at current options and determine whether there’s a suitable match. In some cases, replacing a larger section or intentionally using a different exterior treatment may create a better result.
Potentially. If the siding elsewhere is still in good condition, a full-house replacement isn’t automatically necessary. Product availability and how well the new section will coordinate with the existing exterior should be considered.
Yes. Keeping a few extra pieces along with the manufacturer, product line, profile, and color information can make future repairs much easier.
Yes. Barringer Brothers Roofing provides siding services in Collinsville and throughout the Metro East and installs Royal siding.
Need Help Matching or Replacing Siding in Collinsville, IL?
If part of your siding needs to be replaced, you don’t have to figure out the match on your own.
Barringer Brothers Roofing can evaluate the siding that’s currently on your home and talk through your options for repair or replacement.
Call Barringer Brothers Roofing at (618) 703-3036 or fill out our online contact form for more information about siding options, help with your project, or to request an estimate.
