Learn the material options, costs and other factors when replacing or updating your siding
We’re always taught it’s what inside that matters. But when it comes to your house, that doesn’t always hold true. The exterior of your home is arguably just as important as the interior when it comes to looks. After all, it’s the first thing you see when you arrive home, and it conveys a lot about you and your family to your guests, friends and neighbors. And the look of your exterior all begins with your siding.
If you’re thinking of giving your home a face-lift, here’s a guide to the pros and cons of common siding materials, how much they cost and why now is the best time of the year to get started.
Project: Replacing or updating exterior siding
Reasons for Changing Siding
There are two main reasons for updating your siding: damage or deterioration to existing siding, or just the desire to change the look of your home.
Tara Dawn of Opal Enterprises says the majority of her clients fall into the first category. Maybe they’ve owned or bought a home that’s 30 years old, and the siding is so deteriorated that they’re now worried about water infiltration.
Exterior siding is exposed to the elements, so it’s not going to last forever. Fading from sunshine, damage from storms or the aftermath of your lead-footed teenager ramming into the side of your house — there are many things that can take a toll on siding.
Should You Patch It?
If your siding is damaged in just one spot, say on the side of the house from a car bump or a small fire, you might be considering replacing just the siding on that area. But it’s not as easy as it sounds.
Many companies don’t do patchwork because it’s a liability for the contractor, Dawn says. Plus, it’s very difficult to match any existing siding due to fading and availability of the exact product, assuming you know what the product is and where to find it. Few contractors leave details about the siding product name and model number in the hands of homeowners to pass along.
Most times it’s just not cost-effective for siding companies to spend time trying to determine your current siding product, tracking down the exact same profile and trying to color match it. “It can be done, it’s just difficult,” Dawn says. “None of us want mixed-match houses.”
Many home professionals recommend that if you do have some damage to your siding and it’s not causing leaks or water damage, you should wait until you can replace all the siding on your home.
Common Materials
Most products are designed to mimic real cedar siding. Every product has its pros and cons, and it’s important that you do your own research before you reach out to siding professionals or a local contractor.
Often, siding pros deal in just one material and want to sell you on that product. Contractors might be familiar with installing only a certain material and will try to persuade you to go with a different product. So study up and make the right choice for yourself.
Vinyl. This is a plastic material that comes in a variety of thicknesses and qualities.
Pros: Vinyl comes in lots of colors and textures. It’s affordable and allows for the most insulation behind it. The product comes with a lifetime warranty. (Dawn cautions: It’s not your lifetime, but the lifetime of the product, which is a bit ambiguous.) It’s also treated chemically with insect repellents and rot resistance. Plus, installation is quick.
Cons: Dawn says she always tells homeowners that “plastic will do what plastic will do — warp, bend, crack, fade.” This product typically only lasts 10 to 15 years. It’s not fire resistant, either. “If you put your barbecue next to it, you could have melted siding,” she says.
Time to install: Two to three days
Cost: $9 per square foot, including labor
Composite board. This product is made from recycled wood pulp pressed together with glues and adhesives.
Pros: Composite comes in any color you want. Pick any paint color from any paint store, and the material comes prefinished in your color choice. It’s also paintable and relatively environmentally friendly due to its recycled nature. Installation is easy, so contractors like it. It’s also treated chemically with insect repellents and rot resistance.
Cons: You have to repaint composite every three to five years. It’s not fire resistant, but very combustible. Composite products can have delamination problems, meaning that water absorption can swell and break apart the pressed wood chip layers. Sometimes the material can arrive sloppily finished, such as paint missing on the edges. “If anything isn’t painted, that means it’s not protected,” Dawn says.
Time to install: Five to seven days
Cost: $10 to $11 per square foot, including labor
Fiber cement. This is a composite mostly made of silica, Portland cement and recycled cardboard.
Pros: Fiber cement siding is durable, fire resistant and hail resistant. Insurance companies might give you a small discount for installing it. It’s also treated chemically with insect repellent and rot resistance. It’s paintable and comes prefinished from the factory with many bold color options.
Cons: It’s very heavy and takes a long time to install, which means labor is expensive. Some contractors don’t like working with it.
Time to install: 10 to 12 days
Cost: $12 to $13 per square foot, including labor
Cedar. Real wood
Pros: This is the real deal. Cedar looks beautiful. It’s also pretty easy to replace, as you can just go down to your local lumberyard and have it installed, then painted.
Cons: Cedar is really expensive and high-maintenance. It tends to have moisture, rot, insect, rodent and woodpecker issues. (Yes, woodpeckers.)
Cost: $15 to $16 per square foot, including installation
Decorative Elements
Be prepared to consider a number of decorative elements for your siding. Siding companies will go over it with you, but it helps if you come prepared — for example, by creating a Houzz ideabook with siding styles that you like.
All materials come with decorative elements meant to mimic wood. You might find you like shake-style shingles, fake stone, decorative columns, scallops, belly bands (like a belt for your home that separates paint colors from different siding portions) and more.
You can also find decorative accessories for electrical boxes, water spigots and lights. Of course, the more decorative you get, the more you’ll pay. “Most homes get pared down to what’s affordable,” Dawn says.
If it sounds a little overwhelming, don’t worry. A siding professional can help guide you through the selections. He or she even will come out to your home and take photographs to upload into design software that will show you what your home will look like with your new siding, color and decorative accessories.
Obstacles
Make sure you check with your homeowners association, if you have one, to make sure it doesn’t prohibit certain materials and colors.
Insurance and payment plans. If your home is insured to cover damage from storms or accidents, you may get money to cover the cost of siding repair. But insurance companies will likely only cover the cost to the damaged portion of the home, not the entire siding, so be prepared to foot the extra bill to re-side your whole house or live with a somewhat mismatched area of your house.
Heller suggests clients get insurance money first before starting the project to prevent any holdups.
Budget. Many contractors offer 12- or 24-month payments for siding so you don’t have to pay everything upfront.
Permitting
Permit requirements are up to every individual city, town or village. Most pros will pull the permit for you, but you must pay for the cost of the permit.
Best Time to Start
For many exterior siding pros, the slow season is December and January, but that is the best time to contact a company to get on its schedule for spring, which is the busy season. “Once the first sunny day hits in March, you want to be there on that list,” Heller says.
The long lead time ensures that your product can get ordered and delivered on time.
Choosing siding for your home is no easy feat. Fiber cement, wood, brick, the list goes on. But one type of siding that should always be on the top of your list is vinyl. Vinyl siding offers many benefits without the maintenance of other siding materials.
Six reasons vinyl siding is the best siding for your home.
1. Vinyl siding fits every homeowner’s budget.
Vinyl siding is less expensive than other siding materials and can fit a wide range of budgets, from your first home to your dream home. In addition, it’s the best bang for your buck. Few home improvement projects offer a better payoff than vinyl siding replacement. In fact, according to the 2015 Cost vs. Value Report, new vinyl siding will maintain more than 80% of its value, which is higher than most home improvement projects.
2. Vinyl siding is the easiest siding material to maintain.
Vinyl is extremely easy to maintain. In fact, it hardly requires any maintenance at all. Once vinyl siding is installed it never needs to be painted or re-sealed, saving you time and money, year after year. All it needs is annual cleaning to keep it looking its best.
3. Ply Gem vinyl siding has an industry-leading warranty.
We stand behind our products. Ply Gem Siding offers an exclusive Limited Lifetime Warranty. Our products are covered for as long as you live in and own your home, and if you sell your home, the warranty is transferable and the new owners are covered for 50 years from the date of original installation.
4. Vinyl siding is durable.
Vinyl is strong enough to withstand storm damage and harsh winds, meaning your home is protected during inclement weather. It’s also incredibly durable and resists denting and scratching.
5. Vinyl siding adds curb appeal.
There are a variety of vinyl siding styles such as lap siding and vertical siding, to fit any house style. These styles come in a number of colors that will match your home’s décor and add curb appeal.
6. Vinyl is energy efficient.
Thanks to the insulation quality of vinyl, homes tend to stay warm in the winter and cool and comfortable during the summer. This means more money stays in your pockets when you pay your utility bill.
For best results, use certified vinyl siding and colors certified for color retention. The VSI Vinyl Siding Installation Manual, found at vinylsiding.org, provides more information about how to install vinyl siding and accessories. Please see the manufacturer’s instructions
File name: VSI_QuickTips_for_InstallingVinylSiding-MR.pdf File type: PDF File size: 1 MB
Cooler temperatures are a reminder that winter is on its way. Though the calendar says winter is still a week away, it is important to begin preparing your home and family now. In this article, we will lay out ten important steps for preparing the inside of your home for colder weather.
1) REPLACE AIR FILTERS
Your heating and air conditioning system’s effectiveness is predicated on maximizing airflow. Make sure your HVAC and furnace filters are changed once every month or two, or as often as they are dirty. This will help ensure you and your family are warm all winter.
2) CHANGE BATTERIES IN EMERGENCY SYSTEMS
Make sure your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors are functioning properly. Fire and carbon monoxide dangers during the holidays and winter include:
Christmas trees and presents
Supplemental heat sources
Damaged heating vents
Increased time indoors
Presence of typically outdoor pets
Your home’s first line of defense against fire and carbon monoxide poisoning are emergency detection. If you have disabled the systems, or if batteries need to be replaced, take action as soon as possible.
3) CHECK YOUR FIREPLACE
Before building a fire in your wood-burning fireplace, make sure it is free of debris, children’s toys, and other items. Remember to replace any grates or protections removed during the summer, especially if there are curious, young children in your home.
4) REVERSE CEILING FANS
Reversing ceiling fans can help circulate air through your home, pulling rising warm air from the ceilings and distributing it throughout your house. Before reversing your fans, take time to clean them of dust and debris that may have collected during spring and summer.
5) INSULATE WATER HEATER AND PIPES
Insulating exposed supply pipes and your water heater can reduce heat-loss by as much as 40%, according to the plumbers at All American Heating, Air Conditioning, and Plumbing in Raleigh, NC. Read this article, to find out more about methods for insulation that can ultimately save you money.
6) CAULKING AND WEATHER STRIPPING ON DOORS AND WINDOWS
Drafty doors and windows release up to 25% of your home’s heating energy. There are a few quick steps you can take to improve the performance of old doors and windows:
Replace old weather stripping: V-Seal or V-Strip weather stripping will provide a layer of protection from invading cold air.
Repair cracked window panes: By glazing loose or cracked window panes, you can increase the performance of old windows. This is not as effective as replacing worn-out windows, but it will help retain heating energy.
Caulk around window and door frames: By applying caulking to gaps in door and window frames, you can significantly reduce drafty air in your home.
Utilize heavy window drapes: Thicker, darker window drapes will help retain heat in your home and block against frigid, outdoor air.
7) INVEST IN ENERGY EFFICIENT DOORS AND WINDOWS
Installing new energy efficient windows and doors is one of the top seven energy efficient improvements homeowners can make to reduce energy usage and expenses. Some energy efficient improvements are eligible for state and federal tax credits. Contact us for more information about energy efficient siding, doors, and windows.
8) PREPARE NOW FOR WINTER WEATHER
When snow is in the forecast, avoid the mad dash to the grocery store by preparing your winter weather kit. Include in your kit:
Flashlights, candles, batteries, etc
Canned perishable foods
Back-up cooking source
Dehydrated milk
Frozen Naan (unleavened bread)
Canned, non-perishable foods
Gloves and snow appropriate clothing
Plenty of indoor games and fun
9) OPEN CLOSED OR BLOCKED VENTS
To improve airflow and reduce stress on your heating systems, make sure all your home’s indoor air vents are open and unobstructed by furniture and other debris. Contrary to popular belief, closing off rooms in your home will decrease the effectiveness and efficiency of your HVAC.
10) BEWARE OF MOLD
Mold development is typically associated with spring and summer, when humidity is high; however, in Raleigh, humidity levels can remain relatively high throughout the winter as well. Additionally, frozen pipes can crack and leak, leading to water damage and the excess moisture in which mold can develop and thrive. Keep an eye out for mold in the areas in your home that collect moisture.
We are here to help. For more information regarding winterizing your home, contact us.
It is no secret that cost is a big factor when it comes to choosing the best material to clad your home, which is why twice as many homeowners in the United States side their homes with exterior vinyl siding than any other material on the market. Taking it one step farther, Insulated Vinyl Siding is a cost effective product that can also save you money on your home’s heating and cooling costs!
Compared to traditional vinyl siding, its insulated vinyl counterpart increases the R-value of your home which means reduced energy bills throughout the year. Insulated vinyl siding comes in a variety of colors to choose from and requires little to no maintenance. ClimaForce Insulated vinyl siding also offers better weather performance and better sound control properties than traditional siding.
Many options to choose from – comes in a variety of finishes, styles and colors so you can be sure to find what you are looking for
Energy efficient – our insulation provide the industry best energy savings for homeowners with a system R-value of up to 5.3
Less seams – 39% longer than the traditional twelve foot panel our product will wield a straighter, cleaner exterior and even reduce wall irregularities
Return on investment – installation of insulated vinyl siding can yield higher than an 80% return on investment due to increased energy efficiency and lower energy bills
Aesthetics – there is no dollar figure put on improving the look and feel of your home through the variety of styles, colors and finishes offered. In addition, the foam back insulation helps keep your siding flush with the wall and prevents waviness which could hurt the aesthetics of your home.
Weather durability – can handle virtually all types of weather including high temperatures, extreme seasonal weather changes and strong winds. Innovative, patent-pending panel locking design for a tight, secure fit with no insulation gap.
Maintenance requirements – requires little to no maintenance and premium vinyl siding comes with a 25 year warranty including color fading and appearance.
Easy installation – Global Home Improvement installs hundreds of siding jobs a year and can make your installation experience hassle-free from start to finish.
Repairability – in the rare case that a part of your siding is damaged it can be easily replaced by the even the homeowner
Durability – insulated vinyl siding will not rot or become damaged from water, mold, insects or long-term exposure from the sun. Additionally, the foam back insulation helps your siding lay flatter and straighter on your home.
Still Not Convinced?
If you are still not convinced that Installing ClimaForce Insulated Vinyl Siding is your best choice for cladding your home consider this: air leakage can account for up to 30% or more of a home’s heating and cooling energy. Vinyl siding offers no form of insulation for your home while insulated vinyl siding installed by the experts at Global Home Improvement can have a system R-value of up to 5.3. Need even more?
Sustainable Solutions Corporation recently conducted a life cycle assessment, which identifies the environmental impact of a product over its lifespan including the extraction, processing, manufacturing, transportation, distribution, use, reuse, maintenance, recycling and disposal of the product. Insulated vinyl siding has one of the lowest life cycle assessments in the industry easily outperforming brick, stucco and dry-vit.
For more information on insulated vinyl siding or to set up a free in-home estimate call Premium Supply at 501-932-4477 or check out our full line of ClimaForce Insulated Vinyl Siding.
Decorative Elements
