Posts Tagged ‘siding cost’

What Is Vinyl Siding And What Is It Made Of?

Vinyl siding is designed to be a durable alternative to other siding materials. This type of siding comes in different styles and usually is installed with a stiff foam board backing. This board can either be contour fit or a flat board behind the vinyl. The foam helps the vinyl keep its original shape, as well as providing a small amount of insulation.

Vinyl siding can come in nearly any color, but is generally white. It is generally sold in 6 to 10 inch wide strips, but other widths are available as well. Vinyl siding has become increasingly popular over time because it lasts for a long time, does not need a lot of repairs, is inexpensive, is easy to clean, and offers some insulation. It does not contribute to termites or the rotting of wood, and is flame retardant.

It is made of PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride), which is a mixture of plastic resin and some other chemicals. Because vinyl siding is mostly made of PVC, it doesn’t dent like aluminum, or rust like steel siding.  Vinyl siding can be designed to resemble wooden siding, and it shares some of the characteristics of aluminum siding, mainly density and weight.

However vinyl siding is easier to install then other kinds, and is good for any climate. Vinyl siding expands when it heats up and contracts when it cools down. It’s important to make sure it has enough room to expand when its installed. Several factors affect the stiffness and wind resistance of vinyl siding. One factor is the thickness, adding thickness to a section of vinyl siding can substantially increase the rigidity and wind resistance.

Even thought vinyl siding is flame retardant, fires in buildings that have a vinyl siding are generally more dangerous because when the PVC burns it releases toxic fumes. The same fumes are present when it is manufactured and recycled. While vinyl siding is becoming more impact resistant, windblown debris and heavy ail can still puncture the sheets of vinyl, which requires the entire panel to be replaced because it cannot simply be patched.

The color on vinyl siding is baked through so it doesn’t show scratches, and is fade resistant, but will still fade over several years. So if you need to replace one panel it will not exactly match the color unless you replace all the panels. It is possible to paint vinyl siding, but then the paint will chip and need to be repainted just like wood.

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5 Things to Think About for New Home Siding

Before you make a final decision on your new home siding you have a lot of thinking to do. There are of course many factors that you have to think about before you are set in a direction that makes sense for you, your home and your family. Before you make your final selection, be sure to evaluate all of your options to see what might work the best for you. Here are 5 things to consider before you install new home siding.

1. Square Feet Needed – Siding is sold not as a unit but in terms of how much you need, which is measured in square feet. Obviously the more square feet you need the more expensive the project will be. However, you may also be able to find discounts on the unit price for purchasing more. Therefore it usually makes more sense to complete the entire home at one time because you’ll benefit from that discounted unit price.

2. Aesthetics - Obviously when you install new siding on your home you are looking for something that looks great. You’ll see that there are all kinds of options for siding in terms of color and style that can help give your home the perfect look. You want the siding to fit in with your home and your landscaping, but you may also want it to stand out and add a completely new element to how your home looks.

3. Surrounding Environment – Keep in mind that you also should have a focus on fitting in with your neighborhood and community. Different neighborhoods have different looks or even settings. You may live in a colonial neighborhood in a very wooded area, or you could live in a more modern neighborhood with sparser forestry. These kinds of differences will naturally lend themselves to different styles and looks for new siding for your home.

4. Quality and Price – Some people are surprised to learn that there are actually different grades, classifications and levels for home siding. This means that you will have different cost options for your project, and they will have corresponding quality differences. You’ll want to think about the different benefits ranging from cost efficiency, energy cost reductions, durability and more when choosing your price and quality range.

5. Personal Goals - What are you really trying to accomplish by upgrading your siding? Are you trying to raise the resale value of your home for some time in the near or distant future? Are you trying to reduce your energy bill or simply improve the appearance of your home? By determining what your goals are ahead of the game you’ll be able to narrow down some of your different options.

If you consider all of these different factors and considerations then you should be able to make a solid decision in regards to potential.

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