Top 10 Benefits of Vinyl Siding for Your Home

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Top 10 Benefits of Vinyl Siding for Your Home

The overall appearance of your home’s exterior greatly depends on key factors: roofing, siding, color, windows and doors, and landscape.  We will focus on vinyl siding and the many benefits that vinyl siding provides for your home.

When choosing a type of siding, many homeowners opt for vinyl siding because of its many benefits.  In fact, there have been reports that show more than 30% of new homes feature vinyl siding and that number continues to increase.

So, what are those incredible benefits of vinyl siding?  Take a look below as we outline the top 10 fundamental advantages to having vinyl siding to make your home beautiful throughout the entire year.

1. Affordable

In comparison to other siding choices for homes, including cedar or wood, vinyl siding costs far less.  Over time, the vinyl also with incur far less other expense for repair and maintenance, which makes it the most cost-effective option.

Vinyl siding has been said to be ranked among the best home improvement projects for cost recovery, including installation and overall time maintenance.

2. Durable Over Time

As far as a homeowners investment time-frame, the vinyl siding can last as long as 50 years when installed correctly. With its other benefits listed below, it not only can withstand high levels of weather changes but also has multiple home protective qualities to prevent further damage to the home’s exterior.

3. Low Maintenance

This type of siding also requires little to no maintenance.  Talk about ease of comfort for homeowners.  Most siding also comes with 25-year warranties which include color fading and appearance.

The siding also has a distinct surface that doesn’t provide a place for dirt and grime to really stick to, so cleaning isn’t a large concern either.

Often touch up painting is the low-end maintenance needed and very easy to find local siding painters, such as CC’s Painting to do the work for you.

4. Moisture-Resistant

Insulated vinyl siding will not rot or become damaged from water or mold.  In addition, this siding won’t be damaged by insects or long-term exposure from the sun.

This siding has shown a better rain-screening and draining than most other siding options.  This is great since that characteristic will reduce the chances of mold, mildew and any possible warping over time.

We do want to point out that vinyl siding is water-resistant, not waterproof.  It is important to have a professional make sure the proper installation has been done, including the stud wraps and building paper, insulation and drainage holes or slots to properly allow water to drain away from the exterior of the home.

5. Customization: Styles, Colors & Finishes

There is no dollar amount that you can put on improving the look and feel of your home through the various available styles, colors, and finishes.  Since they come in such a variety, a homeowner really can choose their exact look and feel for the exterior of the home, to match their current exterior or even change the look completely.

Included with the styling, the foam back insulation can help keep the siding flush with the wall to protect the aesthetics of your home from getting hurt.

6. Simple to Transport and Install

Vinyl is extremely light weight in comparison to its wood and brick counterparts.  This makes transporting it from the manufacturer and the actual installation process extremely useful and the top choice for home builders, home remodelers, and DIYers.

Speaking of installation, it is not difficult to put up yourself with a few simple tools and nails to secure, per the manufacturer’s instructions.  It makes a better alternative to heavy wood or brick installation for siding and less aggravation.  You can do it yourself or have it installed professionally!

7. Energy Savings

The type of insulation vinyl siding provides is a major boost in energy savings for homeowners.  Some reports include annual savings of over $70 in natural gas and energy costs.  Installation can amount to higher than 80% return on investment due to the increased energy efficiency and lower energy bills.

This also includes reducing one’s own carbon footprint by 448 pounds of CO2.  Talk about going green!

8. Climate Control

Homeowners find the insulation vinyl siding provides to be a decrease in unwanted heat loss and gain because of the installation process of the studs and spacing.  The insulation keeps heat transferred in your home, providing a warmer environment during the cold months as well as keeping cooler air circulating internally during the summer – all while preventing those gas and electric bills from rising.

9. No Additional Coating

Most sidings require a coating or finish to provide the home protection, however, vinyl siding does not need this coating.  In fact, if you change your mind with color, you can simply paint over it without having to do any additional finish.

10. Weather-Resistant

Vinyl siding can handle virtually all types of weather, including extreme seasonal weather changes, strong winds, and high temperatures.

 

Thanks for reading!  Did we miss something?  Let us know below any questions you may have about the benefits or your vinyl siding in the comments.

 

Cool New Bacteria Fighting Paint for Your Home From Sherwin-Williams

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Bacteria Fighting Paint for Your Home

We love providing top-notch paint for our customers.  That’s why we choose Sherwin-Williams. And, once again, Sherwin-Williams comes out with an amazing new product, a bacteria fighting paint.

This new product is called Paint Shield and it is specifically designed to fight the spread of bacteria and germs, and killing those germs on the wall surface!  How neat is that?

Clean Home With Clean Walls

We know many of the homeowners we work with would like to do what they can to keep their home clean for their family.  Why not have your paint take part? So, keep in mind this great product during our next visit with you!

Watch this great video from Sherwin-Williams to give a detailed explanation of their cool new bacteria fighting paint.

{Transcript of video above.}

For all the precautions you put in place there are some things you can’t control, like who touches what and where.  Current hospital guidelines call for walls and other services to be visibly clean, but wouldn’t it be reassuring to know that your painted walls also have the power to kill bacteria?

That’s why we’ve [Sherwin-Williams] developed the new Paint Shield microbicidal paint.

Paint shield is the first EPA registered microbicidal paint the continuously kills greater than 99.9% of
Staff (Staphylococcus aureus), MRSA, E.coli, VRE and Enterobacter aerogenes within two hours of exposure on painted surfaces.

And, according to EPA test protocol it continues to kill 90% percent of these bacteria even after repeated contamination of the painted surface. Effectiveness last for up to four years as long as the integrity of the service is maintained.

How Paint Shield Works for Killing Bacteria and Germs

Paint Shield successfully marries a proven well-studied microbicides with a waterborne paint. The active ingredient a quaternary.  Ammonium compounds kills Staff (Staphylococcus aureus), MRSA, E.coli, VRE and Enterobacter aerogenes.

Paint Shield is an exceptional product from Sherwin-Williams providing great hide and a durable finish.

Just apply two coats with a brush or roller over primary or existing paint.  While Paint Shield was designed for healthcare facilities.  It’s ideal for any place where these bacteria are a concern. Now you have an additional new tool that helps reduce the spread of these difficult to kill bacteria and you can deliver a new level of patient satisfaction in the process.  Introducing new Paint Shield microbicidal paint only from Sherwin-Williams.

 For more details visit www.SWpaintshield.com

Sherwin-Williams Color Visualizer

Don’t forget to check out this page with a link to the color visualizer to play around with different colors to paint every room in your home!

 

Home Owners: Repair Peeling On Cedar Siding

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Peeling on cedar siding probably due to either poor paint application or a moisture behind the siding this unsightly peeling and cracking will have to be scraped, sanded, primed and repainted.
Peeling on cedar siding probably due to either poor paint application or a moisture behind the siding this unsightly peeling and cracking will have to be scraped, sanded, primed and repainted.

What You Need To Know To Repair Peeling On Cedar Siding

Peeling and flaking paint on a home’s cedar siding not only makes the home look poorly kept, but it exposes the exterior to further damage and unplanned costly repairs. The best solution is to have professionals do the job right, however, as a homeowner, you may want to try fixing the damage yourself.  Here we’ll tell you just how you can do that.

Why does peeling happen?

Stain can peel off in sheets because of many reasons, including poor adhesion caused by slapdash prep, choosing the wrong paint, painting in low degree weather, painting on wet wood or skipping the cleaning process. In particular, the bad prep can be from a dirty, poorly prepared surface or because moisture migrated through the wood from behind the siding.

Moisture Problems

Sometimes moisture can, and will, seep in between the home and the siding, which can be the cause of the peeling or blistering of the paint in first place.

Solving your outside moisture problem is not so easy because it can be tough to know where the moisture is actually coming from. You can check the gutters, leaders and roof for any ways in which water may have had a path to drain its way underneath the siding.  Some possibilities are:

  • Missing or damaged flashing
  • A leaking or damaged area of the roof
  • Water vapor from inside the house due to inadequate ventilation
  • Hanging or damaged gutters

These problems need to be fixed as soon as possible to keep your house from damaging the entire structure. You can check the severity of the situation yourself with the above fix list or hire someone to do it.

Spotting Other Trouble Areas

Attempting to clean the siding yourself can prove to be a big project. As soon as spring rolls around, we suggest getting outside and doing a walk around your home to spot any trouble areas. First, you will need to look for vulnerable spots that include:

  • Exposed horizontal surfaces
  • Joints
  • Wood close to the ground
  • Soffits

What are Soffits? Soffits are the “underside of an architectural structure such as an arch, a balcony, or overhanging eaves.

Repair the Peeling Siding

Once you’ve spotted those vulnerable spots or already peeling areas, here are a few basic steps you can take to clean and “fix” any problem siding peeling.

  1. Scrape off all the peeling bits
  2. Sand the remaining paint to a feather edge with 60-grit paper
  3. Kill the mildew on the old paint with a mix of diluted bleach and dish soap
  4. Rinse thoroughly by using a hose or even a power-washer on low setting
  5. When the bare wood is dry, sand off the decayed layer with 80-grit paper, taking care not to dish the siding.

Big Mistake : Clean That Surface!

One of the biggest mistakes we see homeowners and other painting companies make is by either hurrying the process or just poor cleaning which can ultimately create the same peeling issue again in the future!

Make sure to wipe the surfaces twice with denatured alcohol and clean rags.  Then, follow that with a brushed-on coat of oil-based primer. Wait about an hour, then brush on the top coat of 100 percent acrylic paint.

Keep Watch & Save Your Home

You will need to watch the exterior of your home over the course of the year and especially in the spring-time. If you have had work or paid someone the prior year to fix and the paint still peels, then moisture migration is the likely culprit.

Just remember, a well-done exterior paint job from professionals looks good and protects a home from the elements. With the right preparation, products and technique, the paint job will last the homeowner many years. Once you (or someone else) repairs these issues, however, you shouldn’t need to address any of these issues for at least another decade.

 

Winterize Your Home on a Budget

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With an average home electric and gas bill reaching $350, $450, and more last year in winter, it’s not surprising many people are searching for low-cost, easy to do home improvements to help save them some money this year!

Do you remember Bob Villa? Well he came up with “11 Ways to Winterize Your Home on a Budget” that any home owner can surely use and we think is right on.

Below we have listed them, but be sure to view the complete slide show here.

(1)   Clean Your Gutters

You’ve heard it before, but we can’t stress this enough. Making sure that water can flow freely through your gutters now will help prevent icicles and ice dams from forming later. Cost: Other than your sweat and time, free.

(2) Flush the Water Heater

Particles and sediment can collect over time in the bottom of your water heater hindering the unit’s efficiency. Flush the water through the drain valve to clear out the material and keep your heater functioning at its best. Cost: 100% free!

(3) Clockwise Ceiling Fans

Ceiling fans are everyone’s favorite summer budget-saver. But they can help out in the winter as well! Have your ceiling fans move in a clockwise direction so they push hot air along the ceiling towards the floor. If they’re going counterclockwise, they won’t be as effective. Cost: free if you have a fan.

(4) Replace Filters

Regularly changing the filters your central air and heating system can significantly improve its efficiency and longevity, while easing the pressure on your wallet. Cost: a new filter runs about $10.

(5) Window Insulation Film

It may not be the most fashionable tip, but window insulation film can keep up to 70% of your heat from leaking out of windows. Cost: $20 to $35 per kit.

(6) Draft Guards

Draft guards can help save heat from escaping under the door. Cost: $10 to $15. (If you don’t want to shell out for a draft guard, a rolled towel placed at the bottom of an exterior door will also do the trick.)

(7) Weather strip Tape

Drafts and air leaks increase your heating costs, so make sure your windows and doors are sealed tight with weather-stripping. Simple, easy, and smart. Cost: $5 to $10 per roll.

(8) Fiberglass Insulation

For maximum heat retention, pack fiberglass insulation around basement doors, windows in unused rooms, and window AC units.  Make sure your attic floor is insulated, too. Just remember to be careful and wear gloves! Cost: around $25 per roll.

(9) Programmable Thermostat

The US Department of Energy says you can save as much as 1% on your energy bill for every degree you lower your home’s temperature during the winter. Install a programmable thermostat now and save money by keeping the temp down when you’re not at home.

(10) Just Caulk It

Any remaining gaps in siding, windows, or doors can be filled with caulk. For extra drafty windows and doors, caulk the inside too, pulling off moldings to fill all gaps in the insulation. Cost: $20 for a basic caulk gun and $5 to $10 for a tube of caulk.

(11) Chimney Balloon

Your chimney is a huge source of heat loss come wintertime. If not in active use, plug it up with a chimney balloon to keep drafts out and heat in. Cost: $55.