Tips to Picking the right siding for Your Home
Vinyl Siding Prices
Vinyl siding is a great option for any budget-minded homeowner. Vinly siding cost is generally more economical compared with other siding materials. It is the all-around best choice in siding, in terms of both cost and performance. It’s inexpensive and attractive, so it’ll improve the look of your home without breaking your budget. It’ll also protect and insulate, and increase the resale value.
It is because of the value that vinyl siding can provide that results in it gaining popularity, with 32% of today’s market share. It is a reliable performer that is easy to maintain and inexpensive to install. It is able to withstand all sort of weather, will not fade even with prolonged exposure to the sun and is resistant to moisture and acid rain. And it is the least bit appealing to bugs which is a weakness of wood siding.
Installing Vinyl Siding for Energy Efficiency
During vinyl siding installation, the surface preparation is critical. The surface to which the siding will be applied must be as smooth as possible and solid, as it is the time to seal energy leaks. This is the time to caulk all cracks around the windows and doors.
If you want to increase the energy efficiency, you may want to install foil faced foam sheathing at this time. This is especially true if you are installing vinyl over an existing brick or wood sided house. If you are installing vinyl on a new house, be sure you have instructed your builder to install foil faced foam sheathing and an air/water infiltration barrier.
Fiber Cement Siding
No building material can guarantee a fireproof home, but there are some preventative measures that a homeowner can take to better prepare for fires— like installing a non-combustible home exterior.
However, the newest and currently best-received exterior siding alternative is fiber cement siding. Fiber cement siding, such as James Hardie siding, is the most popular brand of siding in North America. In fact, a recent study has shown that, of homeowners who have recently purchased vinyl siding for their homes, about 50% of them say they would have chosen fiber cement siding over vinyl, had they been better informed.
Being thicker and more durable as compared to vinyl, fiber cement siding tend to be more cost effective over long term. There is also added protection as the thickness of fiber cement add more weight to your home.
