Want to bolster up your home against Lake Michigan’s year-round fury? Consider installing exterior siding with the help of a certified siding expert in Chicago, such as Muller Exteriors. Siding offers extra protection against strong wind, rain, hail, and infestation, extending your home’s life by a decade or more. It also comes in a wide variety of design options that can enhance your home’s curb appeal and definition. Having siding on your home is like Anthony Stark suiting up for battle.
Choosing the perfect type of siding for your home, however, can turn out to be a conundrum, as each choice is packed with prized qualities that are difficult to trade off. You can always consult with Muller Exteriors to know which fits your home best, but it also doesn’t hurt to do a little bit of research so that you can feel more satisfied with your final decision. Here are some of the things you should know about siding before you call in the installer.
Interesting Facts about Siding
Before you get too worked up about having siding on your home, let’s take a step back a little bit and check out some interesting trivia. After all, it’s always a good thing to learn more about something you’ll have on your home for a long time.
- Homes between the 20s and 60s had siding made of asbestos, thanks to its low price and fire retardant property, until the early 70s when it was identified as a health hazard. Its removal from the market gave way for the ascendance of other safer and better-performing materials, such as vinyl and stucco.
- Wooden siding is one of the most expensive siding materials to install and replace but it’s also the least durable. Lack of coating can cause it to rot fast and turn ugly, although well-maintained wooden siding offers a refreshing, rustic appeal to a home.
- Like most other expensive products, siding installation usually comes with warranty. The bigger the warranty, the higher the guarantee that it is weather resistant and long lasting. The average price of siding with standard warranty ranges from $7000 to $8000.
- Siding is exposed to all kinds of natural forces. Over time, dust and grime can completely cover its surface, making your home exterior look unsightly from end to end. The best way to clean your siding is through power washing. A powerful stream of a hot water-detergent mixture can quickly wash off heavy streaks of dirt and stain from the siding’s surface, revealing the concealed beauty.
- The ideal time to install siding is during summer or spring where the climate is suitable for outdoor construction work. The only problem is competition. Because these are peak seasons for siding installation, it can be difficult to find a contractor who is neither holding multiple projects nor willing to work at a standard price. Experts advise that you consider having siding installation in fall or winter where not many people are booking.
Popular Types of Siding
There are about 15 different types of siding available commercially, but when you set out to find one for your home, you will most likely come across just a few, including the following.
- Vinyl
- . The most widely used among all siding materials, vinyl possesses many valuable characteristics. Apart from being the least expensive choice, it is also incredibly versatile, able to mimic a host of materials. It also comes in many different color choices, so you won’t have to worry about your siding ruining your home’s architecture or façade. Since vinyl is essentially plastic, it is much lighter than other materials, making installation easier and not causing your home’s exterior walls too much weight.
- Wood
- . As previously discussed, wood is not the most practical choice for siding as it is quite sensitive to the elements. Undeniably, though, it adds a flare of natural charm and beauty to any surface, which makes it a favorite among those who are looking for the perfect siding options for old homes. Wood siding is also prized for its unmatched warmth and workability. Top contractors, however, advise homeowners to take extra care when choosing a type of wood to be used as siding, as each species is unique and may not be to everyone’s taste. They would normally recommend Cedar due to its natural resistance to rot, bacteria, and fungi.
- Engineered Wood
- . If you desperately want the natural appeal of wood but despise its many weaknesses, consider opting for engineered wood. This material is made of wood fibers and exterior-grade resins, so it’s essentially wood but without the risk of infestation and rot. The best brand of engineered wood siding available on the market is the LP ® SmartSide ®. It is high-end material well-treated to acquire game-changing durability, beauty, and workability. It usually comes with a 50-year limited warranty.
- Aluminum
- . Although not a very popular choice, aluminum siding offers a great deal of benefits to a home. Apart from its stunning appearance, aluminum is also valued for its corrosion resistance, which is vital for any exterior structural feature. A couple of problems with this siding are , like most other metals, it heats up fast and conducts heat into the house, so essentially it’s not very efficient. You can reduce its thermal conductivity, though, by painting it white or any light color. It is also damaged easily by strong storms producing hail.
Considerations for Siding Installation
Installing siding is a big decision, not only because it costs a lot, but also because it will define how your home is going to appear for a long time. Therefore, it’s just right to give it a good thought. Here are some of the factors that you should consider when planning the whole siding installation project.
When to Replace Siding
. If you’ve just move in to a home that has existing siding, and you are thinking of having the existing siding replaced, do some inspection to determine whether replacement is really the best decision. Maybe the siding only looks decrepit but with a few touches can look brand new again. That would save you not just money but the trouble that comes with such a massive project.
DIY vs. Professional
. While it costs top dollar to hire a siding contractor, it’s very much worth it. Many homeowners are easily tempted by the idea of DIY because of the huge savings it entails. They tend to forget that construction work like siding installation or replacement requires many years of training and experience to execute properly. And not just expertise, the right tools, too. You may be able to save money now but you’ll have to spend even more when you start seeing problems due to poor workmanship in the long run. So DIY is not a risk worth taking.
