To prolong the life of one of your biggest investments—your home—you need to put up the right defenses. One particular form of defense that your home needs is siding. Like the roof, siding helps shield your home against the elements. The main exterior wall sure is sturdy but with siding, it gets an extra layer of protection.
There are many different kinds of siding recommended by roofing contractors that you can choose from, each having a unique set of benefits. If you want something that offers both longevity and aesthetic appeal, you might want to check out vinyl siding. Here are some of the unique benefits of vinyl siding.
- High Aesthetic Value
- – You may argue that wooden siding is the most appealing of all the available siding types. Undeniably, wood offers a natural, rustic appeal that makes an amazing exterior cladding for any residential building. However, vinyl siding can easily top that with its sleekness and consistency, which could fit any architectural design.
- Versatility
- – There’s no denying the magnificence of original siding materials such as wood and stucco, but they come in limited versions. Because vinyl siding is made of plastic, it comes in multiple color and gradient choices. It can even be manufactured to imitate other materials so you can enjoy both worlds.
- Durability
- – As previously mentioned, vinyl is a type of plastic. Unlike wood and aluminum, vinyl is more durable as it doesn’t rot or corrode when exposed to moisture. It’s also resilient against mold growth as there’s no organic matter that these lifeforms can ingest from it. Because the color of vinyl isn’t superficial, it doesn’t fade quickly even when constantly exposed to sunlight.
- Low Maintenance
- – The fact that vinyl is resistant to rot, corrosion, and even fading due to UV rays means it’s also easy to maintain.
- Eco-Friendly
- – I know what you’re thinking—it’s plastic, so it hurts the environment. The thing is not all inorganic or synthetic products are dangerous to nature. Vinyl siding, for instance, are made to last for many years and can be recycled. Also, contrary to popular belief, it doesn’t emit harmful chemicals that pollute the air. The paint or varnish products used to coat wooden and metal siding are even more potent. Vinyl siding doesn’t need coating thanks to its intrinsic color.
- Easy to Install
- – There are a couple of reasons why vinyl siding is easier to install than other siding types. One reason is that it’s lighter than wood, stone, or metal. The slats are easy to cut to your desired length and shape, too. In contrast, wooden and metal slats are slightly heavier. The slats of metal siding even have slightly sharp edge that could cut you if you’re not careful.
How to Estimate for Siding Materials
Knowing the exact quantity of materials you need for your siding can help minimize cost. Furthermore, you can reduce waste, too, which is more likely to go to a landfill than to a recycling center. You don’t have to do the estimate yourself if you hire one of the trusted siding contractors in Chicago, such as Muller Exteriors, because they normally do all the work. However, it pays to know a thing or two about material cost estimates.
The first step to estimating for siding materials is to have an accurate measurement of your home’s exterior wall or the area where you will install siding. This information may also be available in your home’s blueprint.It might be a little tricky if you wish to do the measurement manually, as you will come across different irregular shapes. There are tons of resources about formulas for calculating the area of different geometric shapes that are available online.
When you have your exterior wall measurement, it’s time to determine the dimensions of the siding slats. Manufacturers often show this information in the ads and manuals.Get the total measurement of the slats then divide the total surface area of your home exterior by it. Don’t forget to subtract from the total area of the slats the total area of the overlap between slats. To increase the accuracy of your estimate, you might want to factor in the angle of inclination of the slats.
Vinyl Siding Installation Instructions
Whether you have a background in siding installation or it’s your first time, it’s crucial that you carefully read the manufacturer’s instruction. You also have to learn and abide by the local building codes in your area, which are based on national model building codes. Ideally, those resources provide a general vinyl siding installation guide. Nevertheless, you can follow these simple steps.
- Wall Preparation – Always keep in mind that your siding is just a cladding on existing structural walls. It has to be applied on some kind of backer board, which is made of either plywood or solid foam. This helps level the wall surface. Although the siding must be fastened directly on the framing stud for stability, a layer of backer board topped with a water-resistant barrier, such as house wrap, roofing felt, trim coil, or any other impermeable material allowed by the building code must be laid. All protrusions, such as gutters and light fixtures, must be removed to further level the wall surface.
- Fastening the Slats –To fasten the slats, you will need galvanized or corrosion-resistant nails, staples, and screws. Nail in the middle of each nail slot unless otherwise indicated in the manufacturer’s instructions. Drive nail straight and level to prevent distortion and buckling of the panel. Make sure the nail penetrates at least three-fourths of an inch into the framing studs, but don’t nail tight because vinyl siding slightly expands and contracts when the weather changes.
Establish chalk lines for the top of the starter strip, which lock the first row of siding. When installing the corner posts, make sure to drive nail at the top of the uppermost slot so that the post will hang from the nails. Once the corner posts have been installed, you can now install the starter strip. Align it with the chalk lines you made earlier. Nail every ten inches in the middle of the nailing slots. From here, you can start nailing the slats one after another until the entire exterior wall is covered.
If you are not confident with your current skills even if you follow a step-by-step guide from the Internet, don’t hesitate to call in the experts. Not only do they have the proper training and experience, but they also have all the necessary tools for installing vinyl siding. With their vast experience, they can finish the job much faster than you can as well.
