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| More than just a pretty face, siding is an essential component for shielding your home from the elements. In order for siding to be truly waterproof it must be properly installed. Trim and siding is just the final cladding of a multi-layered system. |
| Housewrap or building paper should be installed underneath siding to repel water away from the interior framing and structure of a home.
Flashing works along with siding to provide a waterproof transition between building elements and materials. These bridge cracks and direct water away from junctures, like headers above windows and doors, where water would ordinarily dam up.
Sealants are used to adhere materials to each other. These sealants also fill gaps and give the exterior an air-tight defense the rain and cold. |
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| The type of siding material and color that will best suits a home depends on its style, the preferences and the budget of the current owner. Wood siding, stone siding, brick, brick veneer siding, cedar shingle siding, stucco siding, wood siding, vinyl siding, metal siding and aluminum siding are some of the various kinds of siding options open to homeowners. |
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Wood Siding |
| Real wood siding can be made from redwood, cedar, fir, pine and spruce - to name some popular choices. Pricing and maintenance requirements of these woods vary, so it is good to take these considerations into account before you choose a particular wood siding. Pine, for example, is generally a less expensive wood purchase, but it can be more labor-intensive to install. |
| Pine also requires regular sealing because it is not rot resistant. Cedar, on the other hand is more costly, but it is known for its resistance to rot. |
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Cupping Wood: Wood siding tends to cup when moisture is absorbed on the back face of the wood, while the outer side of the wood is dried out by the sun.
To prevent this problem coat all edges and sides of exterior wood siding with primer. This pro trick is called back-priming. To counteract the inclination to forget to back-prime all of your cuts, as you are working along, have a container of primer and a brush on hand in the area where you are cutting. |
| Wood Siding Paint: When you are painting wood siding it is best to apply, as a minimum, two coats of acrylic latex paint besides the primer. When you want to showcase the natural wood, it is best to use redwood or cedar, which have unique weather-resistant properties. |
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Fiber Cement Siding |
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Fiber cement siding and trim are tough and durable products that are made from sand, portland cement and wood fibers.
While it doesn't look like genuine wood siding it is stable, light, fire, rot and insect resistant and extremely strong.
When you are cutting fiber cement board you should always wear a dust mask, goggles and use either carbide-tipped blade or a masonry blade. Galvanized nails are the nails of choice for installation with this product. |
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Cedar Shingle Siding |
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Cedar shingle siding is known for its rich texture. These shingles take stain well, although many prefer to allow it to silver naturally. Cedar shakes are also great as a siding material because they are straight and do not split easily.
A water seal wood protector will be needed if you want to maintain the original color of the wood. It can, however, be allowed to age naturally to a silver-gray. A good wood sealer will prevent the grain from raising, while still allow it to gray. |
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Residing |
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After inspecting your home's exterior you may find that you need to reside. You may decide to reside because your siding has deteriorated, water is getting behind your older siding or you'd like to change the look of your home.
When you are re-siding a home check to see if existing trim and windows are off level. Lines are often not quite parallel or level on older buildings. Install new trim and siding to match older trim. Snap chalk lines that look level in relation to existing trim lines. Installing new siding so that it is perfectly level would only emphasize irregularities. |
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Stucco Siding |
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Stucco is a another common siding choice, especially in certain regions. Stucco is strong and low maintenance. Giving your stucco a new coat of paint really freshens up your home's exterior. Changing the paint color can give it a real house-lift!
If you have cracks in your stucco you should have these inspected to see how serious they are. Some cracks can be repaired. Other cracks in stucco may indicate that your home's foundation or framing is shifting. |
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Stone and Stone Veneer
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| Stone siding and stone veneer siding add texture and make your home more distinctive in a neighborhood of all vinyl siding. Manufactured stone can give you the look of natural stone at half the cost or less! |
Brick and Brick Veneer Siding |
| Brick does have a higher installation cost than other sidings, but it is a very durable, timeless and maintenance free cladding for the home. |
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Vinyl Siding |
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There are a great variety of options for vinyl siding. The cost of vinyl siding installation is a relatively inexpensive way to make a big impact on your home's curb appeal.
Vinyl siding is a popular siding option because it is relatively maintenance-free. However, vinyl siding installation needs to be done correctly to truly protect the home. One tell of a sloppy installation is if there are gaps, either where the siding meets the trim or between sections. Any gaps will allow water to get in and cause rot damage. |
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Tools of the Trade |
| Pneumatic nailers have made siding installation faster and easier. These nailers allow for precision and this reduces hammer marks and splits. The speed at which nails are driven in by a pneumatic nailer also makes instillation easier because you don't have to hold heavy, awkward pieces as long. |
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Siding Contractors |
| Good siding contractors do more than just make the finished job look good. They practice good installation techniques that will work to protect your home from wind driven rain and capillary action that can draw water in and under siding. So, whether you are residing or putting on new wood siding, cedar shingle siding, stone siding, brick or brick veneer siding, stucco siding or vinyl siding we have contractors in your area! |
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