What happens if your siding starts to crack, fade or become discolored? You run the risk of your home becoming a victim to major structural damage.

You may notice that your siding looks a bit worse. It’s better to replace it before you have serious damage to your home.

How can you tell when it is time to replace your siding? Champion’s home improvement experts will help you identify the signs to watch out for.

1. Cracked, warped, or rotting siding These are the signs that your siding needs to be replaced. Take a look around your house to make sure everything is in order. Small cracks can indicate a larger problem. Take a look around. Do you feel the layer underneath is solid? It might be time for a professional to inspect your siding and determine if there is more rot underneath the damaged or cracked areas.
2. Your siding may have bubbles or blisters You should be concerned if you see blisters or bubbling beneath your siding. This is a sign that there is a moisture problem. This is an indication that siding is not doing its job. It is supposed to keep moisture out of your home.
3. Your siding may be contaminated by mildew, mold, or fungus. You should be cautious about mold, fungus and other growths that may appear on your siding near seams. These substances can grow anywhere there is moisture, so if they are present on your siding, it could be an indication that water has penetrated. Although not all cases of fungus should be alarming, it is worth investigating.
4. Siding that is severely faded If siding begins to lose its color or becomes very faded, it is usually a sign that it is losing its weatherproofing. It doesn’t necessarily mean that your siding is useless. However, it’s a good time for you to upgrade your siding before further problems arise.
5. Painting your siding is a frequent chore A majority of homes need a new coat of paint every 8-10 year. You may find that you need to paint your home more often than this (e.g., every 3 years), but it could be due to the siding beneath. If your siding is showing signs of wear and tear, you might consider vinyl siding from Champion. It has a long-lasting color, requires little maintenance, and can be a sign that it is time to replace it.
6. Higher energy bills There are many factors that can cause your energy bills to go beyond the normal. After you have ruled out any leaks, drafty windows, or faulty insulation, you can look into bad siding as a possible culprit. Siding is designed to keep your home warm and cool, as well as insulating it against the elements all year. Your energy bill will reflect the fact that siding that is old or damaged doesn’t insulate as well.
7. Paint peeling inside your home Bad siding can sometimes be visible inside your home. Are you seeing any peeling wallpaper or missing paint in your home? It can cause serious damage to your home if moisture gets through your siding. Unwanted moisture can cause wallpaper and paint problems in your home. These signs are warning signs that you need to act. Do not allow your siding to deteriorate. Champion can provide a free consultation and a comprehensive estimate. Champion vinyl siding is lightweight, stronger, less likely to be damaged by impact, and more easy to clean and install. Champion siding is practically maintenance-free and comes with a lifetime warranty ⁺. Do it for yourself and your home! Do yourself a favor and make new siding a priority in your home’s improvement plan for this year.

The post Signs Your Siding Needs To Be Replaced appeared first on Affordable Siding & Windows.

According to the 2018 Cost vs. Value Report from Remodeling Magazine, siding replacement can increase your home value by 76.7%. For a project of $15,072, you can recover $11,554.

Let’s look at a few ways vinyl siding can increase your home’s value: beautiful appearance, durability, low maintenance and energy efficiency.

Beautiful Appearance

You may need new siding for a variety of reasons. Perhaps your current siding is worn or damaged, cracks or dents are causing the house to be more susceptible to the elements, or perhaps you have pests or water damage behind it. No matter what reason, residing a house is a great way to create a completely new home at the same address.

Other home improvements like roofing and windows are necessary but don’t have the same impact on the home’s appearance as new siding. Upgrading the siding can transform a home’s appearance from the worst in the neighborhood to one that is beautiful.

According to Business Insider, you have only seven seconds to make a first impression. Your appearance and body language can make a lasting impression on people before you ever speak a word.

It is the same for homes that are on the market. Curb appeal is key. How a home’s exterior looks can make the difference in whether someone stops to visit an open house or drives past. Prospective buyers might expect to pay more if the exterior is clean and well maintained.

Vinyl siding is available in many different profiles and colors so you can create the look you want. You can enjoy a more beautiful exterior while you are living in your home. And you can also recoup most or all of the investment when you sell.

Home Protection with Durability

It is wonderful to see a home looking great when it is new siding installed. But what about the appearance of that home over time? It can be damaged by storms, moisture damage, cracking, peeling finishes, and other factors if the siding isn’t durable.

Color Retention & Water Damage

Vinyl siding is a strong and durable option for exterior cladding. Vinyl siding can be used as exterior cladding. It is certified and tested by the Vinyl Siding Institute.

Vinyl siding is a polymeric product that is impervious to water damage. Vinyl siding does not require caulking or painting to seal the water out. It also doesn’t absorb moisture. Fiber cement, for example, has a porous core which can absorb moisture and cause problems later.

Wind & Impact Resistance

Vinyl siding protects homes from the elements. It can withstand winds up to 110 mph, depending on its application.

Punta Gorda was hit by Hurricane Irma in September 2017. Average wind gusts were between 111 and 130 mph. The 171 units of the Gulf Breeze community were cladded in insulated vinyl siding before the storm. There was no visible damage to them or water infiltration.

Insulated vinyl siding is a vinyl siding that has a foam core attached to its back. It is a traditional siding made from vinyl. The combination of the foam insulation and vinyl siding provides a significantly higher impact resistance. Insulated vinyl siding is durable enough to protect your home and its appearance from hail, rocks, and even baseballs.

Low Maintenance

Today’s homebuyers place high importance on features and products that are easy to maintain and save them time and money. Although cedar shake siding can look beautiful, homeowners will have to spend time and money maintaining it.

Vinyl siding is America’s most loved cladding product. This is due to its low maintenance requirements. Vinyl siding does not need to be painted or sealed like other siding options. As needed, you can clean vinyl with mild soap and water using a gardenhose.

Energy Efficiency

Insulated vinyl siding is durable, but the foam backing acts more than just as a shock absorber in case of impact. The siding job is more energy efficient because of the contoured insulation. It reduces heating and cooling costs and makes the home quieter and more comfortable.

Many buyers find it appealing to have lower utility bills for as long as they stay in their home. Vinyl siding offers homeowners a great option for increasing their home’s value or making it more appealing to potential buyers. It is beautiful, durable, and easy to maintain.

Summary

Remodeling Magazine estimates that adding vinyl siding to your home will increase its value by approximately 76.7 percent of the cost. It is important to think about how the siding will hold up to the elements and the impact of neighbor’s baseball. It is important to choose a product that can withstand the elements and still look great for many years.

The post Does Vinyl Siding Increase Your Home’s Value? appeared first on Affordable Siding & Windows.

Composition

Insulated vinyl siding is made up of rigid, contoured insulation that is permanently attached to vinyl siding. Fiber cement siding is made up of a mixture of cement, sand and cellulose fibers. An independent Life Cycle Assessment revealed that insulated vinyl siding has a lower environmental impact than fiber cement. This is second only to cedar and traditional vinyl siding.

Appearance

Fiber cement and insulated vinyl siding are both designed to look like traditional wood siding planks. Both can be used to cover exterior walls and improve the appearance of your home.

Insulated vinyl siding offers more design options than fiber cement. You can choose from clapboard, dutchlap or board and batten as well as shakes, scallops and panels that look like log cabins. There are many accessories available to complement the look of your home. Vinyl siding with insulation is typically thicker than normal, creating shadow lines that mimic the look of real wood.

Fiber cement is available in planks and shingles as well as flat boards for vertical applications. You can choose to have it pre-painted or stained, and you can paint it any color that you like. Fiber cement is available in a variety of colors. However, insulated vinyl siding can be purchased in hundreds of colors.

Energy Efficiency

R-value is the resistance to heat flow. This value measures insulation product’s energy efficiency. The greater the insulation power, the higher the R-value. Tiny air pockets within the insulation resist heat transfer. The r-value is determined by how many air pockets there are in insulation.

Insulated vinyl siding can have an r-value between 2.0 and 3.5 depending on the brand. Insulation that is thicker than the rest helps to reduce energy consumption and lower utility bills. Check out this article that explains how much insulated vinyl siding can reduce your utility bills and cost.

Fiber cement is low in energy consumption at.15 R-value. However, it can be used with fanfold or other insulation products to increase the r value of the entire siding system.

Durability

Both insulated vinyl siding and fiber cement are durable options for exterior solutions. Fiber cement can be hard to touch but is more heavy and made from a cementitious material so it can be susceptible to cracking or chipping. It can also be used as an absorptive coating, which means it can absorb moisture. This can cause problems like rot.

Insulated vinyl siding is made from a tough plastic material that resists water damage, cracking, and chipping. Insulated vinyl siding offers superior impact resistance, unlike traditional vinyl siding. The siding is protected from hail damage, rocks from the lawnmower or neighbor’s baseball by the contoured foam insulation.

Maintenance

Insulated vinyl siding is the most maintenance-friendly of all the siding options. Fiber cement needs to be sealed and painted regularly in order to preserve its beauty and protect it from the elements. This can be expensive and time-consuming.

Vinyl siding with insulation is easy to clean using a garden hose and soapy water. It will remain in its original state for many years.

Cost

Prices for fiber cement or insulated vinyl siding may vary depending on where you live, the options that you choose, and your home’s design. Insulated vinyl siding can be purchased for between $4.00 and $12.00 per square feet.

According to the 2015 Remodeling Magazine Cost and Value Report, 12.5 squares fiber cement siding cost $14,014 while foam-backed vinyl siding was $15,184. It is important to note that insulated vinyl siding doesn’t require costly, routine maintenance like painting or caulking. This can cost as much as $6,000 per Home Advisor.

Insulated vinyl siding is also energy efficient and can lower your monthly utility bills. This will significantly reduce the cost of your project.

Installation

Fiber cement siding is strong and durable once it has been installed on the wall. However, it can be fragile during shipping and installation on the jobsite. Fiber cement siding requires two people to install all panels. Insulated vinyl siding can be done with one person.

Many popular brands of fiber cement can also produce silica dust from cutting them. Silica dust can cause a potentially fatal condition called bronchitis. Installers should use a respirator to cut the panels. Insulated vinyl siding, on the other hand, can be cut using snips and a circular saw. It does not require any special safety equipment.

Warranty

Your siding brand and profile will determine the warranty that you get for your project. Many insulated vinyl siding companies offer warranties that last for 30, 40, 50, or more years. We offer a lifetime warranty. This doubles the average coverage. Many fiber cement companies offer a 30-year warranty.

Summary

You can achieve beautiful exteriors for your home with both fiber cement siding and insulated vinyl siding. Insulated vinyl siding will perform better in terms of energy savings, durability, and low maintenance. Fiber cement can give you a unique look. However, it will need to be maintained over time.

When deciding between fiber cement siding and insulated vinyl siding, it is important to consider the specific circumstances of your project.

The post Insulated Vinyl Siding vs. Fiber Cement: Which One is Best? appeared first on Affordable Siding & Windows.

To clean the exterior glass of your double hung windows, you will need to lift the lower sash and engage the tilt latches. Then, slide back up the upper sash. Replace the interior grilles with new ones. Press them snugly against the window panes. Do not use harsh cleaning materials or shake the sashes, as this may damage the seal that protects the window panes.

First, raise the upper sash. Tilt the sash inward. Use the tilt latches to hold the window sash in the vertical position. After you finish cleaning the upper sash, secure the tilt latches and then slide the upper sash back up. Then, replace the interior grilles. Press them into place so that they rest snug against the glass. Never use harsh cleaning products or shake the sash.

Then, tilt the sash inward, removing any screens. Ensure that the sash is firmly in the vertical position. Afterwards, replace the sashes in the proper position. When cleaning double hung windows, do not use harsh cleaners as this may destroy the paint finish or damage the seal around the window panes. You can use mild cleaners on the exterior, but it is best to avoid this if you want to keep the paint and luster of your windows.

Once the windows have been cleaned, you should lock them in place. A tilt latch is an important part of double hung windows. To do this, you need to lift the bottom sash and switch it to the vertical position. After you have locked the window, turn on the window’s tilt latches. If the window is locked in the vertical position, you can lock it. If you are cleaning the exterior sash, remember to wash the sash after cleaning.

Clean double hung windows from the inside. These windows are easier to clean than other types of windows, because the sash is positioned on the outside of the house. Unlike other types of window, the sash of double hung windows is easy to remove from their frames. Once you’ve removed the sash, you’ll need to spray the cleaning solution on the exterior of the window. You can also apply the same cleaning solution to the sash of your double glazed window.

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One glance at the gutter that seems to floweth over has you feeling like your rain gutters are a real punch in the gut. Whether you’ve invested in the seamless aluminum gutters (inherited, if you were lucky) or you’re working with section gutters, the sludge of leaves and questionable new life growth has made for what seems like an impossible task.

So maybe, it’s time to invest in leaf guards.

3 Benefits of Having Leaf Guards Installed on Your Continuous Rain Guttering System

1. Your future self will thank you: Leaf guards do more than ward off leaves. They’ll help you guard your knees. Climbing up and down a ladder to clean out rain gutters is a hassle and puts you at risk of falling off a ladder. And one of the benefits of seamless aluminum gutters is supposed to be their long lasting lifespan. Not only are you risking yours with leaf fishing, you’re putting wear and tear on your joints.
2. The mosquitoes will not thank you: Leaves collect puddles of moisture and moisture makes for the perfect mosquito breeding grounds. Year round leaf guards will help leave mosquitoes homeless and out of your yard.
3. You’ll maximize your investment: Continuous rain guttering systems are important for protecting your home’s foundation, preserving vinyl siding and preventing roof damage. Leaf collection can prevent water from flowing, making your seamless aluminum gutters not so seamless after all.

There’s no need to feel gutted by the gutters. Affordable Siding & Windows can help keep the flow of life flowing smoothly around your home.

The post 3 Reasons to Follow Your Gut and Get Leaf Guards appeared first on Affordable Siding & Windows.

Vinyl siding is not as susceptible to rot and wear as wood. However, it can crack and puncture. You can keep your siding in excellent condition by trimming any shrubbery or trees that are in direct contact with the house. This will help to prevent damage to the material. You will need to replace any section that is severely damaged since the siding can be pulled off by strong winds.

Cleaning Vinyl Siding

You should clean your vinyl siding once a year to keep it looking great. A hose, sponge, stiff-bristle brush and bucket are all you will need. Clear water should be used to rinse the surface after you have finished scrubbing it. To reach the highest level of dirt and grime, you may need a long-handled car wash brush. You should cover any plants that are near you with plastic tarps.

Vinyl color isn’t a coating on the surface of the material. It permeates the material so it won’t fade. You can paint vinyl siding if you don’t love the color. For a solid finish, two coats of 100% acrylic latex paint are recommended. If you paint your siding, remember that you must paint your siding every two years, just like board siding.

How to Wash Your Siding

Do you think your siding could be in need of a makeover? A thorough cleaning could bring your siding back to life. It may not need a complete new coat of paint even though it looks desperate.

If you don’t wash your siding, you won’t know if it needs to be painted. It is hard to wash the siding as efficiently and safely as possible without damaging it. The best method will depend on what type of siding you have and how difficult it is to clean.

Hand washing is the most labor-intensive, but thorough, way to wash siding of all types, including vinyl and wood. You can use soap, water, and a soft-bristle nylon brush attached to a pole.

To hand wash siding, mix TSP or another non-phosphate substitute and water according to the label instructions. Make sure the bucket is large enough for the brush to fit in. Next, wear rubber gloves and other protective gear as recommended by the detergent label. Scrub the siding from the top. Work in areas approximately 20 feet across and up to the maximum height of the wall. Use the shade if possible.

After each section is completed, rinse with clean water. For typical lap siding, scrub in line with the siding panels.

It is not an easy job to scrub a house by hand. You will feel more like you’re in an exercise training session the larger your house is. Be sure to follow ladder safety precautions if your home has more than one level.

Power washing your siding with a pressure washer can make it much more manageable. However, this is only possible if the siding is made of vinyl, steel or aluminum. You must be careful to not damage the siding or its finish. A pressure washer can even dent aluminum siding. It can also peel off any siding. Pressure washing can be an alternative to hand scrubbing but it is still a good option if done correctly.

You should not pressure wash siding made from wood, brick, stucco or painted with paint that contains lead. It can cause paint to peel and erode the surface as well as drive water into the walls.

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