Friday, December 31, 2010

Getting Away from Siding Installation

It might be a good idea to ask friends or family members to use their homes as a short-term daytime escape.If you work from home, then you might want to find a temporary office or workspace to use throughout the process. You should also make your contractor aware if you are a stay-at-home parent or if you operate a business out of your home office. When possible, a good contractor will do his best to get the job done as quickly as possible so your life can quickly return to normal.

As a courtesy, you might also want to notify your neighbors of the impending siding installation project. This will give them the ability to make alternate plans to avoid having to suffer through several days of noise.

Clear the walls: When it comes to siding installation, sometimes the pressure from the outside walls of your house can impact the inside walls. It's a good idea to remove all valuables from your walls, including paintings, framed photographs, and mirrors, before the installation begins. Store these items in a basement or spare bedroom to avoid them getting damaged during the siding installation process.

Be prepared for some strange things to happen: Some homes - especially those that are older - are built with sheet rock that is nailed in, not screwed in. As a result, during siding installation
, it is possible for the outside banging to cause nails to pop out of the sheetrock. This won't cause any structural damage, but nail pops are known to be rather unsightly. While it is rare for this to happen, as a consumer, it never hurts to be aware that siding installation can bring about some strange and unpleasant side effects. If you own an older home and have never had siding previously installed, then you might want to discuss this risk with your contractor.

Tuesday, December 28, 2010

Preparing for New Siding

You've made an appointment to have siding installed on your property. While you're undoubtedly excited at the prospect of a fresh new look for your home, you're also probably wondering to what extend the installation process will affect your day to day routine.

Expect things to get messy: During siding installation, the outside of your house is bound to turn into one giant mess. Make sure to remove all planters, furniture, and miscellaneous items from your porch and patio before the work begins so that they don't get damaged. If you have a garden area to the side of your house and you don't want it trampled, mark off the area and let your contractor know where it is so that he and his crew can do their best to avoid ruining it.

Get ready for some noise: Siding installation is not always a quiet process, and the noise levels might get a bit unpleasant over the course of the project. Sure, some noise here and there is bearable But given the length of the installation from start to finish, those who tend to be home during the day might want to make other plans. Remember that while shorter siding jobs can take two or three days, longer jobs can take more than a week depending on the size of the house, the materials in question, and the circumstances at play.If you have babies or pets at home, then you should know that a moderate amount of ruckus might translate into a greater disturbance if sensitive ears are consistently exposed to the noise.

Saturday, December 25, 2010

Maintaining Your Vinyl Siding

Vinyl siding in New York is one of the most popular siding materials out there right now. There are so many benefits to using this type of siding in Brooklyn compared to other siding and when you see how durable it is, you can see why everyone is choosing it these days. It is such a low maintenance material and, although you won't have to worry about it as much as other materials for siding in Queens, you still want to know how to take care of it so that you can help it last even longer and show the color as brightly as the day you installed it.

Although vinyl siding in New York does not need a lot of work there are a few things you should keep in mind and check for occasionally. There are many cleaners out there that will loosen up the dirt that builds up and, even though they will do a great job, you may need to invest in a power washer. You can put it on a low setting and be able to clean off any dirt, mold or mildew buildup and it is an easy way to keep it clean. Power sprayers will allow you reach higher parts of your home than you can just standing on the ground, making your cleaning process a lot easier.


If, after you used a power washer for your siding in New York, there are still some tough buildups, you may need to use a household cleaning product to scrub it off. Remember that as you are choosing a product not to use anything that may contain bleach, as this can discolor and damage your siding in the Bronx. If you feel that you need to test it, use an area that is seen little and spray a little cleaner and see if any discoloration occurs. This will help you determine whether the cleaning agent will do any damage to your siding in Brooklyn.

Friday, December 24, 2010

The Best Kind of Paint for Your Siding

Before you start painting the siding, make sure the surface is clean. The siding will likely have accumulated mildew and dirt over the years. You can clean the siding by hand washing or with a power washer. If you don't own a power washer and don't know any one willing to lend one to you, you may be able to rent one from a local hardware store.

The best type of paint for your siding is high-grade acrylic latex paint. It has great bonding capabilities and will expand and contract with the vinyl siding without cracking. Apply the paint to the vinyl siding when in the shade if possible.

If you decide to use a different color scheme for the siding, make sure the new color is lighter than the original. If you use a darker color, the siding will absorb more heat. The heat could negatively affect your siding. It could lead to buckling or warping of the siding.

Tuesday, December 21, 2010

Can You Paint Your Vinyl Siding?

Over the past 20 or so years, technological breakthroughs have resulted in vinyl siding being the most popular type of siding used on houses today. Thanks to increases in technology, vinyl siding can now be installed at a low price and requires almost no maintenance for as long as you have it. If you own a house or are thinking of buying a house that had vinyl siding applied prior to these technological breakthroughs, however, the siding may appear faded and in need of repair.

Before you think about spending some money on a new siding job, consider the option of painting the vinyl siding. You can regain the new home look and you can even change your home to a new color of siding.

Before beginning to paint over the vinyl siding, contact a vinyl siding professional. An experienced siding contractor will be able to determine whether the siding is worth painting over or whether you would be better off getting completely new siding. Additionally, you can find out how much it would cost to hire someone to paint the siding for you and then decide whether or not you want to do it yourself.


One of the major benefits of vinyl siding is that it requires very little maintenance. With a good siding job, you will have to put in a minimal amount of effort into keeping the it clean and sharp looking. You lose this benefit if you decide to paint. You might need to repaint the siding every 10 years.

Saturday, December 18, 2010

What the Siding Experts Say

Siding experts have also found that longer panels create a more aesthetic and secure installation. When panels are 20' to 25' long, smaller houses can enjoy a seamless finish. Larger houses will have the fewest number of seams possible. This also makes the finished product tighter, more weather proof and stronger.

When you choose vinyl siding, you will have your choice of a wide range of colors and grains. You can choose something that resembles a traditional wood grain, or a completely smooth finish. Colors range from neutral earth tones, to slightly brighter reds and blues. You also are not limited to traditional, horizontal siding.

You can choose siding that has additional insulation on the back of it to make your home even warmer on those cold winter nights. You can select siding that installs in lines vertically or horizontally. Or you can go for a highly traditional look with siding that looks like cedar shakes or shingles. Vinyl siding can be installed by roofing contractors as well as siding contractors.

Wednesday, December 15, 2010

Why Most People Prefer Vinyl Siding

Vinyl siding has increased both in popularity and quality over the years and has grown to be a major competitor in the siding industry. Vinyl offers many advantages over other materials, despite being less expensive than most other options. It is a durable choice, one that homeowners can expect to enjoy for several decades. Wind, sun, rain and snow are no match for the durability of vinyl.

Siding contractors are familiar with the damage that the harsh winters can inflict on siding, and they have found that vinyl siding withstands the conditions. Even in northern states, the sun can beat down on a house in the summertime and fatigue other materials. However, vinyl siding will not fade even under the drastic conditions that the northern states have to contend with. This means that you will never again have to face the chore of painting your house.

Contractors recommend vinyl siding as an excellent choice for any homeowner looking to reduce the maintenance requirements of their home. Many roofing companies highly recommend vinyl siding. This new system locks tightly together to help make your home more weather tight. New York can face high damaging winds, and when you choose vinyl siding with this feature, you won't have to worry about the siding panels lifting or separating from each other.

Monday, December 13, 2010

How Much is Vinyl Siding?

Vinyl siding creates a fresh-painted look and it doesn't scratch, peel, or flake. You can customize your siding job to satisfy your tastes and differentiate your home from other houses with siding. Perhaps the biggest benefit of vinyl siding, though, is the cost.

When vinyl siding was first introduced, it was not considered inexpensive. Over time, technology has gotten better and vinyl siding is now within reach of most homebuyers.

As an estimate, plan on spending between $2 and $10 per linear foot of siding. The overall cost of the siding will vary depending on factors such as style, quality, thickness, durability, insulative properties, installation, and UV protection.

Remember that there are many benefits associated with the cost of installing vinyl siding. You are getting an exterior surface that will maintain its value for a long time with almost no maintenance. When you pay whatever amount to have the siding installed, you enjoy the peace of mind of not having to spend a lot of money in the future to maintain the quality of the siding.

When you take into account the cost of siding and the installation, you will find that vinyl siding is generally less expensive than bricks or metal. Additionally, vinyl siding won't deteriorate in the same manner as wood, which may often form hazardous splinters.



Friday, December 10, 2010

Where to Find the Professional Siding Installers

Another option that you have is searching the Internet for siding businesses around you. One good thing about using the Internet is that there are often reviews and discussion boards on the siding companies. The reviews that are found here should be taken for what they are since you do not know exactly who is posting them or how their siding turned out.

The last option you have when searching for someone to install siding on your home is the phone book. You can look up a variety of different things including both siding and construction. If the company that you contact does not do siding they may be able to refer you to another company that does specialize in installing siding.

Installing siding is a big project. You should only consider putting up your own siding if you have experience with the type of siding that you are installing and feel comfortable that you can do a good job installing it. If you install your siding wrong you may have to have it removed and reinstalled a few years down the road. Make sure your siding is installed as it should be and that the siding is maintained after it is put up. This way you will be able to maximize the life of your exterior siding.

Tuesday, December 7, 2010

The Right People to Install Your Siding

Vinyl Siding is a very popular option when people are finishing the exterior of their homes. Since siding is fairly easy to install and can look great even years after it is installed when maintained properly. When you are considering installing siding you will need to decide if you feel comfortable enough putting the siding up yourself or if you would rather find a professional to do it for you.

There are many different types of siding so before construction even starts you will want to look at the different siding options that are available and choose the option that will work best for you. You will want to consider the look that you are going for, the type of weather you have around your home, rules for siding that the local home owners association may have, and any local government laws dealing with different siding materials and types.

If you decide to have a professional install your siding you have a few different options to find a suitable installer. Your first option is getting referrals from friends, neighbors or relatives in your area that have recently added siding to their homes. By asking for referrals you will hopefully find a siding professional that you can trust to do a good job installing the siding for a price that is competitive and fair.

Friday, December 3, 2010

What Does Vertical Siding Have to Offer?

Vertical vinyl siding need not be limited to your home. You may have a barn, for example, or a doghouse in need of a new siding job. Look at the additional structures in relation to your home and determine whether they would look better
with vertical siding.

Vertical siding can come in many different colors and grains. As an example, you could use siding that resembles wood to give your home an old-fashioned barn look. The color you choose can be supplemented by choosing a good contrasting shutter color.

An important thing to remember with regards to upgrading the siding on your home is how it can relate to the overall value of your home. If you take the time to make sure the job is done well and that the vertical siding enhances the appearance, your home will be of much more value. If you decide to sell, you will get much better offers.

Vertical siding can also do wonders as far as enhancing the appearance of your home. If you are interested in vinyl siding, take some time to find out what style suits your preferences and put some thought into using both vertical and horizontal siding.

Wednesday, December 1, 2010

Ever Thought About Vertical Siding?

If you want to enjoy the benefits of vinyl siding but want to have a more unique look, you might want to consider vertical siding. Horizontal siding is the more common method, but vertical may look even better given your style of house and preferences.

Vinyl siding can offer cost and feature benefits. The siding will handle severe weather without losing its quality and requires very little maintenance. Vertical siding is no different from the more traditional horizontal siding, meaning you can enjoy all the benefits of siding while adding a unique twist.

Your home can be given a new siding job with either complete vertical siding or vertical siding in addition to horizontal siding. Look at the shape of your home and see which option works the best in your situation. For example, some homes have vertical siding on the top half and horizontal siding on the bottom half.


If you do too much mixing with the vertical and horizontal siding, it may detract from you home's overall appearance. Also, too much detail can add to the cost if the installer has to keep switching from horizontal to vertical. Look for patterns and find certain features of the house that could benefit from the contrast.