Showing posts with label siding repair. Show all posts
Showing posts with label siding repair. Show all posts

Saturday, March 6, 2010

Metal and Wood Siding

Metal Siding

Aluminum and steel siding systems look similar to horizontal wood siding but don't require as much maintenance. These systems can be applied right over old siding but are easier to apply over solid sheathing.

Steel siding is the most durable in snow country, or in areas of severe cold. Both steel and aluminum siding are more expensive than vinyl siding, but they offer greater energy efficiency than vinyl, which translates into lower heating and cooling costs for years to come. Metal siding can also withstand more heat than vinyl, as in the case of fire.

If your home is sided with aluminum, you may be able to use some vinyl specialty parts. Otherwise, you can get custom-bent aluminum pieces for some architectural features, but these tend to be expensive and not very authentic looking. Sometimes it is necessary to paint aluminum siding just like wood. But, a paint job similar to one used for cars ensures a long life.

Wood Siding

Wood siding is milled in various patterns for both horizontal and vertical application. Wood siding is usually, but not always, applied over solid sheathing and a layer of building paper. Horizontal patterns are nailed through sheathing into studs; vertical patterns generally are nailed to horizontal nailing or furring strips. Horizontal sidings are always applied so that each board overlaps the one below it. In some cases, the edges are milled to interlock, as they are all vertical patterns.

Manufactured in sheet form, wood panel hardboard and plywood sidings are available in a standard width of four feet and standard lengths of eight, nine, and 10 feet. Made in a variety of thickness and patterns, sheet sidings are often applied directly to wall studs, without sheathing.


One benefit to choosing wood siding is that there are many options to choose from today. Some of the more popular choices include wooden lap board, tongue and groove siding, and split log siding, which resembles the interior of a log cabin.

With the many different types of wood siding available, it's easy to create a very unique exterior for your home. And, with proper maintenance wood siding will last you for many years to come.

Disadvantages of wood siding include possible mold growth, wood rot, or pest infestation. Proper maintenance, however, can prevent these

The Cost of Vinyl Siding

There are a lot of reasons that vinyl siding has risen to become one of the most popular materials on the booming home siding market, but perhaps the biggest of these is cost. Vinyl siding cost remains one of the cheapest options in the business, and when you combine that with a siding material that is attractive, durable, and nearly maintenance free, it's easy to see why vinyl siding remains a homeowner favorite.

How much does Vinyl Siding Cost?
As with any building material, the answer to this question is going to vary. Vinyl siding cost is dependent on many factors, including style, quality, thickness, durability, insulative properties, installation, and UV protection. As a ballpark figure, however, quality vinyl siding cost, along with installation, can run anywhere from $2 to $10 per linear foot. You can get cheap vinyl siding prices for as little as $1 per linear foot if you're willing to install it yourself, though keep in mind that this is a bottom tier material, and vinyl siding is worth spending a little extra on for reasons we'll mention in a minute.

Figuring the Vinyl Siding Cost for your Home
We've established that vinyl siding prices run $2 to $10 per linear foot, but what does that mean for your home when it comes to total cost? To figure that out, you'll need to multiply those numbers by the exterior square footage of your home. To get a rough estimate of your exterior square footage, add the length of your home to the width, multiply that by two, and then again by 10. For a 50 foot long home that is 10 feet tall and 20 feet wide that comes to 1,400 exterior square feet you've got to cover ((50+50+20+20)x10=1,400). Do a little more math and you'll find that your vinyl siding prices should run anywhere from $2,800 to $9,800, not including extras and unexpected expenses. As with any major home improvement job, the unexpected is the norm, not the exception. Vinyl siding prices are no different.


Wonderful Vinyl Siding

Because people really like the look of real wood, the vinyl-siding manufacturers discovered long ago that if they took the time to mimic wood, it would make the plastic product more appealing. This is why you see cedar vinyl siding. The patterns of horizontal cedar as well as cedar shingles have been copied for years, and are quite popular products.

Vinyl house siding is appealing to many homeowners. If you live in an urban environment, all you have to do is periodically wash it just like your car to make it look like new. The color in vinyl siding is the same throughout each piece, so even if it gets scratched, you can't tell from a distance. It's fairly immune to denting in warm weather, but hail and other objects can shatter it if the conditions are favorable.

When you start to decide on a vinyl-siding color, take your time. If your house has wood siding on it now, the best way to select a color is to get small cans of paint mixed that match the vinyl siding and it's trim. Remember, you can do a two-tone mixture for your vinyl siding by using complimentary colors for the siding and various trim pieces.

Go ahead and apply the paints you like to smaller areas of your existing house siding, allow it to dry and then step back 50 feet to look at the colors. Look at the colors at different times of day to get the full range of color. Using this inexpensive method, you can make sure you get the perfect color. Who cares that your house looks funny for a few days? After all, the new siding will cover the paint.

If you're thinking of applying home vinyl siding to an existing house, you may want to consider taking existing siding off. Adding vinyl siding on top of wood siding can create issues at doors and windows where they tend to get slightly buried. Taking off the existing siding also allows you to add thicker foam insulation. There are distinct benefits to removing existing siding.

Vinyl Siding on Your Home

Vinyl siding is a fascinating building material. . As happens with many other building products, vinyl siding pushed and bullied aluminum siding out of the spotlight. I clearly remember my childhood home getting aluminum siding on it. The cost, in 1958, was $400 for labor and material.

If you've seen how fast vinyl siding can be installed, you may be easily tempted to read a vinyl-siding how-to booklet or guide. If you've been hypnotized by a home-improvement television show that tempts you into thinking you can tackle installing vinyl siding yourself, wake up. It's not as easy as it appears. It takes considerable skill to get professional results. What's more, you need help in most cases as well as an assortment of ladders and hand tools.

Vinyl-siding colors usually are muted, lighter tones. There's a reason for that. Deep colors absorb and retain the sun's heat. Vinyl siding reacts violently to heat, and expands significantly. If you don't install vinyl siding correctly, it can buckle, warp and distort from the sun's rays. Deep colors would simply make the situation worse. Some paints can be applied to this siding to create different vinyl-siding colors, but beware painting vinyl siding a dark color.

When you obtain a vinyl-siding cost estimate, don't panic. Rest assured that there is a significant cost for the material, especially for all of the trim pieces that are necessary when the siding abuts windows and doors as well as inside and outside corners. Vinyl siding is a product made primarily from crude oil. If the price of oil is high, vinyl-siding material costs will also go up accordingly.

Then there is the labor involved. Don't underestimate the amount of time and effort required for a typical vinyl-siding installation. There is a considerable amount of time spent in setup, trimming, dealing with utility penetrations in walls and even fighting insects. Dealing with wasp and bee nests is common, especially in warmer months. If you watch siding installers, you'll quickly discover that they spend little time installing the siding. The trim work, caulking and fitting take up a majority of time on the average job.


Monday, February 15, 2010

The Right Siding for Your Home!

When you are looking at the options that are available for siding your home - whether you're renovating the property or you are going to be building a new home from the foundation up - there are a number of things that you will want to consider. One of the primary choices that you will need to make when you choose siding for your home involves the type of siding that you will use.

The appearance that you want your home to have, your lifestyle and even the construction of your property will have an impact on the exterior siding that you choose - and the material that the siding is made of. Therefore, when you are looking into the options that are available for siding your home, one thing that you'll want to be sure of is that you understand what siding materials are available.

The most basic siding that you're going to find is made from sheets of PVC plastic. While vinyl siding will not rot, there are some concerns about the impact of PVC plastics on the environment and there are also cases in which vinyl siding cracks, fades or simply stops looking as nice as it did when you installed it. Similar to vinyl sheet siding - if you like the idea of siding with vinyl but don't like the look of the sheets - is vinyl coating. When it's done well, it looks great, but there have been a number of complaints from homeowners whose contractors did not properly mix the polymers and resins before applying them to the home.

Those who are looking for the easy maintenance that comes with vinyl siding who are looking for an alternative to vinyl are going to want to be sure that they are looking into aluminum siding. This option is fireproof and won't crack the way vinyl sometimes does, but the color can fade and the material can dent. Seamless steel siding is also available for those who are looking for something that's tailored to their home; likewise seamless steel siding holds up to temperature changes, is custom fit to your home by a reputable contractor, and comes in a variety of looks and textures.

Of course, other options are available as well. If you are choosing siding for your home and you are looking for a more traditional look, you will also be able to look into stucco siding or synthetic stucco. For those who want to have a home sided with wood, cedar shingle siding is an option - and, for those who are looking for the look of wood who want something more durable as well as those whose areas require them to have fireproof materials, there is cement fiber siding that requires less maintenance but just as much character.

Character is important to most homeowners, but the reality is that there are going to be a number of questions that go far beyond the types of siding available. If you focus on working with a contractor who will be able to explain your options, the benefits and drawbacks of each and who will be able to help you find your best option.

A Real Advantage Construction is your #1 source for all your siding repair and installation needs in the Bronx, Queens, and Brooklyn, New York! Choose them for all your siding needs!

Saturday, February 6, 2010

Vinyl Siding


As the search for low cost, low maintenance siding continued, the next evolution after aluminum siding was the advent of vinyl siding.

Vinyl siding, like aluminum siding, comes in strips and has perforated holes at the top for fastening into the exterior wall and interlocking flanges top and bottom to seal against weather. A special tool called a zip tool is used to join and separate the siding strips.

Like aluminum siding, vinyl siding also comes in a range of styles including horizontal and vertical panels and a range of prefinished colors. Available in a variety of textures including wood shake/shingle style.

A Real Advantage Construction is your #1 source for all your vinyl siding needs in New York, Brooklyn, Bronx, and Queens! Their professional craftsmen make sure your house is treated right! Choose A Real Advantage Construction for all your vinyl siding needs!


Aluminum Siding

With the maintenance associated with wood siding came the desire for an alternative. Aluminum siding fit the bill and has evolved over the years into a very low maintenance and popular siding choice for newer homes.

Aluminum siding comes in strips and has perforated holes at the top for fastening into the exterior wall and interlocking flanges top and bottom to seal against weather.

Common retrofit siding and has often, unfortunately, been applied over wood siding in many home "improvement" projects where maintenance won out over aesthetics or the wood siding was severely damaged. Durable material but prefinished painted finishes have been known to fade, chalk and runoff onto brick walls often below the siding. Newer vinyl coated finishes are available and alleviate past paint problems. Prone to denting and being noisy. Aluminum lacks the ability for detailed trim work.

A Real Advantage Construction is your #1 source for aluminum siding in The Bronx, Queens, and Brooklyn! They offer all ranges of siding for your home and are dedicated to making your home your dream home! Choose A Real Advantage Construction for all your aluminum siding needs!

Wood Plank and Beveled Wood Siding

Wood clapboard siding is among the oldest types of house siding. You can see its beauty on older and historic homes. Its disadvantage is that it is not low maintenance, requiring painting and caulking and is often replaced with aluminum or vinyl siding. Frequently when that happens, a lot of the charm and detail of the wood home is lost.

So if you own a wood clapboard home you probably own a beautiful home, and as you know keeping it looking good requires taking care of paint problems and regular exterior paint maintenance. And there are often special considerations for painting historic homes.

A Real Advantage Construction is your #1 source for wood plank and beveled wood siding in New York: Brooklyn, Bronx, and Queens! Their siding professionals are there for you and ready to take on any job! Choose A Real Advantage Construction for all your siding needs!

Sunday, December 6, 2009

Types of Siding for Your Home

Few home improvements or repairs can improve the appearance, curb appeal and value of your house like new house siding. House siding materials have varied over the years and have included:

•wood siding,
•asbestos siding,
•aluminum siding,
•vinyl siding,
•hardboard composite,
•fiberglass,
•cement fiber siding.

Asbestos siding is not used any more and fiberglass and hardboard composite siding have been largely replaced with more modern siding like vinyl and cement fiber siding.

So let's take a look at wood, aluminum, vinyl siding and cement fiber as possible siding choices and learn about them including their features, pricing and maintenance implications.

A Real Advantage Construction is your #1 source for new home siding in Brooklyn, Queens, and The Bronx! They have home improvement specialists dedicated to the cause of improving your home! Choose a Real Advantage Construction for your next siding job!

Sunday, November 22, 2009

Most Common Leak Locations

The Field of Shingles

If your roof is older, it is possible that the leak is within the roof field. This means the expanse of shingles, slate, shakes, whatever. If your roof is asphalt, then you can walk around with ease. Other materials such as slate, concrete tile or clay tile may not be so forgiving. You can crack roofing if you walk on it, so be careful. With regular shingles, look at the tops of the vertical knockouts. Look for missing colored granules. Look for cracks. Possibly a nail has backed itself out of the roof sheathing. Simply take your time and hunt.

Valleys

A valley is a line where two roof planes intersect. Here we use a metal flashing in the valleys. Some areas use rolled roofing. Other places simply lace the shingles together. Valleys can be big problems if you do not trim the shingles correctly. When you trim a shingle for a valley you end up with a chisel point on the end of the shingle. If a second cut is not made to make this point like an arrow point, then water can travel along the top of the shingle and find its way inside your house. The shingle wrapper tells you how to make this simple second cut.

Head Wall Flashings

Some roofs stop at a vertical wall. A metal flashing must be in place to direct water streaming down the wall away from the stopping point of the shingles. This flashing may be behind wood siding or in front of a brick wall. The flashing should extend over the shingles at least three inches. If the wall is brick or other masonry, the flashing must bend and extend one inch into a mortar joint. Tar, caulk or roofing cement should never be used in conjunction with these materials. If you see them, it is a sign that someone tried to patch a leak!

A Real Advantage Construction is your #1 source for repairing roof leaks on your home! The professional staff will work hard to find at fix the leaks they find! Choose A Real Advantage Constrution for all your roof leak repairing needs in New York, the Bronx, Queens, and Brooklyn!

When You Should Replace Your Siding?

When is a good time to replace your siding? That's a good question for the Seattle are as our weather is one of the wettest in the nation and our winters can cause many problems with your homes siding. For the most part you find 4 types of siding on homes in the Pacific Northwest:

Wood siding which is usually Cedar, Vinyl Siding and occasionally Asbestos siding and fiber cement. The typical life expectancy for cedar is about 40-70 years. A lot depends on how well it was maintained.

The most common siding material you will see on homes in our area is cedar. Cedar cared for properly caulked and painted or stained on a 5-7 schedule will be able to make it to the later part of our 70 year time frame.

You will start to see the effects of weather on your siding because the siding will begin to crack and split. We also find the nails start to pop out as the wood expands and contracts. The paint will crack and peel off the siding and you may have layer upon layer of paint to deal with.

A Real Advantage Construction is your #1 source for roofing and siding repair in New York, Queens, Brooklyn, and the Bronx! They work hard to ensure that your roof siding is repaired with the most beautiful craftsmanship! Choose A Real Advantage Construction for your next siding repair!

Thursday, November 12, 2009

Glossary of Roofing Terms 2

Gable:

A type of roof with two slopes meeting at a horizontal ridge. Also, the triangular area formed by such a roof.

Hip"

A downward sloping intersection of two roof planes that extends from the ridge to the outside corner of the house. Also, a type of roof.

Rake:

The edge of a pitched roof at the gable end.

Ridge:

The top edge of the roof, where two roof slopes meet in a horizontal line.

Sheathing:

Boards or plywood sheets that form the nailing base for roofing shingles or tiles.

Slope (or pitch):

The number of inches of verticle rise of the roof over a horizontal distance of 12 inches; a “4 in 12” roof has a slope that rises 4 inches over a 12-inch run.

Soffit:

The underside of the rafters and roof at the eaves.

Square:

Unit of measure equaling 100 square feet, used as a basis for measuring roof area. Also, the amount of roofing material, allowing for overlapping, needed to cover 100 square feet of roof.

Underlayment:

The material, usually asphalt-saturated roofing felt, used to cover deck sheathing before the roof surface is put down.

Valley:

The junction where two downward sloping roofs meet at an angle, an important channel for water runoff.

A Real Advantage Construction understands that repairing roofs can be stressful and frustrating, so they work hard, so you don't have to! They are your #1 source of roof repair, siding repair, and gutter cleaning in New York, including Queens, Bronx, and Brooklyn! Choose A Real Advantage Roofing Contractors for your next roofing project!

A Real Advantage Siding Repair

A Real Advantage Siding takes pride in quality workmanship and service. From the moment we receive your call for a free estimate, you can rest easy knowing that your property is now in the most caring and professional hands available. Their experienced, trained estimators and sales personnel will thoroughly examine your needs and provide you with a written proposal.

They are a full-range professional company offering residential and commercial services for all your exterior needs. No matter what kind of structure, home or business, the job is never out of their reach. They have exeprienced workers that have the knowledge to perform any type of siding repair you may need.

They offer:

■ Tear-Offs & New Construction Roofing – Residential and Commercial
■ EPDM Rubber & Modified Bitumen Single Ply Roofing Systems – Flat & Low Sloped Roofs
■ Chimney Rebuild, Repoint, Chimney Hoods, Concrete Washtops & Custom Flashing Work
■ Algae Resistant Shingles
■ Power Roof Fans and Vents
■ Vinyl & Aluminum Siding
■ Heavy .032 Gauge Seamless Spouting
■ Leaf Relief Spouting Guard
■ Emergency Repairs

On all of the work they perform, their labor and material is guaranteed, they are fully insured, bonded and carry workman’s compensation for your protection. They do not use sub-contractors. They use materials direct from the manufacturer. Each site has a foreman at all times, and professional insepctions are given to the site at every step of the construction process.

By choosing A Real Advantage Roofing & Siding you are choosing experienced personnel who know the latest technology of the projects assigned to them. They understand that getting repairs on your home can be stressful, so they are there to help you every step of the way! Choose A Real Advantage Roofing Contractors for all your siding repair needs in New York!



A Real Advantage Roofing Contractors


H.I.C Lic#1266236
BBB since 1992 Rating A+

Michael Wesley is the proud owner of A Real Advantage. This is a family owned business specializing in exterior home improvements. Our services include Roofing, Siding, Soffits, Capping and Leaders. They will work hard to customize your home to the utmost of perfection and exceed your expectations.

They pride themselves outstanding customer service. They're a proud member of the Better Business Bureau and participate in the customer committed program. You will receive the highest quality work from their highly skilled contractors. Highly skilled specialists will customize your home with a wide selection of colors and products.
A Real Advatage is your #1 source for outstanding service and affordable prices for roofing services. They understand that getting roof work done can be stressful, so they make the process fast, easy and affordable. Choose A Real Advantage Roofing Contractors for your next roofing service!


For a an estimate please give them a call at 718-767-6950