Was the brick siding on your house painted over by the previous owner? Very occasionally, this improves the look of the home. Usually, it turns out to be a regrettable mistake. If you want to remove paint from the façade of your home, you need to do this without causing additional damage to the underlying surface. Here are some Dos and Don’ts.

Blast Off

Sand blasting may seem like a quick and efficient way to strip paint. However, this technique can permanently damage brick by, well, blasting it to pieces. Save your sandblaster for taking rust off of metal. You need to be gentler with your brick siding.

Power Up

A power washer poses the same problems as a sand blaster but adds a new twist. The pressurized stream of water can work its way into the pores of the brick. This will erode your siding faster than you think.

Strip It Down

Chemical stripping agents are your best bet for removing paint. That doesn’t mean every formula is created equal. Some are ineffective while others are corrosive. Test a small area before applying a treatment to an entire wall.

Start by washing down the siding with a sprayer on a regular garden hose. Next, apply the paint-dissolving chemical. For latex, you can use Smart Strip or Peel Away 7. Spray again to remove the paint after the stripping agent has softened it up. Use a brush with very stiff bristles to scrub any remaining residue off the bricks.

Wood siding is popular with homeowners because of its low initial cost for materials and installation. However, many consumers end up being disappointed at how quickly this material degrades. This often happens because the siding was not installed with an eye toward length of service. A wood exterior can actually last for several decades if it is properly installed and maintained.

There are several things you can do during the installation process to significantly increase the lifespan of your wood façade. Keeping moisture out is the #1 challenge. Prime and paint each piece of siding (including the cut edges) before nailing them to your house. This ensures the full surface is more resistant to water – not just the part you can see.

Ongoing Maintenance

Check caulking, flashing, and nailed areas a couple of times per year for signs of deterioration. Basically, any area where bare wood might exposed to moisture or insects can pose a problem. Keep tree branches pruned away from the sides of your house as well as the roof. Even small twigs can tear up wood siding when the wind blows them against your home.

Unlike vinyl, wood siding has to be repainted regularly. That could mean every 4-5 years depending on how much wear and tear the weather causes in your area. Choose a high quality exterior paint that is designed for the type of wood you have installed. Clean your siding and allow it to dry before you apply new paint. If the former coat is glossy, use sandpaper to add some texture. This will help the fresh coat of paint adhere properly.

Stone siding lends your home an air of permanence. However, the fine craftsmanship it takes to properly install stone is hard to come by. The costs are usually very high in comparison to other types of siding. Limestone also presents occasional problems with staining. Because of these issues, a number of manufacturers have developed faux stone options for homeowners who want the look of rock without the hefty price tag.

Concrete Stone

Portland concrete is sometimes used as a stone substitute. The concrete is blended in different natural colors and poured into molds that imitate the shape of real stones. Unlike a stone wall that is built solid, these faux rocks are glued to a substrate to form the façade. If the concrete blocks aren’t attached correctly, this type of siding may come off over time. Otherwise, it is very durable and long lasting.

Plastic Faux Stone

High quality plastics such as polyurethane are molded in sheets for easy installation. These come in a variety of patterns to mimic various stacking methods for real stone. There are plenty of fade resistant color choices as well. Some products offer an insulating value of up to R6 making this siding a potential energy saver.

The material is light enough that no special expertise is needed to affix the “stone” sheets to the exterior of your home. Just be careful to select a product that offers nicely finished edges – otherwise your faux stone siding won’t fool anyone. This type of material can be sprayed down with a hose every 6 months or so to remove dirt. No other maintenance is required.

Old fashioned stucco siding is a favorite for Mediterranean and Spanish “mission” style homes. High quality, properly applied stucco can remain in good condition for decades with minimal maintenance. This material is made of cement, sand, and lime mixed with water. It is generally applied over a mesh base in several coats. The final layer may be hand textured to add aesthetic appeal. If tinted concrete is used, the exterior can be left free of paint.

Traditional Versus Synthetic Stucco

Cement based traditional stucco siding is very thick and impact resistant. Rather than degrading over time, it continues to cure and gain strength. It is porous but dries readily – discouraging mold growth that can cause indoor air contamination. This material can be used in any environment and the occasional small crack is not of immediate concern.

In contrast, some types of synthetic stucco (particularly those that are foam based) do not release moisture easily. This makes them best suited to dry climates. Any openings, cracks, or other points of penetration must be carefully sealed to prevent decay of the underlying structural materials.

All types of stucco offer good insulation and fire resistance. Synthetic stucco is less prone to staining over time. It is the more expensive siding, but both versions have a similar finished appearance. Either one can be patched to repair damage. Traditional stucco can also be sprayed down with a garden hose or scrubbed with detergent if it gets dirty.

Insulated siding is a great way to make your home more energy efficient. It will give your home a little extra insulation that is not provided by regular vinyl siding. Insulated siding is a little more expensive in the beginning, but the difference that it can make in your utilities over time is well worth the extra expense.

Insulated siding is a much thicker product than regular vinyl siding. The back of the siding is fitted with foam that fills in the gap between the siding and the exterior of your home. The foam that is used is high performance expanded polystyrene. This is a highly adaptable building material. The insulated siding will also help reduce the growth of mildew and mold. It is also shown to help reduce the possibility of infestations of insects and other pests.

This is the most energy efficient siding product on the market. It is also considered a green product because of the energy the home owner will save. It is an extremely durable product. Just like with regular siding, there is very little maintenance required.
You can find the insulated siding at building supply stores and through independent builders. It comes in a variety of colors. The siding is also sold with different textures and profiles. This allows the home owner to achieve the desired look.

Vinyl siding for your home is an inexpensive alternative compared to wood and stone siding. There is a choice between the lower and higher end products. Either one of these choices become less expensive than the alternative.

Things you need to consider about vinyl siding installation are the overall cost of installation, the cost of house wrapping, and Styrofoam backed vinyl siding. The higher the quality vinyl siding, the better your choice. This is true for energy costs and increased efficiency. The higher cost of the better product becomes relative to the savings in energy costs.

Vinyl siding is also maintenance free. With vinyl siding, you’ll never have to worry about chips, denting or weather damage. When the siding is manufactured, the pigment is baked in and as a result, your siding will never need repainting, which will save you money in the long run on the cost of repainting your home. Vinyl siding is extremely durable. Wood siding is not as durable as vinyl siding. Vinyl has a longer life span than both aluminum and wood siding as well. Vinyl siding comes in a variety of colors. Siding color and style can be fit to the surrounding environment and to compliment the other houses in your neighborhood. Installation of vinyl siding is not a simple job and is better left for professional contractor.  

There are many different types of siding used on a home, but one that stands out is Alcoa siding.

Alcoa siding is  made by the Alcoa Home Exteriors company. This siding is durable, is resistant to heat, high winds, and adverse  weather conditions.  This siding is  maintenance free. Unlike the other sidings, Alcoa siding is made from a combination of special compound  with Styrofoam insulation.

Due to the  bonding process,  the Alcoa siding can provide the entire home with a solid insulation. Alcoa siding can be placed over wood panels. This is very useful as the wood has the propensity to lose heat.  Since this siding has been combined with Styrofoam insulation.  This  product will increase the resistance to heat release a house by about twenty-five percent.

The Alcoa siding is a good product to use for home insulation. There are  other great features that home owners will appreciate.  The other benefits that Alcoa siding has is the the ability to cut down on external noise and wind sounds by 50%.

Alcoa siding is material is recommended to be used in places where there is a strong wind factor.  As this type of siding is designed to hold out wind speeds that are 160mph.  Homeowners that reside in high winds areas will enjoy this benefit.

To summarize it all, Alcoa siding is one the leading siding materials used to give your home a beautiful appearance, and reduce sound,  and heat loss. Contact a hi tech company like West Coast Vinyl to service your siding needs.

We’ve been seeing notable growth in the number of siding manufacturers trying to steal a piece of the business.  It’s understandable, after all, considering that sidings have become pretty indispensable as both decorative and functional external home fixtures.  Siding manufacturers are right in the forefront of the home remodeling market, being one of the most lucrative sectors in the industry.

Just as there exists a wealth of options in exterior sidings for your home, a large number of manufacturing companies has come along with it, offering their own take on what will best help outfit your remodeling projects.  Finding a siding manufacturer is now as easy as it can be that the biggest problem for homeowners is choosing one!

Whether customers are shopping for brick sidings, the always-popular wood options, hardiplank exteriors or low-maintenance vinyl units, they’ve been noticing more and more brands crop up.  While some people would prefer sticking with popular names, many opt for smaller outfits that offer comparable quality at significantly lower prices.  Which one should you choose for your own home remodeling?  Honestly, the options are so closely matched, it’s difficult to give a single, all-encompassing response.

What we’d recommend is to go through trade organization listings and consumer reports to check how often the manufacturer’s name gets mentioned.  Of course, it’s important to take note of the context (people can either be praising it or complaining about the product) in which their brand is mentioned when making your decision.  You can also check with local independent contractors.  These people most likely work with sidings day in and day out – and they should have a pretty good idea of the real-world performance for many locally-available brands.

Never have to paint your house again.  That’s the wonderful promise of vinyl siding installations.  It’s true to a large extent too.  Vinyl sidings, after all, are pretty durable.  They neither rot nor flake and many modern units come in colors and designs that mimic architectural details that were once only available for wooden surfaces.

They aren’t perfect, though, and do come with their own share of baggage.

1. Environmental Issues

Vinyl is derived from PVC, a plastic resin with cancer-causing properties in humans.  While the vinyl should be safe while installed in your home, their manufacturing and disposal have long been questionable.  Burning vinyl, for instance, produces toxic, highly-dangerous fumes.  If you’re an eco-conscious consumer, you’ll probably want to investigate the carbon footprints associated with vinyl sidings before pressing forward.

2. Property Appraisal

While vinyl siding is gaining greater acceptance among homeowners (and home shoppers), it bears repeating that it can still serve as a cover-up for some inherent problems.  I would probably be suspicious when buying a house filled with vinyl too and the burden of proving otherwise, of course, will rest on homeowners like you.

3. Maintenance

Vinyl sidings have been touted as maintenance-free.  After all, you won’t need to ever paint or stain the units.  Apart from an annual washing, there is really little needed to keep it from looking fresh.  Do expect some amount of slight fading starting five years onwards though.

What vinyl installations put your home at risk of, though, are hidden rotting and insect infestations beneath the sidings.  Left unchecked, the damage can end up being considerable before any signs manifest.

4. Energy-Efficiency

Some salesmen will try to sell you on the energy efficiency of vinyl.  They’re lying.  Vinyl panels provide no significant insulation so it will not help in lowering your energy bill.  Additional insulation inside the walls is what you’ll need if you want shaved-down energy use.

I have recently been working with more and more clients who are interested in Hardiplank Siding, this siding is made from fiber cement and has some excellent benefits. It features a fifty year transferable warranty, and has a reasonable prices in the range from two hundred to six hundred per square foot. This makes it more affordable then many other siding options. the siding doesn’t typically fade or rot and is also resistant to fading. It can be purchased painted or pre colored If you would like more information or are interested in Hardiplank Siding Prices, get more information from the Home Improvement Corner.