| Vinyl
siding
Siding
defines the style and look of a home, not to mention it provides the
main
defense against elements. Vinyl siding
can make a dramatic impact to the appearance of your home. Vinyl siding
has
been very popular for decades because it provide a very durable, easy
maintenance, rot-proof, termite proof and is less expensive than wood
siding.
Vinyl
siding offers a wide range of colors to match any décor. The
colors of vinyl
siding are usually muted lighter tones. The
reason the colors are light is
due to the fact that deep colors
absorb and retain the sun’s heat. Vinyl
siding reacts drastically to the heat and expands significantly. If it is not installed properly, it can
buckle, warp and become distorted by the sun’s rays.
Deeper colors would absorb more
heat and
increase the effects making the situation worse.
Deciding
on a vinyl siding color can seem overwhelming due to the vast color
tones and
choices. The best way to decide on your
color is to purchase small cans of paint matched to the vinyl siding. Apply small patches of the paint and after it
has dried, step back about 50 feet to view. This
will enable you to get a good
idea of what color ranges appeal to
you. Take a look at the patches
throughout the day to get a feel for the slight color changes
throughout the
day.
Vinyl
siding is a very appealing product and some manufactures make the
product more
appealing by designing a wood mimicking appearance.
Aside from the wood appearance,
the reason
most homeowners cite for purchasing vinyl siding is due to its easy
maintenance
characteristic. Vinyl siding is easy to
wash and make it look new. In fact,
washing vinyl siding is as easy as washing a car. The
only hard part is that you might need a
ladder or have to work around landscaping.
The best
way to clean vinyl siding is to rinse it down with a regular garden
hose, with
the nozzle set to a medium misting spray. Caution
should be taken not to
spray the siding with a full force direct
spray. Water could get behind the siding
and get the wood sheathing and framing wet. Always
spray vinyl siding in a
downward flow. The best way to clean vinyl
siding is to use
a regular dishwashing soap.
If
you’re thinking of applying vinyl siding to an existing home, you will
want to
consider taking existing siding off. Adding
vinyl siding to existing
wood siding can create issues at doors
and windows. Taking off existing siding
can also provide the opportunity to add thicker foam insulation.
Installing
vinyl siding can be done by a knowledgeable do-it-yourself homeowner;
however
caution must be taken before deciding to take on the project. It is very important to pay close attention
to details when working with vinyl siding. Vinyl siding may not seem
hard to
install, but there are plenty of tricks that you’ll need to understand
to get a
professional result. Due to the fact
that vinyl siding expands and contracts in the sun, nailing vinyl
siding too
tight will cause it to buckle and wave. Vinyl
siding needs to float on a
wall with just the right amount of
movement.
When you
imagine your dream home’s exterior, do you picture the elegant,
traditional,
natural, rustic, or something entirely different? Your home’s
appearance—and
the shelter and comfort it offers your family—rests in large part on
your
choices of siding. Siding defines the look and style of a house and
gives the
walls their main defense against the elements. In addition, features
such as
exterior columns and architectural detailing can articulate the style
of your
house.
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