Pick the right vinyl siding

When it comes to any home building decisions, most homeowners take aesthetics, durability, and cost into account. Deciding on siding is no different. Vinyl siding comes from many manufacturers with different qualities. After quality of the siding product, the professionalism of the Denver siding company is the next most important, because you want the materials to be installed right, and have the peace of mind in knowing that the company will fix any problems they may cause.

Even within the same vinyl siding company, there is significant variation among products. The most important aspect is panel thickness. Vinyl is a very weather resistant material. It is also flexible, and installing siding that is too thin may result in being able to see the wall underneath poking through. I have also witnessed many instances of Denver vinyl siding being punctured relatively easily. The material survives weather well, but physical wear and tear can destroy vinyl quickly, especially if it is of the thinner variety. Only a tenth of an inch more can make a great difference with vinyl, so ask your Denver vinyl siding company for a cost breakdown for an upgrade. Upgrading the quality or thickness of the material should not cost all that much more overall.

Vinyl siding made by cheap companies sometimes stiffens with age, which can lead to cracks. If you pick a smaller company and a unique color, you may be in for some major problems if the siding gets damages and you want a localized replacement. The probability that the same company is still carrying a matching replacement is not so good. So most siding contractors recommend you pick a trusted company in simple colors and design.

The upside of vinyl siding is that it is very clean. Its flexibility allows the builder a lot of room for creating beauty. The range of choices allows vinyl siding to be used in many different architectural building types. Vinyl is the most sold siding because of its weather durability. Rain, salty air, and snow just run off it, and vinyl never needs painting. In fact, it cannot be painted, because liquids just run off. To clean just wash it down with soapy water annually.

Buying a home with failing siding

Siding is often touted by the manufacturer as lasting forever and being maintenance free. Many homeowners have discovered that this is plainly untrue. Failing siding is a problem because it is hard to know when you need a  fix and when you need a replacement.

Especially in the case of faux wood siding which is made from plywood, many Denver siding companies suggest the removal and replacement of plywood siding. If plywood gets water inside it, the glue holding the wood chips together starts to break down. The water also causes it to swell, further damaging the plywood integrity. Eventually this kind of siding will just crumble. The outside may still be painted and fairly even, but the inside is falling apart. As the structure looses integrity, you may notice the walls bow or pit. From the outside, the color may seem good. From far away, rotting siding looks normal, but as you approach you may notice characteristic warping and uneven surfaces caused by the siding changing shape as it falls apart. The deceptive part is that while the siding still looks serviceable, your home interior could already be sustaining damage.

Damaged siding also damages the home. The point of siding is to protect the interior. Water especially will cause rotting pretty quickly if left on wood framing. Other building materials are not immune. As the water gets in, insulation rots and even HVAC duct work can be damages. Some quality companies that do siding in Denver refuse to install plywood siding because of its failure track record.

Furthermore, some siding companies suggest your replace a new home's siding with Denver vinyl siding. If you are purchasing a home that has plywood siding, you have to realize that you will have to deal with failing siding eventually. Some mortgage companies also know of the problem and will not lend until the siding issues are resolved. If you are getting financing, you may not have a choice on whether or not you need to repair the siding because the building will not pass inspection.

Once you buy a home, your homeowners insurance might be cheaper if you have a strong and low maintenance siding installed. Remember homeowners insurance only pays for natural disasters and acts of god, not poor construction choices.