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How to Buy Siding
Everything You Need to Know About Replacing Siding
Everything You need to Know About Replacing Siding
Replacement siding doesn’t just look good—it increases your home’s worth. The curb appeal associated with new siding can also drive real estate value up more.
Vinyl siding, for example, is durable, elegant and almost maintenance free. All you need to do to keep your home looking good is to clean it once a year—we’ll dive a little deeper into that later on. If you’ve dealt with water ingress because of old or damaged siding, new vinyl siding will remedy that issue too.
In this guide, we’ll look at the different types of siding to find out which one is best. Then we’ll talk about the benefits of new siding and explore the latest siding trends. We’ll also explore vinyl siding siding costs and the installation process.
What Are The Different Types of Siding?
There are lots of different types of siding on the market today. So many, in fact, that it can be hard to choose. Popular options include:
- Vinyl siding
- Wooden siding
- Fiber cement siding
- Stucco siding
Some people go for added masonry instead of siding, but this is a complicated option as it needs to be tied into the building’s structure.
What is the Best Siding?
Overall, vinyl siding is the best siding choice for most people—whether they live in wet, dry, hot cold climates. It’s cost-effective and it installs easily over most other types of siding, so it’s a great option. Even better, it doesn’t take long to put up.
Wooden siding looks natural, but good-quality wood costs a lot and wooden siding needs painting every few years. Fiber cement siding is low maintenance and stable, but installation is complex and expensive. Stucco siding is durable and lasts a long time, but it’s not ideal in wetter states.
Top Benefits of Vinyl Siding:
There are lots of benefits to siding replacement. Let’s look at a few of them in more detail:
Durable:
Vinyl siding is extremely durable. Made from PVC plastic resin, it resists warping, cracking, wind, snow, rain and heat for decades. Because it’s so tough, it stays looking good for a very long time. Many types of vinyl siding come with a long-lasting guarantee: Thompson Creek vinyl siding, for instance, comes with an industry-leading warranty up to 50-years.
Insulated:
If your home feels too cold in the winter and too warm in the summer, it may not be insulated enough. Loft insulation, cavity wall insulation and between-floor insulation can help—but so can replacing siding. This impermeable siding solution helps trap heat in cold weather and stops cool air escaping at the height of summer. You can add extra non-flammable insulation to Thompson Creek siding to help reduce your energy bills even more.
If your home is lacking wall insulation like many older homes, installing vinyl siding with a low e house wrap or insulated backer can greatly increase your home’s insulation value and comfort.
Low Maintenance:
Vinyl siding replacement really is a low-maintenance home improvement option. Heavyweight PVC doesn’t rot, doesn’t harbor termites and isn’t attractive to woodpeckers, so you won’t need to call pest control. Once installed, your house will look great for years. Simply get your power washer out once a year to clean your siding
Siding Trends
For a long time, many homeowners chose off-white or white siding—in part because they were considered acceptable colors, and in part because they were the only vinyl siding colors readily available. Now, homeowners have much easier access to a variety of siding colors, including beautiful earth tones and darker, bolder colors like rust red and natural blue.
Wide, smooth siding is very on-trend right now, and so is hyper-thin siding. Wider siding looks great on a larger home, while narrower siding suits a smaller house.
How Is Siding Installed?
Some companies install new siding directly over old siding. Thompson Creek takes a thorough approach instead, stripping off all your old siding and then inspecting your home’s underlayment. Then, we wrap your property in an insulative, waterproof moisture barrier. Finally, we install brand new high-quality vinyl siding.
Generally speaking, siding installation starts at the bottom of the home and moves upward. Installation pros overlap sections of siding, which they nail into place. A complete siding job usually takes between three and five days to complete.
Vinyl Siding Costs:
Vinyl siding is far more affordable than stucco, brick or wooden siding—and it’s much easier to maintain. There are very few maintenance costs associated with vinyl siding; in contrast, wooden siding eventually rots and can be a target for termites and woodpeckers. Stucco needs occasional repair to stop water ingress.
Thompson Creek siding is affordable and very sturdy.
What Are The Different Styles of Vinyl Siding?
You don’t have to settle for a plain look when you choose vinyl siding. There are lots of different—and very attractive—siding styles available. Here are some of the most popular types of siding offered by Thompson Creek.
Staggered:
Staggered siding panels make your home look rustic and charming. Especially well-suited to rural properties, this vinyl option looks bespoke and complements the ever-popular farmhouse decor style. If you have a bland-looking home, staggered siding adds real character—plus it doesn’t take long to install. One more thing: high-grade staggered vinyl siding from Thompson Creek is 300% more impact resistant than regular builder grade vinyl siding, so it stays looking good for longer.
Perfection:
Homeowners who like a neat, clean look love perfection shingles. Perfection vinyl siding has a smooth grain and an extra thick construction, making it ideal for both modern and traditional homes. Several “shingle” widths sit on each panel, so they look like carefully crafted wooden shingles. Like other Thompson Creek siding styles, perfection siding comes in a wide range of different colors.
Hand-split:
Hand-split vinyl siding panels resemble authentic hand-split shingles, so if you like a natural look but don’t want the maintenance associated with wood, these might suit you perfectly. Hand-split vinyl siding is far quicker and easier to apply than wooden shingles, so your home will be completely transformed in just a few days. There are several “shingles” to a panel to make installation easier, and nails are hidden for an authentic look.
Half-round:
Half-round vinyl siding is an appealing option for historic houses—particularly grand late-19th century homes. If you replace your old wooden siding with half-round vinyl siding, you’ll never have to paint again. Our siding also protects your historic home’s wooden structure better than wooden siding. You don’t have to settle for a boring color, either: Thompson Creek half-round vinyl siding panels come in an array of period-appropriate hues.
Dutch Lap:
Dutch lap vinyl siding is affordable and traditional. This is the style most people think of when they envision new siding—and it’s been around longer than most other types of vinyl siding. Long and slim, Dutch lap siding overlaps in random places and looks like shaped wooden boards when it’s done. Our Dutch lap siding has an additional fire-retardant insulation option, just like other types of Thompson Creek siding.
Cedar:
Cedar shingles are handsome and long lasting. They’re also expensive and they take a long time to install. You can get the look of cedar without the price tag or installation time with our cedar vinyl siding. Vinyl siding is just as resistant to weather as cedar siding, and it usually lasts longer, too. Cedar-look vinyl siding looks especially great on craftsman homes and mountain-style properties.
Vinyl Siding Accents:
Scalloped:
If your home has a masonry construction with wood or cedar shingle-accent dormer windows, you might benefit from a vinyl siding upgrade. Scalloped accents go particularly well with a brick or stone fascia. Many homeowners choose white, or off-white scalloped vinyl accents, which pop against darker underlying siding or brickwork. Rounded edges contrast sharp corners and make a nice final touch.
Shake:
Shake shingles are both rustic and traditional. Many Victorian-era houses and some iconic New England-style properties—particularly Cape Cod homes—use shake shingles as a main siding material or as an accent. You can get the same provincial look with shake-style vinyl siding. Why not highlight your front entrance, your second floor or an extension with richly colored shake-style siding?
Vinyl Siding Add-Ons:
Thompson Creek offers several different types of vinyl siding add-on for homeowners. Here are some great-value bonus options:
Solar Defense Vinyl Siding:
Enhanced with the Duranyl 5000® Protection System, Thompson Creek Solar Defense siding resists UV-related fading and weathering. Deep, rich hues benefit especially from this advanced option. Solar Defense vinyl siding is available as an add-on for any of Thompson Creek’s hardwearing l siding options, including staggered, perfection, hand-split, half-round, Dutch lap and cedar. Solar Defense vinyl siding also stays tough in extreme weather, including extreme heat and extreme cold.
Low Energy House Wrap Vinyl Siding:
One of the most effective ways to reduce your energy bills is to insulate your home. Most homes have loft insulation and cavity wall insulation—what they don’t have is siding insulation. Thompson Creek low energy house wrap vinyl siding adds a thick sheet of moisture-resistant wrap to the outside of your home. This can help protect your home’s wooden frame, and it also adds a layer of insulating material to your property’s exterior walls. The result is a potential drop in utility expenses.
External Fixtures:
External extras like light fixtures, vents, hose bibs and electrical fixtures, improve the look of your home. Thompson Creek offers a wide range of external fixtures, so you don’t have to involve a third party to put the finishing touches on your property. Instead, we’ll install your chosen add-ons at the end of the siding job—all you have to do is stand back and admire the transformation.
How to Choose the Best Siding for Your Home
Versatile, insulating and easy to look after, vinyl siding is one of the most popular building materials on the market. New siding will refresh your home and boost the value of your property—and it could even save you money on your utility bills.
Vinyl siding is more environmentally friendly than ever, too. It takes far less energy and water to create vinyl siding than it does to make cement or brick. When it’s time to refinish your house, old vinyl siding can even be reground and reformed to make new siding—so it’s a sustainable type of building material.
How to Buy New Siding
Wondering how to buy new siding? If you’re ready to make your home look beautiful, we’d love to hear from you. We can give you advice on style, color and options to help you choose great replacement siding for your home. Contact Thompson Creek today to find out about the benefits of vinyl siding and get your free estimate today!
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