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Cedar Shake Siding – Benefits of Shingle Siding, Prices & styles

April 25, 2010 By 5 Comments

“If you’re considering investing into new siding for your home this article will go over the benefits of choosing cedar shake siding. This type of siding has less maintenance involved with maintaining a high quality appearance when you compare it to wood house sidings. Cedar shake siding is a very cost effective way to give your home a rustic appearance. Also cedar has strong resistances to insect damage, weathering, rot, and warping…”


Appearance

This type of siding is just one of many types that are available to the buying public today. You can always distinguish this type of siding because it is made up of cut pieces of cedar. When you install the siding on your home, the shingles are laid down in an overlapping pattern giving a great rustic visual appeal. The one single drawback of this type of siding would be that it can be slightly labor intensive to install.

Benefits and Durability of Cedar Shingle Siding

Warping is one of the main enemies of any type of wood product, especially one in constant contact with the outdoor elements. However, cedar is renown for its ability to resist warping even when its used in severe weather climates. For this reason many homeowners in the Atlantic northeastern region of the United States of America choose to use cedar shake siding on their homes. Nearly all siding contractors are also aware of this, and they tend to promote this type of siding for its many benefits and protection against salt spray along the shorelines of Cape Cod, MA..

Shrinkage can also cause headaches to other types of wooden products, however cedar is also far more resistance to this issue than other types of wood. When other wooden siding shrinks it causes gaps to form in the siding of the home, which doesn’t look good visually. Also these gaps cause the exterior of your home to become exposed and this can lead to many headaches down the road. If you live in a wet climate, shrinkage can be a big issue, so this is just another reason to choose cedar shake siding.

Many different types of insects also like to feast on wood. However, the cedar tree naturally produces an oil that is infused into its wood. This oil acts a natural insect repellent and many wood eating bugs won’t even come near a home covered in cedar shake siding. This helps keep your home bug free, but also you won’t need to worry about termites or other nasty critters eating away at your home. The cedar oil present in the siding also keeps the wood lubricated and it resists wood rot a lot more than other types of siding do. Many homeowners also use cedarwood in places like spa’s which are constantly exposed to humid conditions because of this.

cape cod style cedar shingles

Quality

When you are in the market for cedar shake siding, you need to be aware of the different ways to identify great product. This way you can stay away from a lower quality cut that is going to give you problems. Most companies and suppliers use a grading system to identify the best products. Grade A cedar, or, #1 choice cedar is generally considered the best cut, but at the same time it can be quite expensive. Grade B cedar, or often called #2 cedar is often used in siding applications because of the balance between cost and performance. Anything lower than that usually is not used for siding.

In addition to grading, you also need to visually inspect the wood itself. Cedar has several key features that you should use to identify a good cut. The main two are the clarity and knots of the cedar shingle. Grade A cedar shake siding is usually smooth, and has a uniform visual appearance with little to no imperfections or knots. Grade B cedar will generally have more noticeable visual issues and a little knotting, but it will generally maintain a smooth feeling to the hand.

In conclusion, cedar shake siding can be a great addition to any home. It will increase the value of your home, keep wood eating bugs away, and give your home a visually appealing rustic look. While it may cost more and be more labor intensive to get it installed, if you want one of the best sidings available, you simply cannot go wrong with cedar.

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Vinyl Replacement Windows – How to choose?

April 17, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Now that Spring is finally here and in the air, many homeowners are looking for ways to update their homes with more energy efficient windows and siding without spending a lot of money. Vinyl replacement windows are a great inexpensive option to consider when trying to save money and in return, lowering your heating/cooling bills.  With replacement window prices being as low as they’re now and along side the energy tax credits, makes this an easy choice for many.

Why Vinyl Replacement Windows?

Choosing vinyl replacement windows for your next home improvement is an easy decision to make. Vinyl replacement windows are made from PVC, polyvinyl chloride, a plastic that is commonly found in most, if not all vinyl replacement windows. These types of windows are the most common type of window installed today, whether be it new construction or house remodeling for it’s pricing, reliability, and low-maintenance requirements.


Maintenance Free

There really isn’t much maintenance involved in vinyl replacement windows aside from normal window washing. Since these windows are made from vinyl, the need to worry about rot, mold, termites, sanding and painting are eliminated with vinyl window replacements. Also, since the vinyl is factory colored throughout, makes it very hard to notice scratches and dings go unnoticeable. So, all-in-all, your buying a window replacement that is low maintenance and highly energy efficient in reducing your heating and cooling bills and keep home maintenance costs down.

How to choose the best vinyl replacement window?

While technology has taken great strides, it is still important to do your research on the different brands out there. There’s still a few things that should stand out to you. Here’s a good starters list of things you should look out for in your search for a vinyl window replacement.

Low-E glass — Low-E glass is a process where the window manufacture uses a silver like coating over the glass, and works as a mirror reflecting heat back towards the direction it came from. Low-E also protects the interior of your home’s carpeting, drapes, furniture from fading.

What is Argon filled gas? When considering replacing your windows, you might want to consider choosing replacement windows incased with argon gas. Argon gas is more dense than oxygen and therefore, reduces the heat transfer rate in your home – increasing your energy savings!

What is a R-Value ? R-values are ratings based on the energy performance a window should have. When shopping for a vinyl or wood replacement window, the higher the number, the more insulation that window will have – increasing energy savings!

What is a U-Value? U-values are similar to R-values, with two major differences: The first difference is U-values are ratings for the entire replacement window unit itself, whereas R-values are ratings for specific materials of the window itself. Second, you want to look for the lowest U-Value of a window for enhanced energy savings performance.

So basically, R-Values are ratings for how much heat is retained, and U-Values are ratings for how heat is lost…


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Hardie Board Siding: Pros, Cons & Hardy plank prices

April 9, 2010 By 24 Comments

hardie plank siding installersHardie board siding has been growing in popularity due to families whom have less time to properly maintain their homes because of hectic work and family schedules often opted for a more low-maintenance exterior siding products. Hardi board siding has been giving the relief many are looking for, low-maintenance and long lasting, but does it measure up to its reputation? Or, is this just pure “Grade-A marketing” as usual?

How about an actual point of view from a siding contractor and not from some marketing company? I’ll give you my siding professional opinion here with the pros, cons, and prices of Hardie board siding to see how it looks under scrutiny.


Hardie Board Siding: The Pros

• Longevity — When it comes to exterior hardy plank siding, James Hardie Industries offers one of the best warranties on the market, a 50-year limited transferable warranty. When a company offers a huge warranty as that, it’s hard to say no to their siding options. So how can they offer a big warranty? It’s simple really, Hardie plank siding is completely rot and insect resistant, and can even withstand the corrosive salt spray near the coastlines.

• Appearance— Another great quality of Hardie board siding is that it can be made to look like any type of wood house siding out on the market. You can have the look of cedar shingle siding, clapboard siding, etc.. The siding color options are unlimited to your tastes and these colors are usually warrantied to up to 15 years on the finish.

• Fire Resistance— James Hardie Building Products, states that fiber cement siding “is comprised of more than 90% sand and cement, making it inherently resistant to flames.” Watch this video below to see how well hardiepanel siding compares to vinyl siding and wood house siding — I’ll let you decide the rest!

• Storm Resistance— As a siding contractor in Massachusetts, I’ve witnessed some harsh weather, be it the brutal winters, Nor’easters, hot humid summers, fiber cement siding has proven its ability to withstand the brutal punishment mother nature tends to throw at her..

Okay, so let’s discuss the Cons of Hardie board siding..

So what’s not to like about this type of house siding? Well, as a siding contractor and installer, I’ll tell you that a couple things come to mind due to experience in siding installation. First,  Hardie plank siding installation is much more labor intensive because of its weight when compared to other types of siding. Second, nothing is maintenance-free! Hardipanel siding does require painting every 10-15 years.

• High Installation and Labor Costs— Due to its composition, fiber cement siding requires more time to install and resources required for proper installation. When compared to vinyl siding cost, fiber cement siding out weights its comparison by three times.

• Maintenance— Just because Hardi board siding comes backed by a 50- year warranty, doesn’t mean it will look the same as it did the day you installed it. The baked on finishes sold by most lumber yards are only guaranteed for 15 years. Please note, the siding will most likely outlive you, but it does require a paint job every 10-15 years – that’s better than wood siding, every 7-10 years.

The Cost

The one thing that still boggles my mind as a siding contractor and installer, the prices of fiber cement siding! It’s still way to high in price to justify not using and other type of siding. I mean sure, fiber cement siding has a lot of great qualities, but so doesn’t any other type of siding. Having fiber cement siding installed on your home when comparing prices to vinyl siding, you’re looking to pay almost double!

So in my honest opinion, the quality finish in fiber cement siding looks great, but the high cost in installation and siding prices need to come down, so if you’re willing to pay the high premium, go for it, it’s still a great product..


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Vinyl Siding Cost – colors, prices & siding installation

March 23, 2010 By 8 Comments

House siding options for home owners

“Vinyl siding has risen in popularity due to home improvement contractors and home-owners for many reasons and here’s why. The biggest reason has to do with vinyl siding prices and most importantly, durability.  Vinyl siding cost have remained the cheapest siding option due to its manufacturing process speed, and for the high demand of vinyl siding. Not only for that reason, but for the many vinyl siding colors available to choose from. When you combine the vinyl siding cost, colors, durability, and low-maintenance, it’s know wonder why many new and older homes are having vinyl siding installed…”


How much does Vinyl Siding Cost?

The cost of vinyl siding can vary from supplier to supplier, so, to answer this question can be a little tricky. There’s no “one size fits all” scenario here, only ballpark figures. Having said that, when you’re out shopping for vinyl siding prices, you must consider that vinyl siding cost will be solely dependent upon the quality, thickness, manufacture, insulated backed siding, or not insulated, colors, siding installation prices, etc..

For ballpark siding prices, you can expect to pay anywhere from $4 – $8 per linear foot to have a siding company do the installation for you. However, if you’re looking for real cheap vinyl siding prices, you can expect to pay $1 -$2 per linear foot, but expect to do the siding installation yourself, keep in mind that this would be for cheap vinyl siding and not something many siding contractors will recommend you to install.

 

How to calculate the total vinyl siding cost for your home

Since we’ve already discussed what you can expect to pay for vinyl siding price $4 – $8 per linear foot, let’s figure out how much this will cost you when it comes time to have vinyl siding installed. As a siding contractor in Massachusetts, we give siding prices by the “square” but I’ll explain that later. What you want to do to figure out is the total area coverage of your homes exterior walls, by adding ( width ) x2 +  ( length ) x2   x( height ) equals..

For a better more clearer example, try this:

Let’s say your house is a one level ranch that is 60′ feet in length and 10′ feet in height and 20′ feet in width, take those numbers and calculate like so, (60 + 60 + 20 + 20) x 10= 1,600 total linear feet..

Now, let’s take the total linear exterior foot coverage and calculate your total vinyl siding cost based on the ballpark numbers above…

1,600 x $4 – $8 per square foot would equal $6,400 – or – 12,800, this wouldn’t include extras or any unforeseen problems that might arise during the siding installation process. But, just as any other type of house remodeling project, there are almost always something unexpected that can’t bee seen until the old siding has been removed.

Going back to the part when I stated siding contractors use terms like “SQUARE” what do I mean by that? Instead of saying your home has 1,600 linear feet, we say your home needs 16 square of siding. A square to a siding company, is basically ( 10′ by 10′ square foot area of siding equals 1 square or 100′ linear feet squared) it’s a shorter version of the math we did above.

 

What to Look for in Vinyl Siding

To have the best possible outcome and most importantly, a professional grade A curb appeal, one must start with the vinyl siding quality. We’ve all heard “you get what you pay for” well this principal holds true for the quality of vinyl siding you choose. So, how do we choose which vinyl siding is low, to mid, to high quality grade vinyl siding? The first thing you’ll want to look for is the thickness of the vinyl siding. Vinyl sidingusually comes in thicknesses of .035 to .055 inches thick, and the more high quality top vinyl siding brands have a thickness ranging between .040 to .048 inches. A rule of thumb would be, the thicker the better when it comes to vinyl siding and that holds true to the Northeast where we can see high winds from nor’easters in the winter. Other more important things to consider is proper siding installation. Having the thickest vinyl siding panel won’t stop the wind from blowing the siding off in a storm if it isn’t installed correctly! You want to be sure of proper nail spacing, vinyl panel spacing, temperature of the day you install your siding, etc.. If you feel you can handle this job yourself, you can save a lot of money of the total vinyl siding cost of installation.

Vinyl Siding Prices and “Extras”

Take into consideration that the above example on vinyl siding prices doesn’t include “extras.” What are extras? You should expect to pay more for certain vinyl siding colors, trim packages, insulated vinyl siding, corner-board details, shutters, etc.. Trim details are different for every house, so we have to custom bend aluminum or use azek trim boards to give you the complete low maintenance package.  And when it comes to vinyl siding colors, make sure you buy a product that is has a true color through out or extruded for sun protection. One of the biggest faults of vinyl siding is fading, when vinyl siding colors are exposed to sunlight. Buy a vinyl siding brand that has UV protection that will keep your new siding from fading over time — When it comes to vinyl siding colors, this is one extra that is definitely worth the extra cost.


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House Siding Options – Let’s weigh the Pro’s & Cons of Exterior Siding

March 19, 2010 By 1 Comment

“Many home owners are always looking to improve the appearance of their homes exterior, and most importantly add more house value. One of the most easiest and cost effective home improvements you could make would be to change the look of your home siding.. So what kind of house siding options are there? Well, that will all depend upon your lifestyle and taste. You could start with vinyl siding for its long-lasting and low-maintenance qualities, or choose the traditional colonial style clapboard siding, to the rustic look of cedar shake siding commonly found on homes along the shorelines…”

Research and review the many house siding options and types available for your home




Cedar Shingle Siding

Cedar shingles, or “shakes” as they’re called in the siding contractor world are a New England style tradition along the coastlines from Cape-cod, to Manchester “by the sea” Massachusetts.

In its natural unfinished state, it has a wonderful looking textured tactile grain, combined with warm light brown and deep brown colors. Cedar siding also remains subtly aromatic, and the appealing fragrance of cedar adds another benefit to the ever so popular wood.

Cedar shingle siding also contains natural oils that help protect the wood against rot, decay, and insects. Cedar siding is also a stable type of wood that never buckles or curls. When properly maintained, cedar siding will last for years to come and will age gracefully.

 

The average cost to install Cedar siding on a 2,000 square foot house is: 13,000 labor and materials. Not including painting or stain.

Wood Clapboard Siding

clapboard house siding contractors maWood clapboard siding had been a traditional favorite among Massachusetts colonial style homes, and still remain a favored choice in fine homes. Clapboard siding comes in a variety of wood species from cedar, spruce, redwood, cypress and pine. If maintained properly, clapboard siding can last a lifetime with the proper staining or painting. Many colonial homes from the bygone era still hold its original beauty today.

 

 

 

 

The average cost to install clapboard siding on a 2,000 square foot home is roughly: 10,500 labor and materials – not including paint or stain.

 

Fiber Cement Siding

hardie plank siding installersFiber cement house siding has been growing in popularity in recent years, due to its appearance and durability. Fiber cement siding has the look of real wood, without the high maintenance of wood house siding. This type of house siding is relatively strong, fire resistant and insect proof and commonly has a great warranty attached with it.

A favorable fiber cement manufacture would be Hardie-plank siding (hardiepanel), there siding prices are reasonable and warranties are great!

 

 

 

The average price to install hardiplank siding on a 2,000 square foot home is roughly: 11,500 materials and labor, excluding painting your siding.

 

Vinyl Siding

vinyl siding contractors maVinyl siding is a wonderful choice for home-owners that are looking for low-maintenance while increasing their homes energy efficiency. Over the years, vinyl siding has become very popular because of its ability to resist rot, lower energy costs, resist the brutal New England weather, and increased re-sale value. Not only for those reason, but of its affordability when compared to other home siding options.

There are many Vinyl  siding options to choose from and an array of vinyl siding styles, ranging from the looks of cedar shakes, to the looks of traditional clapboard siding. Vinyl siding also has a lot of color options too, with the colors being baked through the vinyl instead of applied. What that means is the color stays true over a long period of time, resisting the signs of scratches or small imperfections.

 

The average cost to install vinyl siding as an option for a 2,000 square foot home is roughly: 9,000 for labor and materials. Vinyl siding options are among the cheapest around and doesn’t require your siding to be painted. Minimal maintenance required to keep your siding looking new.

 

Aluminum Siding

professional aluminum metal siding contractors ma, nh, ct, meAluminum siding has been seen by many as out-of-date option, although some siding and home improvement contractors still offer this type of siding for its many benefits to urban areas; others like aluminum standing seam metal siding for its contemporary and aesthetically pleasing looks. You can expect aluminum metal siding to last more than 40 years to the life of your home with very minimal care and maintenance. Repairing metal siding can also be a simple task, by unsnapping the metal locking clips and prying up the nailing flange, you can easily repair a damaged metal panel.

 

The average price to install aluminum siding as an option will cost you for a home 2,000 square foot in size will be roughly: 9,500 – no painting or staining required.

Choosing the right siding contractor for your home

Your home is your biggest investment that you will make in your lifetime, so by choosing the right siding contractor for your home can be a daunting task. Well, I’ll try to make it easy for you in choosing the right siding company that will treat your home as if it where theirs!

  • When you’re in the process of choosing a siding company, verify that the contractor has a “certificate of Insurance” ( this will protect you from any damages on your property) ALSO, ask to see a current “worker’s compensation certificate” ( this will protect their employees in-case of injuries, and protect you the homeowner from law-suites)..
  • Ask for references, most siding contractors will be proud to showcase their lastest projects. Try to get atleast a couple of verifiable past clients to speak with.
  • Be sure to check for the appropriate state licensing needed to pull permits on your behalf. These license’s should include a “Contractor’s supervisors license” (CSL) Also a Home improvement contractors licence ( H.I.C)..  Verify that their licenses are current and in good standings with the state..
  • What type of written warranty will they offer you?
  • Above all, choose a home improvement contractor in which you feel comfortable with and is willing to walk you through the whole exterior house siding process without hesitation – Good communication is key to a successful project!

Common Home Siding Problems and Questions


What should I do about the loose siding or siding falling off my house?

The decision to repair or replace your worn out house siding can become a daunting task. You could either call a siding contractor to evaluate your homes siding or you can assess the damage yourself and make the attempt to repair your siding. In your assessment, you want to locate problem areas and also figure out what might be causing the problems in the first place.

When is the best time of year to install house siding?

Most siding companies install siding all year long and if you’re looking for good deals, fall and winter are usually the best time to have your siding installed on your home; most siding companies can compensate for temperature adjustments required with some types of siding, including vinyl house siding.

How long does it take to install siding?

Every project requires a different approach and solution before work commences, this involves choosing the right equipment and materials to solve and produce the best outcome for your homes exterior siding project. As a siding contractor in Massachusetts our team of siding professionals know exactly what it takes to get the job done correctly, and most importantly, to your up most satisfaction! We’re constantly on the look out for the new and improved vinyl siding products that can provide you with the best looking and long-lasting exterior house siding in the neighborhood. Our time frames on siding installation can usually run between 2-4wks depending on size and difficulty of your house.

Is it okay to add vinyl siding over existing siding?

It most certainly is okay if there isn’t any signs of rot, mold or termite damage on your home existing siding. But, from a contractor’s point of view, it’s always best to remove your old siding before installing new wood or vinyl siding.

What siding colors and choices do I have and what will it look like?

If you’re curious on how a certain type of siding will look on your home, test drive our interactive house siding designer for an interactive look and feel. Choose a house that fits your home style and architecture — and begin designing!

For a professional house siding contractor estimate call us today at 781-856-2001 or fill out our easy contact form

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Replacement windows prices, types, options

October 25, 2009 By 3 Comments

With rising heating and cooling costs for our homes and with no sign of relief in the future, it’s no wonder why many homeowners are always continuously looking for cost effective ways to reduce the energy efficiency of their homes. Now, having this in mind, one of the most cost effective and long-lasting ways to do this is by replacing your old drafty worn out windows, with new vinyl replacement windows. Having vinyl replacement windows installed in your home, will help considerably in producing the maximum benefit of reducing your homes heating and cooling bills. To [Read more...]

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