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Increase Your Home's Curb Appeal
With Siding From
Advance Remodeling
Siding Materials
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Siding Maintenance
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Siding Styles
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Types of Siding
If you want
to change the look of your home and give it some
outside appeal, change your siding! Older homes,
particularly those with shingles, can look old and
run-down before their time. Bring your home back to
life with maintenance-free, beautiful
vinyl siding
from Advance Remodeling.
Advance
Remodeling does all types of siding including
vinyl siding,
aluminum siding,
wood siding,
fiber cement siding and
more. A wide
variety of colors and styles are available to choose
from including; shake,
traditional,
beaded, dutchlap, and
scalloped.
Whether you want to
change the look of your home with new siding or your
siding is in need of replacement, Advance Remodeling
can provide you with many appealing options.
Take a look below at
just a few of the siding projects that
Advance Remodeling has completed in Maryland. And when you're ready,
contact Advance Remodeling for your free, no
obligation siding estimate.
mouse-over images
below to view larger image
Siding is your home’s
skin. It provides support for your home’s frame,
protects it from the weather elements and is a key
factor in your home’s appearance. When choosing
siding, make sure to keep a few things in mind. You
must consider your climate, the style you want to
create, the size of your budget and how much
maintenance you plan to do.
Siding provides a quick
and dramatic change to update the look of your home.
It is crucial to find the right contractor for the
job since the siding of your home is one of its
major aspects when it comes to exterior appearance.
When is it
Time for New Siding?
If siding becomes
decayed or displaced, it could affect your home' s
interior and the foundation. Old or
otherwise damaged siding makes your home susceptible
to the elements.
There are many tell-tale
signs that signal when it is time to replace the
siding on your home.
Check for the following:
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swollen or
discolored boards
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separation between
seams
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siding that is
cracked, corroded, or appears chalky and dull
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siding that no
longer lays flat against the home
Only a professional
contractor can assess the damage and decide if the
siding must be completely replaced or a repair will
suffice for now.
Replace Siding
vs. Painting: Pros and Cons
One of the most common
questions asked when it comes to siding is whether
or not paint is a better choice. In the short term,
painting is definitely less expensive than
installing new siding on your home, but after a few
years this changes. Whereas paint usually needs
re-painting after two-three years, replacement
siding is more of a long-term investment.
Painting can be very
time consuming, while on the other hand there are
siding options that do not require any painting at
all. Siding materials are often manufactured with
color, so there is no need for that extra work.
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Siding Materials
When deciding on a
siding option, determine how much you want to spend,
how much maintenance you plan to do, and what look
you want to achieve. The key to this decision is
knowing that there is no perfect answer to what is
best. You must find what is best for you and your
lifestyle. Here is a list of some of the most common
types of siding today.
Vinyl Siding
Made from PVC plastic,
it will not rot or flake, and is less expensive to
buy and install than most other siding materials.
Vinyl can be hazardous to the environment due to its
release of toxic chemicals when burned. Vinyl siding
can crack, split, and come to look faded after a few
years.
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Competitively priced
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Available in a
variety of colors
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Virtually
maintenance free
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Second in strength
to aluminum
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Aluminum Siding
Although it may seem
out-of-date, aluminum is easy to maintain and fairly
durable. Aluminum will not crack, but may dent and
fade. It is also fireproof and poses no health risks
to occupants of the house. Aluminum is easily dented
when a ladder is placed against it, which may make
other home repairs, such as repairs on windows and
gutters very difficult.
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Competitively priced
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Offers a broad
selection of colors
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Durability is only
second to vinyl
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Very low
maintenance, but requires extra care for dents
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Stronger than wood
and vinyl siding
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Wood Siding
Solid wood can outlast
vinyl and other products with periodic staining or
painting. Many old
homes still look
beautiful with the wood clapboard siding from when
they were first built. Cedar, pine, spruce, redwood,
Cyprus, and Douglas fir are the woods used most
often in siding. Genuine wood is quite expensive
when compared to other types of siding material.
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Genuine wood is
quite expensive
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Results in the most
aesthetically pleasing and unique look
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Offers an unlimited
amount of color choices
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Subject to damage,
especially from climate and moisture
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Requires a lot of
maintenance such as resealing
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The weakest siding
material compared to vinyl and aluminum
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Fiber Cement Siding
This durable,
natural-looking material can take on the appearance
of wood, stucco, and masonry. It can provide the
authentic look of wood with less maintenance. Fiber
cement siding is fireproof, termite-proof, and often
has a warranty of up to 50 years.
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Durable and natural
looking
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Can imitate the
appearance of wood, stucco, and masonry
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Requires less
maintenance than wood
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Material is
fireproof and termite-proof
Other Materials
Other types of siding
materials include; cedar shingles, seamless steel,
stucco, shakes, stone and cultured stone, brick and
brick veneers, and engineered wood.
For more information on
the siding materials available to you through
Advance Remodeling, visit the
Remodeling Buyers Guide.
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Siding Maintenance
Taking maintenance into
consideration is extremely important when choosing
siding for your home. Siding is exposed to all
weather elements and must be repaired if its
material becomes vulnerable to them.
The longevity of your
siding depends on two things: the durability of the
siding and how well it is maintained. This means
that you must make sure you choose a material that
you know you can maintain. If you do not plan to do
much maintenance, you should choose a siding
material that requires less maintenance.
Here we offer advice on
how to maintain some of the most popular siding
materials.
Vinyl is
the easiest type of siding to maintain. It must be
washed and inspected about once a year. It is said
to be maintenance free, but there are a few factors
you want to keep in mind.
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Aluminum
requires little maintenance, but there are a few
precautions you can take to ensure it maintains its
appearance and lasts a long time.
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Aluminum should be
painted when there is chalking or oxidation,
which is the result of weathering.
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A power washer
should be used annually to keep it clean and
looking new.
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Wood
siding needs a lot of maintenance. All types of wood
are subject to damage from termites, rot, moisture
problems, cracking, splitting, etc. Some steps are
essential in maintaining wood siding.
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To prevent wood rot,
wood must be treated with oil or stained at
least every three years and painted every five
years.
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In wet climates,
wood needs special care due to absorption of
moisture, which causes boards to expand.
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Wood must be checked
for holes from woodpeckers and insects and
replaced if damage is found.
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Wood can be cleaned
with pressure washing, although if done
improperly pressure washing can ruin the wood.
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Fiber cement
siding is not “maintenance free” as it does require
painting. However, because fiber cement does not
expand and contract with the weather, paint adheres
to it very well helping it last longer than it would
on wood siding.
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Insect nests and
accumulated dirt can easily be removed by power
washing. It’s also a good idea to inspect
caulked joints each year between butt ends of
boards, windows and doors.
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Gaps that open when
caulk pulls away can easily be filled with a
high quality acrylic or latex readily available
in hardware and paint stores.
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A well maintained
fiber cement siding product generally requires
repainting only every seven to fifteen years.
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Types of Siding
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Horizontal |
A very common
and popular choice that give the illusion of
individual boards. It is attached by
nailing through the sheathing and into the
wall studs. |
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Vertical |
Attached to
strips of wood that are nailed to the wall
studs. May require caulking or wood
strips in between the boards. |
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Shingles |
Fixed to the
home either over sheathing or strips nailed
into the wall studs. They overlap and
offset each other. |
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Sheets |
The least
expensive option. Sheets are nailed
directly into the wall studs. |
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Siding Styles
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Shakes |
A square-edged
design made to resemble cedar shingles.
Shakes can be used all over or as a
decorative accent to your home. |
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Traditional |
Each board
overlaps the one underneath. Mimics the look
of wood plank siding. |
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Beaded |
A decorative
variation of the traditional siding style.
Effect cut into the bottom of the panel
creates dimension. |
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Dutchlap |
Another
decorative variation of traditional siding.
Dutchlap has a beveled edge at the top that
creates dimension. |
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Scallops |
A decorative
design normally used as an architectural
accent. Scallops are rounded on the
bottom and overlap each other. |
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Today, siding is offered
in a variety of colors and materials, and has new
and improved options that make the installation
process easier. There are many siding options to
consider before choosing what is best for you and
your home, so remember to take your time going
through the options and have fun with it. Your new
siding is going to
last a long time.
Advance Remodeling can
provide
financing for your siding project in Baltimore, too. You can
apply for
financing
regardless of your credit
history, and finally have the look of a new home for
a fraction of the cost with replacement siding.
Contact Advance
Remodeling
today for your free siding installation estimate at 888-214-6621, or
click here
to send us an e-mail request.
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