Siding is one of the most important decisions you can make for the exterior of your home.  Not only can the right siding give your home spectacular curb appeal, it can also help reduce the amount of upkeep you need to do in the future, if you choose a low maintenance siding.  Being one of the largest investments you can make in the exterior of your home, it’s important to take your time when making your decision.  Not only will the right choice increase the value of your home, but it’s a decision you have to live with for quite some time, so picking the right one is crucial.

While choosing a color for your new siding is a big decision, the biggest decision you have to make is the type of siding to use.  With so many options and a wide variance to the cost of each type of siding, you’ll have a lot of decisions to make.  When budget is an issue, it is possible to dramatically increase your curb appeal while still keeping the costs down.  Just how is that possible?  Many homeowners choose to use a premium siding such as brick or stucco on the front and a less expensive choice such as vinyl on the sides and the back.  Just making this small, yet attractive change can save homeowners tens of thousands of dollars.

One of the first steps you will want to take before choosing siding for your own home is to take a look at the different types of siding found in your neighborhood.  It would be an unattractive choice to pick a siding that no one else in the neighborhood has on their home.  For example, if your neighborhood is filled with brick sided homes, you don’t want to side your home in vinyl.  It would stick out like a sore thumb in the neighborhood, not to mention ruin its curb appeal.

Some of the more popular siding choices along with their benefits include:

Vinyl – The most common type of siding as well as the most economical, vinyl siding comes in many different styles and colors and is maintenance free.  Foam back siding, such as the CraneBoard, is the most energy friendly siding product and also one of the highest grade siding style.

Aluminum – Of all siding products, aluminum siding is the most susceptible to damage.  Most people have turned away from aluminum siding and turned to vinyl, but aluminum siding is still available.  This low maintenance and durable siding requires no painting and will last a very long time.

Fiber Cement – This moderately priced siding which is made from cement is flame retardant, and is available pre-primed (ready for paint), in various styles.  When fiber cement siding is installed correctly, it will give the look of wood siding.

Wood Clapboard – This classic siding option has long lasting durability as long as it is maintained.  Wood Clapboard siding needs to be refinished every few years depending on its wear.

Cedar Shake – The perfect way to give your home a natural look, cedar shake or shingles are moderately priced and are the perfect choice if you wish for your siding to blend into your landscape.  Most cedar shake siding is stained, which means they will require maintenance from time to time.

Stucco – A siding on the more expensive end, stucco is a cement-like finish that is applied to your home.  Minimal maintenance is required on stucco.  The most important thing to remember with stucco is to purchase high quality stucco and to always use a reputable contractor to install it.  Stucco that is improperly installed is very costly to fix.

Brick or Brick Veneer – Another classic yet expensive choice, brick is seen mostly in areas where brick is readily available since it is very costly to ship.  Brick is a gorgeous and sturdy choice for siding.  The beauty of brick is that it can be used on the entire house, just the front or just for accents.  Examples of accents include half walls or corners.  Brick veneer gives the look of brick at a much lower cost.  The only downside is that they don’t have the durability of brick.

Stone or Stone Veneer – Another beautiful yet costly choice, stone is typically used only on the front of homes or as accents because of its high cost.  Stone is very durable; in fact stone siding usually outlasts the actual house.  It is also virtually maintenance free which is another nice feature of stone.

One of the most important decisions you can make when it comes to fixing the exterior of your home is to hire a reputable siding company.  While it might be tempting to take this project on by yourself, using a siding contractor can assure that your building products are installed correctly, avoiding any problems in the future from incorrect installation.  Many people are tempted to simply pick the first contractor that their internet search brings up; however this could turn out to be a grave mistake.  There are several things to look for in your siding contractor, whether the work you need done is interior or exterior work.

There are several important steps to follow in order to ensure that the contractor you are hiring is not only reputable but also performs work that people are pleased with:

Referrals – The best place to start your search in finding a reputable siding contractor is through referrals.  The best contractors usually come through word of mouth.  The best places to look for referrals include:

Homeowner Referrals – If another homeowner recommends a business or contractor, they are saying volumes about that business.  If they are willing to recommend someone that did work on their own home, that typically means that they were very satisfied with the work and were willing to pass the name along.  If the referral comes from a friend or relative you will be familiar with the quality that they expect which will help you decide how reputable the referral is.  Talking to other homeowners will also give you an idea if the price you were quoted is reasonable compared to what they paid.

Home Shows – Home shows are a great place to check out many different siding contractors at once.  Siding contractors will usually use this opportunity to show off their portfolio, giving you the chance to compare many different contractors’ work at once.  It’s also a good chance to talk in depth with contractors, listen to the steps they took to complete certain projects and really get a feel for their character and amount of pride in their work.

Manufacturer Websites – Some manufacturer’s websites include a listing of professionals that install their product.  If a manufacturer is willing to put their name on the line by listing a contractor, then their work is most likely dependable and worthy of the recommendation.  Siding contractors that are recommended by a manufacturer might also have specialized training in that specific product or a larger product offering.

Once you have referrals that you can trust, the next three steps are simple:

Research Reputations – The beauty of the internet is that everyone loves to review services that they’ve received.  Sites like YellowPages.com, Angie’s List and Yelp are great places to start looking for reviews on contractors you are thinking about using.  If you are unable to locate any reviews online, it’s always acceptable to ask for references right from the contractor.  You could also research them through the Better Business Bureau.  Right on the BBB website you can see if this siding contractor has any formal complaints filed against them, if the contractor and business is accredited and what their rating is.

Check License and Insurance – Make sure the contractor you are interested in hiring is fully licensed.  You should also be aware of your state’s licensing requirements, as each state has different requirements.  Also check that the contractor holds liability insurance.  There’s always the risk that a contractor could damage something on your property.  Without the proper insurance, you might end up having to pay for the repairs, rather than the contractor being responsible.  Liability insurance is also important in case the contractor or his help gets hurt while working on your home, without the proper insurance you could be held liable for the medical bills.

Permits – Before beginning any work, it’s imperative that your contractor obtains the proper permits that are required in your city.  It is also important before any work begins to obtain any estimates in writing.  These are helpful in cases when there is a discrepancy in the quoted price.  The final step is to make sure that you have a guaranteed, final contract.

Your home is your safe haven, the one place in the world that you can feel secure and happy, away from the outside world.  It is also serves as a first impression that people get about you; your home tells a lot about who and what you are.  Being one of the biggest investments you will ever make, you want to make sure that you take care of your home and only give it the best.  The exterior of your home not only serves to protect you and your family from the elements, but it also plays a part in energy efficiency, your home’s resale value as well as its curb appeal.  If you are considering replacing the existing siding, whether it is vinyl, masonite, wood or stucco, you might be considering fiber cement siding such as Hardiplank or Hardie Board.

What exactly are your choices when it’s time to residing your home?  There are typically 4 solutions:  do nothing, repair and repaint, use an inexpensive product or use a low maintenance, long lasting siding product like Hardiplank installed by a trusted remodeling siding contractor.  There are some siding contractors that will take the easy way out and recommend that you cut corners and use cheap replacements such as plastic to cover up your siding problems.  If you choose to do this there is the potential that you are covering up larger problems such as pest damage, rot or mold.

The major problems with vinyl siding is that it is thin, unnatural and has overlapping seams.  Vinyl siding has the potential to melt in extreme heat as well as become brittle in cold temperatures, which makes it vulnerable for impact damage.  When it comes to the beauty of your siding, vinyl siding cannot be painted, which makes repairs almost impossible because the colors would not match up.

Hardiplank siding offers the rich, traditional characteristics of wood but doesn’t have the costly maintenance that wood has.  Hardiplank is noncombustible and is approved for fire-rated construction.  It also is resistant to rotting, warping, cracking and damages from hail or high winds up to 150 mph.  Aesthetically pleasing with performance benefits like no other siding, Hardieplank is specifically engineered for the region it will be installed in.  Ranking #1 in America for siding, James Hardie’s siding products cover over 4 million homes in North America.  Backed by more than 100 years of research and development, Hardieplank comes with one of the best warranties in the industry.

Upgrading your siding to Hardieplank is one of the most cost-effective investment choices you can make for your home.  Hardieplank siding stands high above the rest and will give you the best return on your investment.  For the very best results with your Hardieplank siding, make sure to use a professional remodeling contractor.

In the past, most windows were made of wood, which is a very stable material.  Today however, the most common material for windows is vinyl, which is not nearly as stable as wood.  Vinyl is very affected by weather conditions, expanding and contracting with the rising and falling temperatures which cause them to be distorted.  The fragile nature of vinyl windows makes it imperative to hold the windows in place with mild pressure.  There must be the right amount of room for the vinyl to expand with the temperature changes but also be able to go back to its original shape, which is why the amount of pressure applied is very important.

If the vinyl windows are made to fit the hole with precision, then there would be no room for expanding which would cause the window to distort.  The same is true if we were to put solid blockings in all of the corners to assure a secure fit, there would not be enough room for the window to change.  With vinyl windows, they will expand with or without an allowance for it.  If we don’t leave room, then we risk the chance of the window possibly bowing, twisting or even shattering.

The latest technique to install vinyl windows is only by attaching the nail fin.  This procedure which is widely practiced has been shown to be inadequate and possibly harmful to your windows.  The nailing fin is simply a thin piece of vinyl that projects out of all four sides of the window.  To install the windows, nails are driven through the fin into the wall framing around the window.  The problem with this installation lies in the fact that if the hole isn’t perfectly sized or the rough opening isn’t square, the framing will not be behind the fin everywhere, putting your windows at risk.  Another problem with this type of installation is that if the nailing fin is damaged before installing it is basically useless.  This technique to install vinyl windows is a temporary solution.

In order to rectify this situation, sometimes scrap blocks are used to support the window off the rough sill.  The problem with this is that the blocks are usually incorrectly placed which causes further distortion to your windows.  Improperly supported or restrained windows will quickly distort depending on the pressure that is put upon them.  Depending on where the windows are incorrectly supported depends on how the window will react.  Windows supported only in the corners will sag in the middle and windows only supported in the middle will sag in the corners.  The result is having the bottom of your window resembling a roller coaster.

If your vinyl windows are improperly installed, you could notice distortion and damage as short as one year after installation.  I have personally inspected many installations and a large majority was done incorrectly.  Many of the windows I inspected had problems within the first year of installation.

When it’s time to replace your windows, you are faced with two choices, either fiberglass windows or vinyl windows (PVC windows).  There are good and bad points to using both types of windows, making the choice of windows for your home a personal choice, depending on your needs.

Durability

The material that vinyl windows are made from is the same material that the PVC pipes in bathrooms are made from.  This makes vinyl windows very durable both in strength and in longevity.  However, fiberglass windows have been proven to be eight times as tough as vinyl windows, making them the more durable choice.

Withstanding Weather Conditions

Vinyl replacement windows are very temperamental when it comes to extreme weather.  Over time, vinyl windows will start to have issues with the seals because of the effects of rising and falling temperatures causing them to expand and contract, eventually causing them to lose their seal altogether.  Fiberglass replacement windows are able to stand the pressure of harsh weather conditions much better.  They are not affected by the rising and falling of temperatures throughout the year and typically don’t have any issues with their seals.

Appearance

Vinyl windows are unable to be painted.  The original color of your vinyl windows is the color that they will remain for the life of the windows.  This is a good choice for homeowners that keep the colors of their home the same over time.  If you are the type of person that likes to change the colors in your home often, then fiberglass windows are a better choice since they are able to be painted time and again.  Fiberglass windows are also built to resemble solid wood, so they naturally go better with any décor than vinyl windows do.

Environmental Issues

In today’s world, it’s important to think about the environment when we make any home improvements.  Vinyl windows are made out of polyvinyl chloride which is known to be harmful both during the manufacturing process and afterwards.  Even though there’s been talk of some of these environmental issues being taken care of, PVC still isn’t a popular material among many those that are environmentally conscience.  Fiberglass windows on the other hand are made out of silica sand which is a readily available resource that is very environment friendly.

Fiberglass Windows

Fiberglass windows which 40% of its materials are from recycled resources, are made from organic material such as silica sand and are not known to pose any environmental risks are a better choice for our homes.  You will be making a better choice not only for your home but for the environment as well when you choose fiberglass windows.

Q & A- What causes a roof to leak?

A resident from Schaumburg, IL dared to challenge our “go ahead, ask us anything” motto.  This question has been asked too many times and I thought it’d be great to share with our followers.  Please understand all answers are based off the experience of a general contractor.  I’ve been an acting roofing contractor and have been doing roof replacements for many years.  If anyone finds my answers untrue, please inform us immediately.

Question-

Hi Jason:

I just got my roof replaced by a roofing contractor about 3 years ago.  The roofing shingles that were installed on top of my roof are the GAF 30 year architectural style.  Granted, I didn’t do my homework before hiring the roofing company.  So that’s a big thumb down on my part for being a “responsible” homeowner.  The roof started leaking just 3 years after the roofing project was completed.  The leak did not occur from a rain storm, hail storm, or snow storm.  It just happened during a light evening shower.  After going back and forth with the roofing contractors, they finally agreed to repair the damages at no cost to me.  My roof has sustained heavy storm for over 3 years, so why is it leaking now?

Answer-

Hi Paul,

Our company just had a discussion on this topic.  There are four major reasons as to how a roof leak can start. 

Weather

Contrary to popular belief, the sun actually causes more damage than either wind or rain to a roof.  The constant rays of the sun beat on the roof, which causes the shingles to weather.  The shingles will eventually become dry and brittle from the sun’s rays.  The sun also causes the tar that binds the shingles of the roof together to soften.  This will eventually cause the shingles to warp.  The damage of warping and cracking that the sun causes then allows rainwater to get in between the shingles, compromising the integrity of the roof.

Rain and wind are the next most detrimental contributing factors that cause a roof to leak.  During stormy weather, roof shingles shift which causes seals to loosen around the vents and flashing.  This too compromises the integrity of the roof, allowing rainwater to infiltrate between the shingles and roofing felt.

Poor Workmanship

A problem that causes immediate roof leakage is improperly installing a roof.  Luckily you’ll be able to test the likelihood of your roof being installed correctly fairly soon after it is installed.  After the first heavy rainstorm, if your roof is leaking, it’s pretty likely that it was not installed correctly.

The most common area of leakage due to poor workmanship of a roof is at the valleys.  Valleys are the sloping canals that occur between two sections of a pitched roof.  It is imperative that valleys are tar papered in herringbone style.  The shingles must also be tarred in the same fashion, with a single piece of metal flashing running down the length of the valley.  This is typically installed incorrectly when roofing companies hire laborers to install roofs rather than employing skilled professionals in the roofing industry.  Poor workmanship in this fashion will cause your roof to leak.  A way to avoid your roof leaking from poor workmanship such as improperly tarring the valleys is to pay for trained roofers to install your roof in the first place.

Aside from the valleys, the second most common place for a roof to leak is in along the ridges.  This happens not because of poor workmanship, but because the sun and wind damage the ridge caps, which then results in a leaking roof.

Homeowner Roof Abuse

Another common reason that roofs leak is roof abuse by homeowners.  It’s common for homeowners to walk on hot shingles with cleated work boots.  When heat hits the tar on roofs, it makes the shingles temporarily impressionable, which means that the heavy boots cause severe damage to the shingles.  It’s also important for homeowners to avoid skidding down the roof or applying unnecessary pressure to the shingles.

Lack of Maintenance and Inspection

With a bi-annual inspection of your roof, it is possible to avoid many roof leaks.  Any of the factors that can cause a roof to leak including loose shingles, vents or flashing whether they are due to weather issues or homeowner abuse can be found early on which will avoid roof leaks in the future.

A resident from West Chicago dared to challenge our “go ahead, ask us anything” motto.  This question has been asked too many time and I thought it’d be great to share with our followers.  Please understand all answers are based off the experience of a general contractor.  I’ve been an acting roofing contractor and have been doing roof replacements for many years.  If anyone finds my answers untrue, please inform us immediately.

Question-

Hi Jason:

Thanks.

Answer-

Hi Dave,

We do not, but I do know the problem and have solutions.  Usually ice dams occur due to improper air flow in your attic.  Attics are supposed to be 5 degrees (give or take) difference compared to the outside temperature.  When there is snow on your roof, the heat from your attic is melting the snow.  The melted water turns into ice once it reaches the gutters.  This cycle will continue, and eventually, ice will get backed under all your roof underlayments (shingle/ice water/felt).  That ice will melt and water will find its way into your home.
Proper solution- You either do not have enough ventilation in your attic or the insulation in the attic is plugging the soffit vents.  You’ll need to crawl into your attic with a flash light and check if insulation is plugging the soffit.  Use a tool to bring out as much insulation away from the soffit area.  Do this along all soffit surroundings.

Alternative solution- Purchase a heat coil at Home Depot/Lowes.  When winter comes, line the heat coil inside the gutters and ice dams will no longer occur.

Another question answered by the Schaumburg Contractor.  I hope this helps you. Let me know if any other problems arise, I would be happy to help. Have a great day.

Not Picutred- Nike, Barnes and Noble, Overstock, REI, and Foot Locker.

We’ll ask a series of questions and the first person with the correct answer will be declared the winner.  Questions may be random so please bring your thinking caps!  There can only be 1 winner per question answered.  A series of 5 questions will be posted on our Facebook wall.  Please see contest rules.

Contest Rules:

1.  The contest is open to U.S. citizens.  Identification must be produced on request.  Employees of Cornerstone Exteriors, its contest sponsor, advertising and promotional agencies and their respective affiliates and associates and such employees’ immediate family members and person with whom such employees are domiciled are excluded from this contest.

2.  The prize is not redeemable in cash and must be accepted as awarded.

3.  Decisions of the contest winners are final – no substitution will be available.

4.  In accepting the prize, the winner, and any guest(s), acknowledges that Cornerstone Exteriors may not be held liable for any loss, damages or injury associated with accepting or using this prize(s).

5.  Cornerstone Exteriors retains the rights, in its absolute and sole discretion, to make substitutions of equivalent kind of approximate value in the event of the unavailability of any prize or component of the prize for any reason whatsoever.

6. This contest is subject to all federal, provincial and municipal laws.

7. Cornerstone Exteriors reserves the right to withdraw or terminate this contest at any time without prior notice.

8.  Approximate value of prizes vary.

9. Contest open to U.S. residents only.

10. One entry per person, per contest.

We hope everyone had a great Labor Day weekend, and as equally important, we hope our beloved Mike P. had a terrific birthday!

Now, Mike may not be the youngest in our company, and we dare not disclose his real age, but boy is he still high-spirited and excited for work every day. Being a contractor is not necessarily a walk in the park, and we really do not know how Mike does it. He is actually a very active person, maybe more active than the rest of us! He likes to go out and catch football games, spends time with his family, and is an avid golfer (who is looking for some new golf partners!).
One thing that we are really fond of in Mike, besides the fact that he spoils us with chocolate covered almonds, is that he really knows his products. Whether it is windows, siding, or even insulation, Mike takes the time to research the science behind each product we carry, and even the ones we don’t. Because of this, he carries great recommendations and suggestions to improve each individual home. Cornerstone has become wiser and has learned much pertinent information through Mike. His all-around knowledge combined with zeal makes him a great asset to our company, and we love having him around. To our most graceful ager, happy “21st” birthday, Mike!

For those who do not know him too well, Randy is definitely the office joker. He is always up for making everyone laugh, and is known for re-telling corny jokes about a thousand times. No matter how old they get, he somehow manages to make them seem even funnier the more he repeats them! If the Cornerstone office were a Chicago Bulls team, Randy would be Joakim Noah. He’s easy to dislike at first, but once you get to know him you end up loving the guy to pieces! And that’s not his only similarity to Joakim, because Randy also cannot shoot a basketball for his life, ha! Kidding, of course. He actually frequents Lifetime Fitness on a regular basis and is a beast on the basketball courts – literally, a beast.

On a more serious note, he plays an important role in our company and takes much heart in all that he does. One specific attribute that we really admire in him is his great and instant rapport with all of his clients. Making homeowners feel at ease when remodeling their homes is not an easy task, but fortunately it comes natural to Randy. He also knows when to ease some of the tension in the office. Often times we all can get caught up in the hustle and bustle of our work, but Randy reminds us that it is important to take a breather every now and then and enjoy team camaraderie. We are very lucky to have him on-board. Who knows where Cornerstone Exteriors would be without him!

To Randy, your Cornerstone family takes this time to thank you for all the hard work you’ve put forth, and we wish you all the best on your special day. Not only are you a year older, but a year better.