Five Reasons Why Your Home Needs New Siding

4/26/2006

(ARA) While a barrel of oil is at an all-time high and natural gas prices nearly doubled, homeowners can take action to save money and make their home more beautiful. If you re wondering if your home needs new siding, consider this:

* Were my heating and cooling energy bills much higher than I wanted them to be?

* Has it been more than three years since I repainted or stained my home s exterior?

* Do I think my home s exterior has lost its luster and do my neighbors hint about when are we going to do something?

* Do I have enough insulation between the siding and walls of my home -- if any insulation at all?

* Is my home 10 years old or more?

Rick and Julia Hartman have been living in their home for nine years and plan on staying, but wanted to make it look nicer. The Hartmans had new siding installed on their home this summer.

The installers put insulation between the siding and the house. We could already tell this summer it was easier to cool. The electricity bill is already lower. We re anxious to see what it ll be like this winter.

The Hartmans had masonite siding on their home. I painted it once and said never again. I don t like painting for one thing, Rick said. Most siding installed on homes today is constructed of steel, vinyl or wood. Steel siding is the most durable. Wood siding needs to be scraped and painted every few years.

Temperature changes can cause vinyl to expand, contract and crack. How the siding is installed on the home is also very important. Some siding comes in standard 12-foot lengths, which can leave the average home with more than 130 visible seams. Dirt, moisture and bugs can get behind these seams leaving the home looking dirty and detracting from its curb appeal. An investment in professionally installed seamless steel siding and insulation wrapped around your home can protect your most valued asset while saving you time and money for years to come. Courtesy of ARA Content.