Often referred to as the Dynamic Duo of insulated siding, the combination of tough and resilient vinyl siding coupled with an insulated foam backing is an ideal way to spruce up the exterior appearance of your home, while shaving your energy bills.
The siding on your home is your primary line of defense against the harsh effects of weather, or seasonal temperature fluctuations. A home that lacks adequate siding insulation is more likely to lose heat in the winter and interior cooling effects in the summer. The ability of insulated vinyl siding to maintain a consistent interior temperature will reduce the workload put on heating and air conditioning systems, which directly affects the amount of energy needed to heat and/or cool your home. Bottom line: insulated exterior siding will save you money, and make your home more comfortable.
Another key benefit of insulated vinyl siding is its proven long-lasting durability and ease of maintenance. Once installed the annual use of a hose and brush should be all of the care and maintenance your home’s exterior will need. The downside to this form of exterior cladding is that vinyl siding cannot be re-stained or painted once it is installed, unlike with other types of siding material. If you have a sudden desire to change the color of your home’s exterior, and you have vinyl siding installed, you will have to remove the old and reinstall an entirely new set of vinyl siding to change the outward appearance of your home.
But for many homeowners the long term benefits of vinyl siding trumps any of its potential shortcomings. The following are just a few reasons why insulated vinyl siding could be the best choice if you’re thinking of updating your home’s exterior. When making the choice of what to install on a home’s exterior, here are five important benefits to consider when thinking about insulated vinyl siding.
All Season Insulation: Regardless what the calendar says, your home will be affected by energy entering and exiting through a process called thermal bridging. The use of insulated vinyl siding acts as an exterior buffer to prevent any unwanted energy transfers which significantly reduces the process of thermal bridging. This in turn will lower your heating and cooling bills.
Helping to Reduce Noise: It can be a loud and annoying world out there. Traffic, vocal children, nearby train tracks, industrial sounds can all combine to create a sonic cacophony that you don’t want hammering on the outside of your home. But due to vinyl siding’s sound dampening properties you’ll be able to turn down the volume of the outside world. As an added bonus you can crank your stereo to your heart’s content, knowing the neighbors won’t be complaining.
Exterior Rigidity: Once foam backing is adhered to vinyl siding, the rigidity of the product is increased exponentially. This is especially valuable when dealing with an exterior renovation project. Insulated vinyl siding’s natural rigidity helps to improve the look of straight lines and hide any imperfections that may be present in the structure of the home. Plus, due to the durability of the vinyl and foam backing, insulated siding will maintain its straight and symmetrical shape for years.
Added Impact Resistance: What happens if the boy next door accidently lobs his baseball at the side of your home? If your home is clad in insulated vinyl siding, and assuming he didn’t learn his pitching skills on Krypton, then aside from an audible thump, nothing should happen. The foam backing that fills that hollow space between each section of siding and the home’s walls act as a form of shock absorber against the potential impact of items such as hail, stones thrown from a lawnmower and even errant baseballs.
Bug & Vermin Resistant: With traditional wooden siding gaps, air flow and the comforting nature of the wood itself can act as an attractant for bees, ants and other insects seeking a place to build a safe and secure nest. Other even less appealing visitors such as mice can also occasionally find exterior siding to be the right choice for a comfortable home. As polystyrene backing completely fills the gap between the siding and the walls of the home bugs and other unwanted visitors will not find a space to build a nest. Also, no one ever heard of a termite making a snack out of vinyl. Modern materials are not a good food source for such potentially destructive creatures.
The list could go on, but you probably already have the idea. Insulated vinyl siding is the right choice for many home exterior projects. It’s long lasting, strong, saves money, requires little maintenance and helps to tune out the bluster of the outside world. If you’re interested in learning more about this or other siding options, give us a call today. We’re always interested in discussing your siding needs.