To Improve or Not to Improve Your House With a New Exterior

Vinyl Siding vs. Cedar Siding vs. Fiber Cement vs. Painting

These are the four choices which represent the most economical and viable options you have if the exterior of your house is in need of attention, for whatever reason. Those reasons can be anything such as you’re at risk of losing value in one of your most important assets, or you’d like to improve its “curb appeal” to help you sell, or you’d just love a “new” house to come home to. Each reason to improve the appearance or “look” of your house may warrant a different solution. And chances are good that a new, quality siding product or a fresh couple coats of new premium exterior house paint will address your problem.
Deciding what type of home siding is right for you is a bit like shopping for a new car. There are many options to choose from. You select the make and model you prefer based on your driving needs, i.e. performance, mileage, etc. The same is true when considering your siding options! As you decide which of the following options is right for you, please consider your house as it is now and what siding options you think could apply; your neighbors and your neighborhood: will what you’re considering complement the homes that are nearby; the amount of time you plan to stay in your home: that will impact your return on this home improvement investment; your dreams for your home: which option(s) have you begun to lean toward over the weeks, months and maybe years since you first contemplated this improvement? As Burr Roofing – Siding – Windows knows, deciding which choice is right for you can be part of a difficult decision. However, the siding option you choose represents only 20% of your total satisfaction. The contractor you choose to install it and stand behind it represents 80% of your total satisfaction. The goal is for you to make your smart choice. That takes 100% commitment to your 100% satisfaction…

Let’s start with “the 20%”

Revitalizing your home has never been simpler! Installing vinyl, cedar or fiber cement siding, or having premium exterior house paint applied will update your home’s look, enhance curb appeal, protect your home from the elements and increase your resale value. Still, it is quite an investment and you will want to carefully choose which option, style, color(s) and type of siding is best for you and your home. Truth be told... vinyl, cedar, fiber cement siding or painting/staining each have strengths and weaknesses depending on what is important to you. All of these options have proved to satisfy and delight homeowners everywhere with a “new” home they love coming home to every day!

Vinyl Siding

Valued for its long lasting qualities, array of styles, colors and durability, vinyl siding provides instant curb appeal. The cost of vinyl siding is also lower than that of other replacement siding materials.
Generally, thicker is better. The thinner the siding, the more it could sag over time. The thicker the siding, the stiffer and more durable it will tend to be. The best vinyl siding is thick and stiff.
Wind resistance. You want siding that will stay on the house in a storm. Some manufacturers actually warranty their siding in winds over 150 mph. Be sure to ask about wind resistance and the warranty.
Getting attached to siding. Unlike wood, vinyl siding is not attached tightly to the house. It more or less hangs on the side of the house, because it contracts and expands with heat and cold. A double hem mounting area usually provides better attachment than a single hem. If the siding is too tight, there's poor ventilation. If it's too loose, it can be noisy. Bottom line: it needs to be installed properly.
Rain resistance. Because it hangs loosely, vinyl siding is less likely to trap moisture. However, there are also areas where water can leak inside, so proper flashings should be installed, as well as house felt or builder's wrap.
Fading factor. The best vinyl siding, which is more expensive, tends to fade less than cheaper siding. Look for UV protection in the description, and ask about how it will stand up to sunlight. Also, if you live in a sunny area, ask about whether a light color would fade less than a dark color.
Pick you profile. Some vinyl siding is designed with a deeper profile, or a more pronounced bend in the design of the siding. This generally looks more like wood. So consider the overall look of the siding, to be sure you get what you want.

Cedar Siding: More Options – More Decisions

Cedar, over other types of exterior materials, is chosen for beauty and appeal more than maintenance and cost. While cedar is durable, rich, and natural, it does need to be re-stained or painted to keep its attractiveness. However, it can be left to naturally age without cracking, rotting or warping like other wood. You'll never have to chemically treat cedar if you like the unfinished look, and it has natural anti-fungal and antibacterial properties due to the tannins present in the wood.
You will need to consider the style of your home and those in your neighborhood. What color will enhance the beauty of your home? Given the local climate, how long will the siding last? Is it difficult to maintain? And, of course, can you afford the cost of vinyl siding or the other options?
There are few companies in the Fairfield, New Haven and Westchester counties that have the experience you need when it comes to cedar house siding. Proper installation and proper finish application is crucial to long-term performance. Make sure the company you are considering to do the work has a good number of cedar siding jobs under their belt. If you select the right product and have it installed correctly, cedar siding has incomparable beauty.
There are generally two types of cedar siding, red cedar and white cedar.

Red Cedar

Red Cedar is available in several basic styles and is more durable than white cedar. They are horizontal clapboard style (known as beveled siding), shingles, and shakes. Ask about the different grades available, which are generally determined by grain pattern.

TIP: As a rule, the narrower and thicker the grain pattern, the better the performance. Red Cedar is generally sold in clear unfinished form. Many homeowners like the natural look of weathered cedar. We do not advise this option because the product will not perform over the long term if left untreated.

TIP: Clear unfinished cedar house siding will not weather evenly due to each side of your house being exposed to the weather differently.

Clear Coat Solution Available For Unfinished Cedar

If you really prefer the natural look of unfinished cedar there is a clear coat solution available that will prolong the life of the wood and enable it to weather more slowing and evenly. This will allow you to maximize the performance and beauty of the product on your house. This clear coat is applied after the siding has been installed and is an excellent option if a long-term natural look is your goal.
Make sure to mention this when you speak to your Burr siding specialist.
Red Cedar is also available pre-primed at the factory, which means it has been coated on all sides using a primer such as Cabot's primer. This adds a benefit of sealing all sides (front, back, and edges) of the product so it is less likely to absorb moisture, expand and contract and move around like it will do in its natural state. This will prolong the life of the wood. But even factory pre-primed product will require field applied finish coats. Factory warranties on this finish range from 5 - 15 years.
Most site-applied stain rarely comes with more than a one or two year warranty on the finish. So for maximum performance consider a pre-primed or pre-finished option.

TIP: It is a fact that a house releases moisture everyday similar to sweating. If the backside of your cedar siding has not been treated, the moisture will find its way through the siding and try to push out through the painted or stained surface causing bubbles and cracks. If you prefer the beauty of wood siding and want to avoid painting any more than necessary be sure to purchase a siding product that has been back-sealed with a primer or finish coat.

White Cedar

White cedar is a shingle product only and comes from a different part of the country and from a different tree than red cedar. White cedar offers a very unique look and has very different grain characteristics than red cedar. In its natural state it has almost a whitish very light appearance and left unfinished it characteristically weathers to a silvery gray, a lighter color than what red cedar would weather to. White cedar is found in the North East and is famous on Cape Cod, Martha's Vineyard, and Nantucket. The shingles are smaller than red cedar shingles and offer a very unique and beautiful look on certain types of architecture (e.g. Cape Cod style houses, ranch style houses and some colonial style houses) A very “beachy” look indeed!
White cedar is also available factory finished and stained in various colors. But what makes white cedar so different than red cedar is that it comes available using a bleaching oil stain. This particular style is fast becoming a Burr specialty. Bleached white cedar is a very popular look in Coastal Connecticut. When bleached, you immediately get that silvery gray tint right from beginning consistently over the whole house.
The bleaching oil process allows for the weathering to occur very gradually and evenly keeping a uniform attractive appearance. Very often our customers see this style and they automatically say... "Yes, that is the look I want!"

Textures

Cedar Siding is available in smooth, rough or saw-textured surfaces. When used with clear or semi-transparent finishes, a smooth surface will show the grain patterns and color variations in the wood more than other textures. These surfaces also absorb less finish and typically require more maintenance than other textures. In contrast, rough and saw-textured surfaces can absorb about twice as much finish as smooth textured surfaces and, when protected by stain or water repellent finishes, need to be recoated much less frequently.
Wood siding and wood finishes go hand in hand in providing consumers with virtually unlimited choices for appearance. By properly selecting the grade, seasoning, pattern and texture of the siding and by protecting it from moisture, sun and mold with a quality finish, wood siding can last for many decades.

Accessories & Trim Work

Sometimes it's the little things that make the difference such as decorative trim including crown moldings, window casings, corner posts, fascia, soffits, freeze boards, accent trim, etc.
Burr Roofing – Siding – Windows specializes in this trim work that can really accent the look and feel of your new siding. Ask your siding specialist when you speak with him about available options for your project.

Tips on Maintaining Cedar House Siding

Moisture is the biggest and most common problem to homes with cedar siding. Moisture penetrates the siding through the smallest cracks and crevices, but keeping your siding dry takes just a few simple steps.
Check the flashing and caulking around your home
Try to maintain the interior humidity of around 40%
Install heating wires at the eaves to melt any ice before water backs up under the roof shingles
Have ice and water barrier installed initially or when re-roofed
Be sure your attic is properly insulated and air is well-circulated
Hire a contractor to take these measures if you cannot do it yourself

Cleaning Cedar Siding

Many people choose cedar siding for their homes because of how it looks. When it is properly maintained, cedar siding can be beautiful because of its color, but it can be susceptible to mildew, mold spores, bugs and dirt.
To clean, use a pressure washer. One can be rented from your local tool rental store. Use a somewhat low pressure to wash the siding or you will damage your wood. Wash the area with water first, then mix together a solution of water, dish or laundry soap and a little bleach for a cleaner that can transform your siding from grimy to gorgeous.
Cedar shakes and shingles are no different. They, too, can be damaged by moisture or severe weather, such as hail. But they are not maintenance-free and do not last a lifetime. They will need replacement if damaged and while they are highly efficient and are biodegradable, maintenance is required.
Make sure downspouts run all the way to the ground to keep moisture away from your shakes
Keep downspouts free of debris
Trim overhanging branches to avoid debris from falling on the shakes or in the downspouts
Treat your shakes to an anti fungal treatment at least once
Cedar needs to be stained or painted every few years to maintain it's natural beauty.

What else should I know when considering buying Cedar siding?

Cedar siding should last for many, many years, but it must be properly maintained.
Proper maintenance includes power washing, staining and sealing whenever the heat of the sun fades the finish, or moisture starts to turn to mold or mildew. Always allow wood to dry well before applying a new stain or finish.
Cedar is known for its grain and its rot resistance. It is straight, and resists splitting. Cedar takes a stain well and reveals a rich character. It is commonly used in shakes and shingles because it is dimensionally stable, resists swelling, and has less cupping and splitting. Cedar clapboards are popular, too, but clear grade A cedar can be very costly. Still, for its grain and texture, cedar is preferred for stain applications.
Some say that cedar is inherently more moisture and insect-resistant than pine, but no wood is insect or moisture-proof. All woods must be sealed and stained or painted to resist moisture, damage, and decay.
If not properly cared for, wood siding can quickly deteriorate. Common troubles include bowed or expanded panels, shrinkage, disintegration, fading and the local critters. It is important that you minimize exposure to moisture, i.e. avoid 'watering' your house by distancing sprinklers.
Painting will be required every 5 to 7 years, and staining every 3 to 5. Regular inspections of joints, nails and planks will help you maintain your wood siding for the years to come.

What is Fiber Cement siding & why should I consider Hardiplank® Fiber Cement for my home?

For homeowners that want the look of wood but don’t want the hassles and costs associated with it, fiber cement siding is a great alternative. Burr relies on fiber cement industry leader, James Hardie and their fantastic Hardiplank®. This product is available in a variety of textures that can provide the appearance of wood. Fiber cement siding is more durable than wood -- it is termite-water-wind-snow-sun-hail-warp-shrinkage-rot resistant, non-combustible, and warranted to last 50 years, which you can transfer to subsequent owners.
While fiber cement siding has been in use for over 100 years, research and development continues today. Fiber cement siding is composed of cement, sand, and cellulose fiber that has been autoclaved (cured with pressurized steam) to increase its strength and dimensional stability. The fiber is added as reinforcement to prevent cracking.
Fiber cement products are very attractive. You can choose from a variety of clapboard siding styles that have embossed wood grained texture or smooth finish. The siding comes in a multitude of widths that permit you to have clapboard exposures ranging from 4 inches up to nearly 11 inches. You can decide among a smooth, stucco, or vertical rustic groove appearance
The fiber cement siding can be complemented by weather resistant vinyl or PVC-based Azek® trim and ventilation accessories. The trim pieces are used at inside and outside corners, where soffit pieces abut against one another and as a flashing material when the stucco panels abut one another. The vinyl or Azek® trim pieces are extremely tasteful. They must be used if you want your fiber cement siding and stucco panels to block wind driven rain and snow. Both vinyl or the superior Azek® trim readily accept paint or stain.
Fiber cement siding planks offer a unique capability. Because of the rigid nature of the product, they can be blind nailed with many of the available sizes. Each clapboard is nailed approximately 1 inch from the top edge. The next overlapping piece hides the nails below. This allows you to produce a siding job free from the polka dot appearance nails cause on many traditional wood sidings.
Because fiber cement siding must be primed and painted, either at the factory or onsite within 90 days of installation, your color options are virtually unlimited. 100 percent water based acrylic paint grips cement fiber products exceptionally well. The siding planks and stucco panels also accept stains. Because the cement products do not expand and contract to the extent that wood does, paint rarely peels and blisters and therefore holds paint for several years longer than wood.

My house, including the cedar siding you installed years ago, just needs painting…

Burr’s recently added professional paint department, for interior and exterior painting, is at the ready. Painting is not something you want to do often and especially not prematurely. Most paint problems are caused by these things:
1) Wrong paint for the project.
2) Wrong or no surface preparation.
3) Wrong application tools and/or techniques
It’s easy to assume all professional painting contractors will know what they’re doing and do what they’re supposed to. But you often won’t know if corners were cut, maybe so they can get your project based on a low bid. Then problems with blistering, cracking, flaking, leaching and mottling, to name just a few, can appear. By then it’s often too late as your contractor might not be easy to find.
“Professional painter” means more than just getting paid to do it. It means that all the necessary steps are taken, none are “missed”, and there’s more than just a couple guys with ladders, paint and brushes standing behind your paint project. Make sure your contract spells out the entire process so that you, your house and your investment are protected.

Here are the minimum steps you want to see in writing:
Power wash & clean all subject walls
Spot hand-scrape any remaining loose paint
All course edges will be feather sanded to smooth
Caulk all voids to reduce any water infiltration
Spot prime any bare wood surfaces
Identify damaged siding or trim needing replacement

All that BEFORE it’s time to PAINT, then…
Brush-apply two coats of premium exterior paint or stain
Wood window get trimmed, unless it’s clad
Paint any type siding or brick
Help you choose among many painting options
State in writing what’s included in clean up