Considering vinyl siding for your New England home? Which product? What should you expect? Who should you hire for a contractor? Why make it Care Free? We’ll explain.
1. Which vinyl siding product should you choose?
With an extensive selection of textures, widths, colors, and trim options, homeowners are sure to find a product that suits their style and their budget. Do you want to give your home a new look? Do you want to keep the look of your existing siding? How much do you have budgeted for your project? Here in New England, our most popular vinyl siding choices are clapboard and shingle style. A replica of our historic cedar clapboards, Mastic’s Carvedwood Series or CertainTeed’s Monogram 46 vinyl siding feature long, horizontal panels. Cedar shingle style siding, like Mastic’s Cedar Discovery or CertainTeed’s Cedar Impressions, mimic the look of painted cedar shingles. When installed professionally – the difference between natural wood siding and vinyl siding is virtually unrecognizable. Many homeowners opt to add unique siding accents like Mastic’s vertical board & batten, half round cedar shakes, and oh-so-real looking siding like Cedar Discovery hand-split shakes. Selecting the appropriate trim options will enhance the look of your siding and is truly what sets your custom siding project apart from your neighbor’s handyman special. Our customers typically opt for custom fabricated aluminum trim but there are vinyl trim options as well. Your contractor can help you decide which products work best for your budget and your style.
2. Wh
at should you expect when installing vinyl siding on your home?
Typically, there are four basic steps to a professional, full coverage vinyl siding installation. First, your contractor must determine which installation option works best for your home. Depending on the condition of your existing siding – it is either completely stripped off the home or foam board is installed over the existing siding. If there are concerns with rot it should be replaced before any siding or trim is installed. It’s never a good idea to cover up a problem, don’t let a contractor tell you otherwise. Second, all trim is installed and wrapped – this means everything around the windows, doors, corner boards, fascia boards, rake boards and soffits will be covered. Third, professional grade house wrap or rigid foam board will be placed on walls for additional protection from the elements and smooth installation. Finally, the most exciting part of your project – vinyl siding! Because they come in panels, installation of the actual vinyl siding is relatively quick. The average size home takes about 1 week from start to finish.
3. Who should you hire for your project?
This is critical to getting the project right. All vinyl siding contractors should be in good standing with the Better Business Bureau and certified by the Vinyl Siding Institute – there are very specific installation steps that must be followed or your project could be a disaster. For example, your contractor should know that vinyl siding expands and contracts with temperature fluctuation – if installed incorrectly it could buckle or warp. It isn’t uncommon for poorly installed vinyl siding to blow off in a New England Nor’Easter or hurricane. Know if your contractor puts their projects out to bid. Are they going to give your project to the lowest bidder or do they have their own crews? Always know who will be doing the actual work on your property.
All products are not created equal – a qualified contractor will only provide professional grade products. Vinyl siding manufacturers, like Mastic or CertainTeed, feature outstanding products and warranties to ensure homeowners will have both a beautiful home and peace of mind. Be sure to ask for contractor accreditations, awards, customer references, and addresses of past projects – this is a great way to see the quality of their workmanship and products. Beware of contractors who ask for deposits or project prepayment – this could indicate financial instability and may foreshadow bigger problems like botched or incomplete projects.
4. Why make it Care Free?
Since 1978, our family has been providing quality products and craftsmanship to homeowners throughout Southeastern Massachusetts, Cape Cod, and Rhode Island. We’ve been an A+ accredited member of the Better Business Bureau since 1993 and are proud to be both a Mastic Elite Contractor and a member of the Vinyl Siding Institute. We do all custom work – no cheesy vinyl siding jobs here! Our vinyl siding crews specialize in their trade – vinyl siding is their life! Expect nothing less than an honest, professional experience with expert installation- but don’t take it from us – our customers will tell you themselves! All of our estimates are no cost and no obligation – contact us today and make your house a Care Free home!
