Eventually, the worn siding on your home is going to need to be repaired, but it might be better to replace it. There are a lot of options to improve your home when doing a siding replacement project. You can add features that improve efficiency, prevent damage, and change the appearance of your home. The following siding replacement options will change the design of your home with practical improvements:
Rigid Insulated Backing and House Wrap
The backing of your siding is one of the most important features to consider. Older siding materials may have a plywood backing, which is sturdy but provides little insulating value. Thus, you may want to have rigid foam sheathing installed. In addition, modern house wrap materials can be installed to stop air leaks and protect your home from moisture problems.
Sealing Air Gaps for Energy Loss and Pests
Another improvement that can be done when replacing our siding is sealing any air gaps. These are often the cracks between window and door openings or mechanical vents. There are other gaps that can be a problem, such as at the seal plate on a foundation wall or slab. This is where wood framing starts and where your home is most exposed to insects, pests, and energy loss due to air leaks. Modern foam sealants can be used to seal these areas before the new siding is installed on your home.
Custom Siding Designs with Different Styles
The custom styles that you choose for your siding replacement are the most important to give your home a custom look. The different siding styles can be separated with friezes and molding trim on the exterior. These features can be used for transitions and structural features. For example, the lap siding can stop at the roofline, and gables can be finished with board-and-batten or shake siding styles.
Adding Trim and Molding Details to Exteriors
There are exterior features on your home that can be enhanced with the right trim and molding details. Many of these features can be added during the siding replacement. The trim and molding details can be wide features around windows, crown moldings at the soffit, and other features. There are even options for decorative composite moldings that are designed for exterior finishes. These details can enhance the appearance of your home and give your siding more of a custom look.
The siding improvements can reduce energy loss and improve the appearance of your home. Contact a siding replacement contractor to discuss these options to improve the design of your home when you have your siding replaced.
When you build a home or make a large addition to the home, you will hire a general contractor to oversee the project and do the majority of the work. This individual may subcontract some small tasks to specialists, such as window installers and HVAC techs, but for the most part, it is their responsibility to ensure everything is built according to plan.
As you can imagine, general contractors have very varied jobs. No two days are alike! On this website, you will learn more about what general contractors do, which will come in handy the next time you need to hire one.