You may be wondering about the best time to replace your siding material. After all, you don’t just wake up one day and decide to change the siding. It is a costly project, but worth every penny when done right. The following post will help you know how soon you need to replace your siding:

When to Replace Vinyl Siding on Your Home

Even though replacing your home’s siding is not on the top of your to-do list, this is definitely something everyone must do at a certain point. After all, the siding is something that cracks, breaks or simply wears out. Eventually, it will begin to leak, which can cause even bigger problems and more expensive, major repairs.

But, how can you know when to replace the vinyl siding on your home?

There are several signs you should pay attention to if you want to avoid additional expenses. For this purpose, we have made a list of the 10 top signs that indicate that your siding needs attention. Read more at O’Sullivan Installs…

Your siding material may look like it is in good condition. But if you see any of the signs mentioned, you may need to start thinking about siding replacement or repair.

Before installation can be done, you need to prepare your home by doing a few things. Getting rid of the old parts completely will necessitate the smooth installation of new siding material. The following post provides a guideline on how to prepare:

How to Prepare Your House for Vinyl Siding Installation

As a vinyl siding manufacturer, we recommend proper surface preparation as an important part of your siding installation. If you want your exterior home makeover, to look sharp, and your new vinyl siding to be clean and straight, all exterior wall surfaces must be even.

6 Tips to Prepare your House for Vinyl Siding Installation

1. Remove all shutters, downspouts, and fixtures

On older homes, replace any rotten wood and securely nail all loose boards, siding, and wood trim. Tie back all shrubbery and trees when plantings are close to the house, and remove any old caulking around windows and doors. Read more at Kaycan…

Proper preparation procedures will ensure that the installation goes well and that your home will get the great new look that you want.

There are several steps that are taken when installing the siding material. Here is an explanation of how siding installation is done:

How to Install Vinyl Siding—the Home Exterior That’s Hot Again

Vinyl siding has long been popular as a home exterior covering—it’s used in one-quarter of new single-family homes being built today. Yes, some deride it as tacky or passé. Comedians have used it for years as a punchline. But here’s the reality: It’s relatively cheap, lasts for decades, looks way better than you might have thought, and offers homeowners a 78% return on investment if they ever decide to sell. Even better, installing vinyl siding is simple enough that many homeowners opt to do it themselves! Read more at Realtor…

Siding not only protects the home’s exterior, it increases its aesthetic appeal as well as your home’s value. A 78% return on investment is something worth pursuing.

If you want your siding done professionally and in an excellent manner, you need to hire a company that is committed to excellence. Roof.net serves residents of Great Falls VA and offers services that include roof and siding installation, repair and replacement. Call us today for the best results at unbeatable prices!

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One of the many considerations you need to make when ensuring that you have a winter-proof roof is to check if you have ice and water shield (IWS). This technology is aimed at eliminating many of your winter roofing worries and is part of modern roofing systems. The following post explains more about this:

Just what is ICE and water shield? It is a type of roof underlayment used in new construction and re-roofing projects. It is commonly used in leak-prone areas near eaves and in valleys. Also, it is frequently applied in problem areas like chimneys, skylights, dormers and vent pipes. Sometimes, for the ultimate in leak protection, this special membrane is installed across the entire roof.

• A properly installed ice and water shield protects against the following:
• Ice dams
• Wind-driven rain
• Flowing water
• Seepage Read more at Brax Roofing…

Image Courtesy of Wikimedia

As the post above explains, the ice and water shield is placed below the roofing material to protect your roof and other fragile parts of the roof from leaks and seepage.

You may be wondering how the shield protects your roof from damage and how it functions in order to ensure you have a winter-proof home. The following post explains the way ice and water shield enhances your roof’s ability to keep the elements out:

How does Ice and Water Shield work?

This water proofing underlayment is made of asphalt that is modified with plastic that prevents moisture from penetrating this protective barrier. Currently, this product comes on a roll that is approximately 3’ wide.

Most underlayments are fastened, however ice and water shield is uniquely designed and it is the only underlayment that is not fastened. In fact this product has a factory applied adhesive. On the back side of this underlayment is a product similar to butcher paper that is part of the factory packaging. When ice and water shield is installed the roofer removes this wax like paper so the adhesive sealant adheres to the wood deck. Ice and water shield has to be installed directly to a clean and solid wood surface. Read more at Integrity Roofing and Painting…

Winter Damaged Roof Shingles

IWS is designed and installed as part of your roof to enhance the working of your roof thus preventing moisture from going beyond the protective layer of the roof.

For a better understanding of why it’s important, check out the following post that explains exactly what it does:

What Does IWS Do?

IWS is used in places that are prone to snow, ice buildup, and wind driven rain. The IWS seals around nails and adheres to the roof deck, eliminating voids that allow water to infiltrate the interior and cause damage. A common example is when large amounts of snow sit along the eave and create an ice dam, the snow above then melts into water and builds up behind the ice dam. The maximum amount of water buildup needed to reach nails is 5.5”. If no IWS is present when this happens, that water will start to leak in around those nails and cause interior damage. Read more at ARoofTech.com…

Image Courtesy of Pixabay

Modern roofing companies incorporate IWS in their roofing systems. However, you may need to confirm with your roofing contractor whether your roof is fitted with ice and water shield. If you are looking for a professional company to do this for you in South Riding VA, don’t hesitate to call us today!

Featured Image: Image Credit

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The Importance of Vinyl Siding

Vinyl Siding is to a house as skin is to the human body. Siding protects the house against the elements and pests. It helps prevent moisture penetration and the growth of biological contaminants such as mold, dust mites and bacteria. These 3 types of biological contaminants have been known to cause allergic, respiratory, and other health problems in humans.  …

When it comes to choosing the best siding for your situation, your geographic location plays a larger role than you might think. The Vinyl Siding Center explains further:

“Not only do different types of houses and families have different needs, but homes in different geographic locations will have different climactic needs. Moisture levels will also force you to choose between those types of siding which will protect from condensation and other water-based damage.”

Vinyl siding is often a good choice because it is low-maintenance and protects against moisture, among many other benefits:

And of course, never be afraid to ask for help from a siding specialist –  as with any home improvement project, professional assistance just might save you hundreds of dollars in the long run.

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 Christmas Light Removal Tips

For some people decorating their house with Christmas lights is a tradition. But now that the holiday is over, many residents will be climbing back up the ladder to take them down. Don McCarthy, professional light installer with Christmas decor says a ladder is the most dangerous part of installing and removing Christmas lights…

Obviously, the main danger in removing Christmas lights from your roof is the height involved. As the above article says, most injuries occur from ladder accidents. So, before you climb up onto your roof, check out this video for a few key ladder safety tips:

As long as you use your ladder correctly, chances are you will be perfectly safe removing your lights. However, there are still a few more things to keep in mind if you want the job to go smoothly:

 Tips on Removing Christmas Lights From a House

Once the Christmas season is over, many homeowners get anxious to start taking down their outdoor Christmas lights. Before you drag out the ladder and head out into the snow, there are a few tips for removing Christmas lights that you should be aware of. If you do not take your time removing exterior Christmas lights, you could injure yourself and damage your home. …

Removing lights from your roof should not be a terrifying task – but nor should it be taken too lightly. Keep your head, follow a few safety instructions, and you should have no problem. Good luck!

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