South West Florida Realtor

Taking Sides the Pros and Cons of Vinyl Siding


Vinyl siding is a popular choice for homeowners who want to improve the looks of their home without painting. While vinyl is relatively inexpensive, and long-lasting, there are some pros and cons when it comes to choosing it for your home. There are many factors to consider when looking at installing vinyl siding.

There are several benefits to installing vinyl siding on your home. Vinyl siding is long lasting, durable, inexpensive and easy to maintain. Vinyl comes in a variety of grains, thickness and colors making it a practical choice for many homeowners.

Durability: One of the main reasons homeowners want to install vinyl siding is because it is long lasting and durable. Most vinyl siding companies offer siding that should last for a very long time. Vinyl siding can stand up to most weather conditions without worry of severe damage. Newer vinyl is even stronger than the older versions and is less likely to crack and become brittle. In addition, vinyl siding can withstand years of sunlight without fading.

Maintenance: Vinyl siding is easy to maintain. There is no need to ever paint the siding and it never fades from the elements. The only regular maintenance vinyl siding needs is to be spray washed once or twice a year. Vinyl siding has a new look year after year. If moisture becomes an issue, you will need to recaulk the joints between the siding and trim.

Cost Effective: Over the long term, vinyl siding can be cost effective. Siding is much more inexpensive than repainting and repairing wood on a home. The initial cost of vinyl siding will vary depending on the size of the home and the quality of the siding. Vinyl siding comes in many grains and thickness that will affect the total cost. Some also believe that vinyl siding can help reduce energy bills by serving as an extra layer of insulation.

Looks: Vinyl siding comes in many grains and colors to suit most homes. The good news about newer siding is that the color is baked through the vinyl instead of applied. This means that the color stays true over a long period of time and will not show scratches or small imperfections.

While vinyl siding is becoming more popular, there are many misconceptions about siding. Some of those misconceptions are that siding is indestructible and maintenance free. This is not always true. There are some precautions to be aware of before choosing vinyl siding.

Severe Weather Conditions: While it is true that most vinyl siding can withstand most weather conditions, some siding can be damaged in very severe weather. It can often be less durable than wood in extreme weather conditions. Very heavy and violent winds can penetrate under the siding and lift panels from the wall. Debris that is blown in the wind can puncture siding. It is also important to remember that when damage to vinyl siding occurs; the entire panel will need to be replaced.

Moisture Trap: While vinyl siding needs little maintenance to stay new looking, it can trap moisture. When moisture becomes trapped underneath siding panels, it can rot and cause mold and mildew to grow. This can become a breeding ground for insects. Also, if moisture is left untreated, the dampness can seep through to the inside of the house causing damp walls.

Cost: While vinyl siding can be cost effective over a long period of time, it may not substantially lower energy bills. Siding is backed with Styrofoam, but even with the thicker varieties, does not sufficiently insulate a wall.

Damage Control: Vinyl siding does come in an array of colors, however, if a panel becomes damaged it may be difficult to match the color. Some fading could occur with cheaper made siding after only five years. This could be a real problem is the colors do not match.

Whether you are choosing vinyl siding for the looks or durability, it is always important to research vinyl siding before having it put on your home. Siding can be beneficial to homeowners looking for a durable, yet maintenance free way of improving the home. Also, if you live in an area that has a neighborhood association, it is always a good idea to check to see if vinyl siding is allowed.

Keep in mind that buying cheap homes doesn't necessarily mean buying a run down place or buying your home in a bad part of town.

Ten Tips to Conserve Energy in Your Home


Winter time heating costs continue to rise every year. Natural disasters and the war in Iraq inflate the prices of home heating expenses, for electric, gas and oil furnaces. Be aware that there are steps that you can take to lower your bills and put a little cash back for other things, or just to brace for the next rise in energy costs for your home.

Look over these 10 tips and see what you can do to lower your bills by conserving energy in your home.

1. Insulate Windows. Go though your house and check your windows. Make sure theyre well sealed. A good test is to do a smoke test. Turn off all fans and your furnace, stand close to a window and produce smoke. If theres a minute leak of interior home air to the outside the smoke will move in the direction toward the window. Kits can be bought at your local hardware or home improvement store for insulation.
2. Buy a Ceiling Fan. Because warm air rises youll want to get the warmer air down low by buying a ceiling fan. Reversible switches come on most all models and can be used in summer time too. The relative cost of the ceiling fan and its usage costs are quickly made up in savings.
3. Shut Doors. If a room is not being used then shut the door and leave it closed. This is really useful if youre not using the room on a long term basis. Rooms that are used some of the time will have the door fanned and cold air will escape into the others rooms. Of course this will cause your furnace to work harder, and drive cost for heating up too.
4. Shut Curtains and Mini Blinds. If a wintry day is sunny or even if there is minimal sun, make sure you open them during the daylight hours, and shut them when dusk approaches. The warmth from the suns rays will help warm the house, and keep it tapped for the night time. Re-open them when the sun is up the next morning.
5. Weather Proof Doors and Caulk Windows. Draft doggies arent necessary around doors if they have been weather stripped. Look around the bottoms of doors, and if air is streaming in then weather proof it. Check windows too because wear and the age of windows can let in cold air too. Caulk and seal windows, and if interior of seal is damaged replace it with the correct seal type.
6. Realign Doors. Doors just like windows can with use over time begin to sag from their original tight fitting position. Before winter sets in go around and really look at how your door closes. Adjust them for a nice fitting.
7. Check Furnace. Hire a contractor in HVAC, heating, air venting and air conditioning, to give your furnace a once over to check for any inefficient or heating or cooling safety issues. A poorly running system can cost more dollars from you pocket, and safety issues are a priority for a home owners peace of mind too.
8. Replace the Air Filter. You can eliminate unnecessary high cost bills by conserving energy by simply changing out a clogged air filter. Not only does it cause your system to run slowly, but the danger is it can get into the motor and cause a fire, or just burn up the motor itself.
9. Close House Vents. Right before the season of fall go around your house and shut up the vents that allow circulation of air during the summer time. In the winter the goal is to keep all cold air out. Cold air under the floor boards infiltrate the house and drive up heating cost.
10. Check Roof Top Insulation. If its been a few years since youve checked out the insulation in your attic then go up and look around. Insulation should have enough air pockets to trap the cold air and push it back from the interior of the house. Old rotten insulation is usually brittle and flat. Replace the insulation with new and youll see evidence of your energy conservation in your heating costs.

By implementing just a few of these tips you will see results happen. There are a lot more that you can do too. Go online and read other different ways to conserve energy. Talk with your local energy provider to see if there are tips for your area that will help lower your bills, and drive down costs for everyone. In the end you wont regret that youve used the tips at all.