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When it comes to siding, something that's often taken for granted is proper installation. And that's not wrong given that most homes’ siding projects are done well. However, proper installation is actually just as important as the choice of your siding material. While your siding may be the one absorbing impacts, blocking out sunlight, and insulating your home, without proper installation, i.e. sealing up the gaps, leaving proper clearances, and so on, moisture will still penetrate, heat can pass through easily, and your siding can even warp or buckle. So a lot of times, when you're facing issues with your exterior, it can be attributed to poor installation, which leaves your home vulnerable to serious damage, regardless of the quality or material of your siding. That's why it's of the utmost importance that installation is done right from the get-go, so that you don't leave your home and siding vulnerable to severe damages and issues or hinder your siding’s effectiveness. With that said, here's how to tell if your siding installation has been carried out improperly or poorly by your contractor, or perhaps even yourself. What Proper Installation Entails First off, it's important to know what proper installation means and what it looks like. This will make it easier to spot any obvious installation mistakes. 1. Preparation Before you even shift your focus over to your siding, you need to ensure that there's a layer of house wrap underneath that prevents any water that may have gotten through your siding from reaching your walls. While not strictly necessary, it's highly recommended to have a layer of house wrap, because water can sometimes get behind your siding, even if it's been installed perfectly. As such, to keep the risk of moisture damage to a minimum, house wrap is an essential additional layer of defense. 2. Secure Installation Once you've checked the house wrap, the next thing to check for is secure installation. This means no loose panels, and depending on your climate and the strength of the winds and storms, there may need to be more fasteners or stronger ones. 3. Clearances You can't just install all your siding tightly together though. Leaving the appropriate clearances is just is key to allow your siding space to expand and contract, as well as for ventilation to lower the chances of moisture damage. If installed without ample space for expansion and contraction, there’s a very high chance of your siding warping or buckling, particularly if your area has intense temperature swings. Leaving ample space between your siding and the underlying layer, and above the ground, is also key to good ventilation and preventing water from the ground from wicking into the siding. 4. Alignment Obviously, if there are slanted pieces that look out of place, then your siding wasn’t installed very well. But it isn’t just aesthetics. Besides looking really unsightly, misaligned siding can also lead to physical damage, as water can accumulate in uneven gaps. These gaps can also allow pests through, causing pest infestations. Furthermore, these gaps allow heat through, compromising your energy insulation layer and reducing your energy efficiency, leading to increased energy bills. 5. Waterproofing

A house by the sea is a wonderful thing. The cooling sea breeze invigorates you every time you open your windows, and each time you look out, you see the majestic ocean. Unfortunately, if you want to see the rainbow, you have to put up with the rain. Saltwater is the most corrosive natural environment, and it can put your siding under some serious stress. That’s just a necessary evil that you’ll have to contend with if you want all the good stuff that come with staying near the sea. But fret not. By choosing the right materials and properly installing and maintaining them, your siding will have no problem even in the most corrosive saltwater climates. In this article, we’re going to cover exactly how to go about choosing your siding and ensuring that it can weather the elements. The Challenges Of Saltwater/Coastal Environments Before we get into the materials and installation and the nitty gritty, you should first understand why these tougher materials and coatings are needed. Salt Simply put, salt is highly corrosive. It can corrode many materials, not just metal. When you’re staying near the sea, if you’re staying close enough, saltwater from the sea will spray onto your siding as the waves crash against the shore. Even if you’re not staying so close that the splashes of the waves will reach your home, the salt particles from the sea will also get into the atmosphere and mix with rain clouds, resulting in salt-laden rain. In other words, either way, your siding is going to be dealing with salt all the time, so you need to ensure it can withstand being exposed to salt consistently. Humidity Besides salt, salt-laden rain and splashes from waves carry something else too–water. Not only will your siding be dealing with salt, but also water itself. This, coupled with the humid atmosphere of coastal environments, makes moisture damage another huge threat to your siding. Besides just mold and mildew, moisture can also cause wood siding to rot and become virtually useless. Even without considering rot though, mold can also infiltrate and cause serious damage to various different siding materials, not just wood. In the worst cases, moisture can damage your walls’ structural integrity and even cause them to collapse. UV Rays

As with any product, siding can have quality or installation defects, which is why the warranty is imperative to ensuring you’re protected and your investment doesn’t go down the drain. However, warranties aren’t as simple as calling up your contractor at the first sign of any issue, especially if it’s been many years since the siding was installed. To be fair to the consumer, manufacturer, and contractor, siding warranties have various technicalities that go over how much coverage is provided, depending on various factors like the age, extent, cause of the damage, and so on. To a regular consumer, this can be a lot to process, and the last thing you want is to think you’re covered only to find out that your warranty was voided by poor installation or poor maintenance. As such, you need to know what to do and what not to do to keep your warranty valid, as well as what your warranty covers in which situations. If that sounds like a lot of reading and research to do, fret not. We’re here to break down common warranty terms and conditions and make them simple for you to understand. Let’s begin. Types Of Siding Warranties There are generally two types of siding warranties–manufacturer and contractor ones. Manufacturer Manufacturer warranties cover defects in the siding itself, which means if there are any quality issues, eg the siding cracks or falls apart very quickly or something similar, the warranty should cover it and give you replacements. Quality control issues can span many aspects, including color fading, cracks, chalking, and so on. The length of this warranty will vary depending on the siding material, price, and the brand. The longer a certain siding material is supposed to last, the longer the warranty will usually be. The same goes for price. The higher the price, the longer you’re usually covered. For the brand, if it’s a reputable brand that’s very confident in its products, they will cover you for longer. Note that these are general guidelines. The majority of the time, they will be true, but there can be exceptions. Contractor

When it comes to modern homes, homeowners are usually looking for a sleek, contemporary look. Modern, savvy homeowners also prefer practical options that are low-maintenance, durable, and offer value for money. With increasing awareness of environmental issues, young homeowners are also increasingly prioritizing eco-friendly materials. As such, when choosing siding for modern homes, simply achieving a sleek, contemporary aesthetic isn’t always enough. Instead, you also want options that are as practical and eco-friendly as possible. Of course, not all siding materials can check all three boxes, but even checking just two out of three is enough for a siding option to be considered suitable for modern homes. In this guide, we’ll be sharing the best siding options for modern homes. Not every option will check three boxes, but you can be sure that they’ll at least look great on your contemporary home and be practical in terms of maintenance and value. 1. Vinyl Siding

Everyone knows that siding protects your home, but you have to protect your siding too so that it can do its job. As the seasons change, each season brings with it new conditions, temperatures, moisture levels, and so on. While not always bad, some of these changes can be more taxing than usual on your siding, which means you need to make preparations so that your siding can remain steadfast even in the face of these changing conditions. This will not only keep your home better protected, but save you money on costly repairs or replacements that could have easily been avoided. Read on to find out what to watch out for in each season and how to deal with them. Spring Preparation

Your siding is imperative to protecting you against moisture damage, mold, mildew, UV rays, debris, hail, and pests.  So when problems and damages arise, it's of the utmost importance that you remedy them asap before they escalate into more serious problems. According to the US Department of Commerce, in 2024, the state with the highest number of hail events was by far Texas with 878 such incidents. The state with the next most incidents after Texas was Kansas at just 495, more than 40% less than Texas. Unsurprisingly, Texas also ranks first in property damage caused by hailstorms. Specifically, Dallas-Fort Worth is a hotspot for hailstorms. According to the Insurance Information Institute (III), Dallas-Fort Worth consistently ranks near the top nationwide every year for hail damage insurance claims. Unfortunately, repeated insurance claims can significantly drive up your premiums, even if they are a result of uncontrollable hailstorms. As such, fixing any issues with your siding quickly and keeping it strong is of paramount importance to protecting your home and keeping your insurance premiums manageable, especially if you reside in Dallas-Fort Worth. That's why in this article, we're going to be covering common siding problems and how to fix them, so that you'll know how to keep your siding in its best condition. 1. Cracks & Holes

Your siding protects you against the elements, so you need to do your part to keep them strong and able to continue protecting you well. Maintenance also helps your siding last longer and damage less often, saving you money on repairs and replacement. While maintenance does take effort and you will have to spend on some maintenance products, this amount is far less than what you'd spend on replacement and repairs if you neglect the maintenance. Cleaning is also an essential part of maintenance. If you don't clean your siding, mold, mildew, and algae will eventually take root. In addition, dirt and moisture can also get into small cracks and cause damage to your siding. Now that you know how important maintenance is, read on to find out how to maintain your siding as well as keep it clean. 1. Vinyl Siding One of the most popular siding materials , vinyl is also one of the easiest siding materials to clean and maintain. To clean vinyl siding, you start by rinsing it with a garden hose to clean off any dirt and debris. Make sure to spray the hose from the top point downwards at the siding to prevent the water from penetrating into and behind the panels. You can also use a pressure wash on low setting to remove slightly more stubborn stains and for a more thorough wash. If you don't want to spend money on a pressure washer, you can also engage an established contractor like MAD Solar & Pressure Washing if you need pressure washing in Orange County , or if you're in Dallas, we'd be more than happy to help you pressure wash your siding. Next, use a mild cleaning solution to clean off the more stubborn stains and other contaminants. To make this solution, you simply have to mix a gallon of water with a quarter cup of mild detergent or even white vinegar. If there's mold or algae though, instead of using the cleaning solution, you'll need to use a stronger solution of bleach and water. To make this, mix a cup of bleach with a gallon of water. After you've made the solution, you'd then use a soft-thistle brush to scrub off the stains. Simply dip the brush in your solution and scrub your siding. These stains aren't always visible, so it's best to scrub your siding everywhere rather than only where you see there are stains or contaminants like mold. Also, make sure to use a soft-thistle brush. Vinyl is quite durable and can stand up well against elements like moisture, UV rays, heat, and even debris. However, its surface isn't physically hard, so it can be scratched relatively easily. So to prevent this, make sure to use a soft-thistle brush. After brushing your siding thoroughly, give it a final rinse to rinse off any residue solution. Note that cleaning should be done roughly 1-2 times per year. In terms of maintenance, as mentioned earlier, vinyl is relatively low-maintenance. As such, the main maintenance you'll be doing is really just preventative maintenance and checking for damages regularly. Besides cleaning and preventative maintenance, the only other maintenance task you need to do is repainting. This won't always need to be done, but if you observe any areas that seem to have a different color, that's a sign that the UV-resistant coating has faded. When this occurs, you won't be able to apply the coating again as this UV-resistant coating isn't a layer on top of the vinyl, but embedded throughout the siding. Instead, you'll need to use vinyl-safe paint to act as a layer against UV rays. That's pretty much it. Vinyl doesn't require too much maintenance, so as long as you perform these few maintenance tasks, your vinyl siding will be in good condition for many years to come. 2. Fiber Cement Siding

In our current world where vehicles are ever-present, we’re able to much more conveniently get to where we want, and quicker at that. Unfortunately, noise pollution is an inevitable byproduct of this convenience. Even taking vehicles out of the equation though, there are still other noise sources. These include construction work, road works, and your neighbors blasting music or even just having a lively gathering. Either way, noise can come from many sources, and everyone wants a quiet oasis in their own home. In today’s world where noise pollution is inevitable, noise-resistant siding is a must, especially if you’re staying near a road. So if you’re wondering which siding materials to use and how to install them to block out noise, jump right in! What Makes Siding Able To Keep Out Sound? While you might be surprised to hear this, the siding material isn’t the most important factor in keeping sound out. Instead, factors like sealing and layering play a much larger role in insulating your home against sound. By knowing the factors that keep sound out, you’ll be better able to liaise with your contractor and perhaps even perform the installation yourself. Density & Mass The denser a material is, the more sound it blocks out, simply because sound has to travel more material to reach your home. Assuming you have two materials of equal thickness, the denser material would block out more sound. However, it isn’t always that simple, as you have to consider the thickness to determine the overall mass. A thicker material with more volume and lower density can have more mass than a denser but thinner material, and thus block out sound better. So it isn’t always the case that a denser material will block out more sound, but it tends to be safer to opt for denser materials, because if you opt for a less dense material instead, you’ll end up having to use a thicker layer to block out the same amount of sound. Tight Construction & Sealing No matter how good your siding is at keeping out sound, if there are gaps, sound will pass through those gaps and still reach your home. As such, during the construction and assembly of the wall, not just the siding, but for each of the layers, the sheathing, the insulation layer, and so on, care needs to be taken to ensure there are no gaps. This means each piece needs to be aligned properly and at points where the layers meet the wall or doors and windows, they need to be installed tightly. There will inevitably be some gaps of course, usually at the seams and at the areas where the layers meet the wall or doors and windows. That’s where sealing comes in. Wherever there are gaps, you need to use the appropriate sealant to seal them up. If they're not sealed up, not only will more sound get through, but your home’s energy efficiency will also decrease, and moisture will also get through, causing issues like mold, mildew, and moisture damage. Layering Lastly, note that your siding isn’t the only thing blocking out sound from your home. Many homes, especially modern ones, incorporate multiple layers, usually starting with the siding on the outside, then a weather-resistant barrier below, then sheathing, and finally an insulating layer for energy efficiency. Each of these layers has its own purpose such as keeping moisture out, serving as a base for additional layers, and insulating your home to enhance energy efficiency. While each of their purposes isn’t to insulate against sound, each additional layer is more material that sound has to travel through, which means less sound reaches your home. So your siding isn’t a lone warrior fighting to keep out sound on its own. It has other layers to help, even if their main purpose isn’t to block sound out. Noise-Reducing Siding Materials Now that you know what makes siding able to reduce noise, let’s go over the best materials that are dense and will best help you block out noise. Brick And Stone Veneers

With wildfire occurrences becoming increasingly often, it's always better to be safe than sorry. Furthermore, even sparks from electrical devices or cigarette butts can ignite a flame and cause huge fires. As such, fire-resistant siding is becoming increasingly essential. Fire-resistant siding will slow down and even stop fires outright, keeping your home safe. But that's not all. Fire-resistant siding can also help you get lower premiums on your home insurance. The good news is, fire-resistant siding isn't any special material that's particularly expensive. On the contrary, many common siding materials are actually fire-resistant. The key is to know which ones to get, and that's exactly what we'll be covering in this article. Fire Rating First off, this section will clarify one of the most important ratings we'll be using throughout this article. Fire rating is a rating of how well a material can resist fire and withstand exposure to it. This includes how non-flammable it is and how long it can withstand high temperatures without degrading or breaking down. In short, it's a measure of how well it will protect you and your home against fires. The three ratings are Class A, B, and C. Class A is the most non-flammable and able to endure high temperatures without breaking down. Class C is the weakest and provides the least fire protection among the three, and Class B is in between classes A and C. Note that even Class C materials will protect you against fire, just not as well as the other two classes. Materials that do poorly against fire won't even have fire ratings, so even Class C-rated materials will still provide some fire protection. Class C materials can be used for areas with lower wildfire risks. However, for the best protection, we'll be sticking with only Class A materials for this article, especially since they're not significantly more expensive. Insurance companies also recognize Class A materials more readily. Now that you know what fire ratings are, let's get into what you came here for–the best fire-resistant siding options. 1. Brick And Stone Veneer