Stages of vinyl siding installation

There are a lot of reasons to choose vinyl siding installation over other types of siding. While the initial outlay may be more expensive, this material will last longer and look better for longer than any other. Maintenance is comprised of power washing and the occasional anti-fungal treatment. It can be a perfect way to reduce the amount of effort and stress taking care of your house can cause. It can also be the perfect choice if you are doing upgrades to improve the resale value of your home. This is an overview of the actual stages of vinyl siding installation so that you can be more of an informed consumer when interacting with your contractor.

The plan and the choice

Planning and choosing a vinyl siding installation would seem simple, but you must pay careful attention. Talk to your contractor about the options and styles available to you. There are more siding options available beside a horizontal plank design. Make sure you look at all of the styles and options before you contract for the installation. The contractor may surprise you by recommending a mix of materials. It is growing more common to see vinyl siding installed to showcase custom masonry work; this lets you get the best of both worlds, especially when it comes to the resale value.

The surface prep

Surface prep is next, which involves more than just having a wallboard to nail the vinyl siding on. Vinyl siding installation is done by attaching tracks or using pre-attached tracks to put sections of siding into place. The siding has to cover an exterior wall which may require a vapor barrier or thermal wrap by code. Your contractor can evaluate the surface and see if there is anything else needed. At a minimum, a moisture barrier is a must.

Trim

The end and opening trim pieces can be installed before or after the vinyl siding installation. Many companies prefer to put it on first-as it lets them see immediately if a vinyl piece is too short to be covered. For doors and window openings, an entire day may be spent cutting and fitting the trim around them. Corner trim is usually installed on the same day the wall is covered. Don't assume that the trim has to be the same color as the vinyl siding, you can play with accent colors to really give your home a new look.

Finish

The finish process for a vinyl siding installation is easier than any other type of siding installation. It mostly consists of a clean-up of waste and sometimes the contractor will precut waste pieces to leave behind as repair material in case you need it. One thing you should always do is keep a small piece of the siding. This can then be used as a color match piece when adding to the exterior decorations and landscaping of your home. 

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How to survive your roofing contractor

Everyone has a horror story about a contractor that did them wrong, while roofing contractors are often leading the list of miscreants. A lot of these stories are overblown, and if you look closely at the story details – the home owner is often the cause of the issue. The best way to prevent your experience with any Chicago roofing company from turning into a disaster is to learn what a contractor needs from you to do their job. If you can't give them what they need, they will have to come up with resources and solutions themselves that you may not like. Become the perfect client if you want the perfect contractor.

Step 1: Know what you need and can afford
Before you even begin to call around for estimates from Chicago roofing companies, have an idea of what you need and what you can afford. Any time you hear someone complaining that they were “sold” on a roof they didn't need and couldn't afford, the issue has to do with their not behaving like an educated consumer. It takes just a few clicks around to get an idea of pricing (with labor) and to find out about the different roofing types. You also need to become familiar with the type of roof your house can use with and without major installation. Take a good look at your budget to decide what you can afford and be upfront about it with the contractor. They may not be able to give you a new roof for free, but they can probably extend the life of your roof for what you can afford. That said, the roof is the only thing that determines the structural integrity of your home – don't get cheap with it.

Step 2: Make time for the roofing job

Remember that Chicago roofing companies have to manage a schedule of jobs. If you aren't flexible with the dates, then be prepared for unforeseen delays. You may have to take time out of your work to meet the contractor, but usually that isn't necessary. You also need to plan ahead and take care of any parking permits, as well as notifying the neighbors about the coming work. This will keep you on everyone's good side. Make sure you give yourself time before the job to get all of that in place and your job will go smoothly.

Step 3: Get the cleanup in writing

This step is recommended to both you and the contractor as the last phase of the roofing job – the cleanup, where most disputes occur. If you want the drive swept with magnets, get it in writing and put in how many times and how wide the swath. Be prepared to pay extra labor charges for additional clean-up procedures. It is also good practice to establish a check list based on your agreement to qualify the release of the final payment.

Step 4: Take care of your roof the way you are supposed to

Most new roofs that fail in their first five years don't fail because of an installation error, they fail because they are not properly maintained. Chicago has some serious weather swings, and you need to be proactive in taking care of your new roof if you want it to last. Take the time to get a recommended schedule of maintenance from your contractor. Some of the newer roof types do best with specific maintenance and treatments.


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The Best Siding Contractors to Service Your Home

There are times when people end up looking to the wrong people about the services that they need and the quality of the work as a result is affected. But this cannot be easily done for home installations. There are components in one’s house that needs to be stable in order for the whole structure to be able to withstand the harsh elements. One example of these components is the siding.

Plan Every Step Carefully

Not only does a siding boost up a house’s appearance, one of its functional uses is the added protection it provides to the whole structure by keeping out the elements. And before hiring reliable and competent siding contractors for your needs, there is a must to think about the details thoroughly.

What Kind Of Siding Are You Partial To?

Also, so some research on the type of sidings that you think will be best for your home. This house component is not limited to one type and in order to give your house that appealing charm and functional purpose, knowing about how sidings work is a must. Are you going for a wood siding? Perhaps metal sidings or insulated ones? There are also plastic and stone types.

Go For Consultations

One of the best ways to ensure that everything goes smooth while your siding is installed is to ask about your concerns. Sure, you might not know about some specific details but it never hurts to ask around. Check out some contractor’s website or your local contractor and inquire about the best type of siding that can be installed for your home. You’d be surprised at how helpful these sessions can be in the planning stage.

Look For the Best Contractor

Lastly, your siding installation can only be deemed adequate if you get the right contractor for the job. It’s not an easy task since these people have to make sure that your house components are safe and productive after it’s done. Therefore, unreliable contractors can only cause trouble in the long run because you will have to repeat some procedures over again when there is untimely deterioration. Take note that a siding is not merely for the sake of how your house looks. It does serve its purpose of providing some sort of protection so one can never be too careful about choosing the right kind of service.


So are you one of those who plan to have siding installed in your home? Remember these tips and everything might just go smoothly. Siding contractors, with the help of them you can improve your home.
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