If the time has come for your family to begin thinking about remodeling the exterior of your home, you’ve probably started looking at different coverage options. The most popular choices among today’s homeowners are vinyl siding and brick. If you know brick isn’t for you, you’re more-than-likely leaning toward vinyl siding. There are, however, two different types of this siding on the market: insulated and non-insulated.
Insulated vinyl siding is the perfect home covering for many families, but it can be hard to know if you fall into this category or not. The information in this guide is meant to make it a little bit easier for you to decide whether or not you should invest in this type of siding. If you still have questions by the time you’re done reading, don’t worry. It’s completely normal to take some time to figure out how exactly to renovate the exterior of your house. Remember, professional contractors can assist you in making your final decision.
Are your energy bills high?
If you have expensive heating and cooling bills, and you’ve already done quite a few energy efficient upgrades around your house, insulated vinyl siding just might be the logical next step. Third-party research groups have done testing indicating homeowners can expect to see a utility bill reduction of approximately 16% after installing insulated vinyl siding. This number can vary, depending upon the climate where you live and other factors.
If, for instance, you reside in Charlotte, NC, where winters are chilly, you will probably see more savings than someone who lives in Charleston, SC, where the weather is mild through the winter months. Regardless, high energy bills can be a good indication that it’s time to consider insulated siding.
Are there places in your home that aren’t comfortable?
If you have noticed spots in your home that are too hot or too cold, depending on the season, insulated vinyl siding could help alleviate the problem. Maybe, for example, there’s a corner in your living room where you would love to put a reading nook, but you can’t because it’s consistently too warm or too chilly for comfort. Insulated siding can help regulate the temperature inside your house, making even the hottest and coldest spots more consistent all year long.
Is your current siding damaged?
The weather in the Carolinas can be unpredictable. Heavy rain, strong winds, and hailstorms can impact both North Carolina and South Carolina, residents. All of these weather problems can cause siding damage. If the vinyl siding you currently have on your house has holes, dents, or cracks, you should replace it sooner rather than later. It could be causing abnormalities in the temperature in your house; it could also be letting vermin and insects inside your walls! If you’re going to have to get new siding anyway, insulated panels are a good option.
Do you have an exterior mold issue?
If you’ve noticed pockets of mold or mildew on the siding you currently have, you might have a moisture retention problem outside your house. Insulated vinyl siding can actually help solve this issue. Since this type of insulation is attached to the siding itself, it forms a complete barrier between your walls and your siding, causing the wall cavity temperature to be higher than it would be with traditional siding. Due to this, moisture dries faster than it does with non-insulated panels, helping to reduce or eliminate mold and mildew patches.