Before Remodel

After Remodeling, Vinyl Siding, and Doors

This is a covered parking area at an Atlanta area home before and after remodeling. Existing structures were used as much as possible to reduce materials costs. After repairs and additions, vinyl siding and garage doors with openers were added. New windows and doors were also installed.

For more information, including pricing for replacement siding, windows, and doors, please call us at 678-714-7393. More information about garage doors, can be found at our sister site CurbAppealCSI.com

Today, many homeowners are finding that exterior siding can be a viable method to enhance both the appearance and the value of their home. Exterior siding, sometimes called cladding or clapboard is the outermost layer of material on a home. There are a variety of types of siding ranging from popular vinyl sidings, to aluminum, wood, and natural or cultured stone.

However, the newest and currently best-received exterior siding alternative is fiber cement siding. Fiber cement siding, such as James Hardie siding, is the most popular brand of siding in North America. In fact, a recent study has shown that, of homeowners who have recently purchased vinyl siding for their homes, about 50% of them say they would have chosen fiber cement siding over vinyl, had they been better informed.

What is Fiber Cement Siding?

Fiber cement siding is made from a composite of sand, cement, and cellulose fibers, which is then blended with water, waxes, and resins. The material is then autoclaved, a process in which the mixture is subjected to highly pressurized steam that presses the material into its final form. This autoclave procedure provides increased strength and durability to the final product.

Fiber cement siding is normally manufactured into a much thicker and more durable product than its vinyl counterparts. While this increased thickness will add more weight to your home, it will also provide more protection.

Problems with Vinyl Siding

While vinyl siding is the most commonly known and most inexpensive siding alternative, it presents a host of problems and tribulations to the homeowner. For instance, since vinyl siding is not tightly secured to the walls of the building, gaps are left in which insects and moisture may accumulate and create problems down the line.

Also, vinyl siding is extremely flammable and can catch on fire or melt if to close to a flame or other heat source, such as a barbeque grill or even a reflective light source. In addition, vinyl siding will fade over time from exposure to the sun. When faded, it is often difficult to find replacement panels that will match your existing vinyl siding shade and color. Vinyl siding is also infamous for not being able to be painted with quality results. While paint may be applied to the vinyl, the paint very rarely holds on the plastic and will most likely peel and crack.

Vinyl siding is extremely thin, sometimes only 5/100” thick. This leads to structural inadequacies, so the siding is more prone to damage from being struck by objects, weather, and temperature changes. The vinyl siding may crack, split, or become misshapen.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Budda_Oliver
http://EzineArticles.com/?An-Introduction-To-Fiber-Cement-Siding&id=620830

Upgrade Siding and Windows to Sell Your Home – Revitalizing Your House’s Curb Appeal Makes the Sale
By Matt Gallo

We keep hearing the gloom and doom stories about the housing market, but if you’re trying to sell, there are ways to make your house more attractive to buyers. Don’t just sit there and wait-be proactive about selling your house with exterior upgrades. Replacing the siding and old windows can actually go a long way toward attracting potential buyers and making your home sell!

As real estate agent Amy Mills Siler points out, home buyers almost always make up their minds about a house based solely on exterior appearance: “If they drive up to a house with dingy aluminum siding and old windows, the buyers automatically get a bad taste in their mouth.” You simply have to maximize curb appeal if you want your house to sell, especially in today’s market. So if you’ve been considering having new siding installed or the windows are starting to seriously look their age, now’s the time to upgrade to new vinyl siding and replace those windows. Putting off exterior improvements simply doesn’t pay when it comes to real estate.

Cost may be a concern for many homeowners who need to do repairs before they can sell their home; after all, no one wants to put money into a building if they’re not going to make any of it back! The good news is that you’ll recuperate the majority of your investment in siding and window replacement. According to Remodeling magazine’s 2008-2009 national “Cost vs. Value” survey, siding upgrades (cement fiber, vinyl, and insulated vinyl) on average cost between $13,000 and $10,000 and recouped between 86% and 80% of the cost. Window replacement had almost as good a return on investment with window upgrades (wood and vinyl) costing between $17,500 and $10,500 and recouping between 79% and 76% of the initial outlay.

You may be thinking, why spend $13,200 for new siding to only recoup $11,400? Because that new cement fiber siding is what makes the difference between selling the house and keeping it on the market for 8 months or a year. Sure, you only make back 86% of the siding upgrade-but what is the time your house spends on the market worth to you? If you’ve already bought another home, fewer months of making two mortgage payments is definitely worth far more than the $1,800 “loss.” Of course, there are other costs associated with keeping a home on the market long term: time lost cleaning and picking up prior to showings, additional energy costs associated with keeping the lights on, and other little costs that can really add up. Exterior upgrades can help save you these additional costs, even if the siding or windows don’t earn 100% ROI themselves. In fact, if you consider all of the other costs of keeping your house on the market for months, you’ll likely get more than 100% of the investment back if you sell the house quickly!

Because the simple truth is that homebuyers often judge your house in the first few seconds they see it, replacing your old siding and windows is a great investment. You’ll earn back most of your money and your house will sell that much faster.

So stop delaying: call your local siding contractor and window installer today to get started on your home’s exterior makeover and the road to selling your house fast!

Matt Gallo is a home improvement specialist and the Internet marketing manager for Prospect Genius, a leading provider of online local advertising solutions.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Matt_Gallo
http://EzineArticles.com/?Upgrade-Siding-and-Windows-to-Sell-Your-Home—Revitalizing-Your-Houses-Curb-Appeal-Makes-the-Sale&id=2059472