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Construction and Contractors: All in a Day's Work


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Construction and Contractors: All in a Day's Work

Can you imagine being a contractor? You start you morning by picking up supplies at the local building store. You drop off those supplies at one job site, and then you drive to another job site where you spend four hours mudding drywall. As that dries, you make calls to some of your suppliers, and then you meet with a client about a new job across town. As evening rolls in, you drive back to the other construction site and sand down some of that drywall. If this sound like a fun day to you, then you've stumbled on the right blog! This is a blog about construction, and you'll fit right in.

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3 Reasons You May Want To Consider Insulated Vinyl Siding Over Regular Siding

If you are building a home or re-doing your current home's siding, you may be looking at different materials for the exterior. Vinyl siding can be a good option for many homeowners since it is less expensive and requires less maintenance than other siding options, like wood. Within the vinyl siding group, you might want to select insulated vinyl siding, which contains a rigid foam core on one side. Insulated vinyl siding does require more tools than regular vinyl panels for installation, but overall, there are some great benefits to this material.

It Has Nice Aesthetics

Because insulated siding has a foam backing, it's less likely to dent or warp compared to other siding options. Vinyl siding comes in numerous colors, so you can easily conform your home's colors to your HOA's covenants. If you do like the appearance of wood, but you don't want to deal with the maintenance or cost, you can get vinyl siding that looks like wood. There are even vinyl siding options that look like authentic stone and brick. In short, because of the wide array of options, you can easily find insulated siding that enhances your home and curb appeal.

It Cuts Energy Costs

Some siding options aren't great because they cause thermal bridging. A thermal bridge is an area of construction that has a higher heat transfer than other surrounding materials. Typically, thermal bridges develop in areas where there is little insulating material, or the insulation is installed incorrectly. If you are looking to improve your energy bills, it's a good idea to look at siding which has a higher R-value—or insulating power. Because insulated vinyl siding has a rigid foam core underneath, it tends to be better at resisting heat flow and heat loss.

It's a Durable Product

Some people may worry that the foam board will peel off the vinyl, but the adhesives that are used to bind the two together are very strong; and both have relatively similar rates of contraction and expansion, so the materials are very compatible together. Insulated vinyl siding is durable in adverse weather conditions and can prevent moisture buildup. Some people might think that the foam might absorb moisture and be a hot spot for mold, but Home Innovations Research Labs conducted a year-long study where they found that insulated vinyl tended to produce the driest wall assemblies. If you live in an area with lots of rain or snow, then this could be a good siding option.

Reach out to a construction contractor today for more details on insulated vinyl siding.