A frequent hotspot for leaks are where the roofline hits a siding wall. No matter how close the gutter is to the wall there is always a gap that water can squeeze into. Over time the water can find weaknesses or small areas to make it through. This can cause leaks and sheeting rot over a lengthy period of time. A kick-out flashing will remedy your leak issue.
Is a kickoff flashing causing your leak?
Remove a couple pieces of siding where the roofline meets the wall. The kickoff flashing will be custom fabricated out of aluminum to match the siding color (or roof color). This will be one continuous piece designed to flow water into the gutter. The flashing will be taped underneath the siding and will be installed under the shingles.
If this spot is above a window, it’s often mistaken as a window leak when really the window leak is a symptom of not having a kickoff flashing in place.
Bryant Cawley is one of our finest at repairs. He’s always upbeat while he takes on the challenges for the day. He is a jack of all trades and can install storm doors, repair siding, replace pipe boots, replace missing shingles, and so much more. If you see his smiling face at your home; your day just got better.
Bryant Cawley is our Employee of the Month for March. Bryant handles a lot of siding repairs, works on siding replacements, and has learned to do some minor shingle repairs. He has proven himself to be a key employee at Carlson Exteriors.
It’s time to reside your home but what siding products should you use? Vinyl siding, James Hardie Fiber Cement siding, or LP Smartside siding? What are the pros and cons of each product? What is right for you? Let’s tackle those questions with this article.
AFTER – Carlson Exteriors removed faux stucco from the gables on this Peoria, IL house. It was replaced with James Hardie fiber cement shake
Back to the basics– what is vinyl siding and what is considered a hard board siding?
Vinyl siding is primarily made up of PVC resin that is extruded out to make up the length of the siding piece. The top layer usually includes fade resistant material to protect the original color of the siding from fading in the sun.
Hardboard siding can cover an array of products but is meant to simulate a real wood product. It’s a solid board while vinyl siding is a shell. Our company only offers LP Smartside and James Hardie Fiber Cement Siding as hardboard options. LP Smartside is an engineered wood product including waxes, resins, and wood strands harvested from a renewable wood source. James Hardie Fiber Cement is cellulose fibers, cement, sand, water, and minor additives. Both LP Smartside and James Hardie Fiber Cement use heat and pressure (in different ways) to create their finished product. Below are 2 virtual tours of the factories.
In the photo, you can see the vinyl siding only gives the allusion of being a solid piece while LP Smartside and James Hardie Fiber Cement Siding are actually solid pieces of siding.
Comparing the profile of Mastic vinyl siding, LP Smartside, and James Hardie Fiver Cement siding
Pro’s of Vinyl Siding
Maintenance free
Costs less than LP Smartside or James Hardie Fiber Cement Siding
Easier to make storm damage repairs on
Most Siding Contractors can install correctly
Wide array of colors
Con’s of Vinyl Siding
More susceptible to storm damages
No insurance discounts
No custom color options are available
Limited in profile options (Double 4″ and Double 5″ are available in most colors. Single 8″ is only available in white)
Pro’s of LP Smartside Siding
Impact resistant (may qualify for insurance discounts)
Available in standard colors or custom colors
Comes in a wide array of profiles
Looks like real painted cedar siding
Does not require and special blades or tools to install
Costs slightly less than James Hardie Fiber Cement because it’s slightly easier to install
Con’s of LP Smartside Siding
Limited contractors are skilled enough to install properly
Requires re-caulking around every 3- 5 years
Harder to make repairs on
Costs 4-5 times more than vinyl siding
Pro’s of James Hardie Fiber Cement Siding
Impact Resistant (may qualify for insurance discounts)
Fire Resistant (may qualify for insurance discounts)
Available in many profiles and styles (Board and Batten come in custom widths)
Looks like real cedar siding
Available in 700+ standard colors
Con’s of James Hardie Fiber Cement Siding
Limited contractors are skilled enough to install properly
Requires re-caulking every 3-5 years
Higher risk of product breakage in delivery
Needs special blades and tools for install
No custom colors are available (but it is available in 700+ standard colors)
Costs 4-5 times more than vinyl siding
Conclusion
If you plan on staying in your home for a long time, a hardboard option might be right for you if it is within budget. If you aren’t sure how long you will live in your home or are trying to update on a slimmer budget, vinyl siding might be the best option for you.
If you are building new or remodeling your current house, it can be a daunting task to pick out the selections. The small samples can make it hard to envision the final product. While not exact, we have a few different programs we can offer as a service to you. If you are happy with our current stock of prints or houses we can use that to generate a rendering of your home. If you wish to see your exact home we can upload that.
Have you ever thought about making changes to the exterior of your home, but not sure where to start? If it is difficult for you to envision what your house could look like, you may be interested in one of our new services called Hover. The process is easy, pictures are taken of your home and you will end up with a complete 3D rendering. After that, any combination of exterior products can be added to your house. You will be able to see different colors and materials. If you have wondered what your house could look like, take advantage of this service! If you end up using Carlson Exteriors as your contractor, the design fee is credited to your invoice total!
Johnney is this January’s Employee of the Month. Johnney helps out in so many aspects of the company! He mainly works on repairs but this past month he’s helped out on full siding crews, windows, and gutter jobs. He’s very versatile at his job and detailed oriented in all aspects.
