Helpful Hints

To paint or not to paint, that is the question!!!

A homeowner considering replacing his existing siding has the choice of many products, wood siding, cedar siding, cement fiber siding, aluminum siding, log siding, steel siding, vinyl siding, or the new composite sidings. It is helpful to separate these products based on the need to paint, or not. Wood siding, cement fiber siding, cedar siding and some log sidings require paint at the time of installation and periodic painting afterward. Aluminum siding and steel siding may have a painted finish and will require painting over time. Steel and aluminum siding may come with a vinyl coating and will not require paint. Vinyl siding and composite siding never require paint.

There are pros and cons to both types.

Are all windows created equal?

 All modern vinyl replacement windows look alike. It is easy to assume that they all perform alike-A HUGE MISTAKE. The performance and energy savings vary widely. Let’s discuss some key factors.

Home Improvement for the Novice

 If you’ve owned your home for a while, you will probably consider home improvement in the foreseeable future. Home improvement remodeling can be a very exiting time or potentially a very anxious and miserable experience. Here are some common sense tips to make the experience enjoyable and rewarding.

Did you know that it is cheaper to finance than to pay cash?

When folks hear that statement for the first time, there is usually a lot of skepticism, and downright disbelief. I often hear comments like – liars can figure and figures can lie, or – what’s the catch. Keep an open mind and grab your calculator and you might pick up some useful information.

For the sake of discussion, let’s assume that you are considering a $10,000 home improvement.

 How do I select the proper grade of vinyl siding?

Vinyl siding, like most products, comes in several grades. A premium Vinyl siding will be pure virgin vinyl with no reground material. Vinyl siding is produced using the extrusion process. Compare this to the cookie press that you use to make Christmas cookies. When the extruder starts a run the molds must be adjusted until the correct tolerances are met.