Whether you live in the middle of a city with lots of traffic or in a suburban neighborhood with children screaming outside as they play or in the country with animals making a ruckus, there’s a lot of noise that can impact the peacefulness of your home. Of all the measures people take to reduce noise inside their homes, many don’t factor their siding into the equation. However, your siding can play a significant role in how much exterior noise gets into your home. 

Your siding can help to reduce noise in a variety of ways, from its material, to its thickness, and more. Here’s what you need to know about how siding can reduce noise in your home. 

Siding Serves As A Barrier To The Outside World

You know how if your siding needs replacement, you’ll likely notice that reflected in increased energy bills due to a lack of insulation? This is because your siding works to insulate your home from the outside world. It doesn’t do this solely in regards to temperature, but also with sound. The better your siding’s insulation is, the better it will be at noise reduction. This is also why thicker siding is better if you are looking to reduce noise in your home, because the thicker your siding is, the harder it will be for soundwaves to get through. 

If you have a noisy home, you may consider having a contractor come out and take a look at your siding. If it isn’t very thick or well-insulated, this can reflect in how much exterior noise you hear from the interior of your home. 

The Material Matters 

Another way siding reduces noise in your home is through the material. Some materials are better at dampening exterior sound than others. For instance, if you have vinyl siding, that is considered to be among the most effective at reducing noise. Vinyl siding has been shown to reduce noise better than some other materials, such as brick, cement, and aluminum. 

This is for frequencies below 4000Hz. This is the range of human speech, so if you have loud neighbors, vinyl siding can reduce noise from conversations outside. For frequencies that go above that, organic materials work better.

Vinyl siding isn’t the only type of siding that can help to reduce noise. Wood is also very effective. 

Consider The Thickness

Material isn’t the only factor into how effective your siding is when it comes to trying to reduce noise. Thickness matters too. The thicker that your siding is, the better it will be at reducing noise. Insulated vinyl siding is incredibly effective and can reduce noise by up to 39%. If your existing siding isn’t very thick and you’re looking to reduce noise and really try to get a quieter home environment, the thicker your siding is, the better it will likely be at reducing exterior noise.

You’ll want to have a contractor come out to examine your existing siding. A contractor will be able to go over your siding options with you and help you find the right siding for your home that both increases its curb appeal and muffles noise.

Other Ways To Reduce Noise

Your siding isn’t the only way you can reduce noise in your home. There are additional measures you can take in order to achieve a quieter and more peaceful home atmosphere. Some of the other ways to reduce noise in your home include:

• Window replacement. Old, drafty windows don’t just cause you to lose energy, they also let noise in. Double-paned and triple-paned windows are better at noise reduction than single pane windows.
• Plant trees. Trees not only give your home a more aesthetically pleasing yard and a more relaxing environment, they can also reduce noise. If you don’t have trees in your yard, or you don’t have many of them, you may consider planting some more to help reduce noise in your home.
• Opt for energy efficient doors. Energy efficient doors won’t only help to lower your energy bills, they can also help to reduce noise in your home. Again, as with your siding, the materials and thickness of your doors matters when it comes to how much they help to reduce noise inside your home.

Do You Need Siding Replacement?

Unlimited Siding can replace the siding in your home with siding that is better at reducing noise. We can also evaluate your existing siding in order to determine if it is doing a good job at noise reduction or not. To learn more about our siding services, please don’t hesitate to contact us today!

Nothing lasts forever, not even the most durable of materials. If you’ve been wondering how to tell if your siding needs replacement or if it just needs some repairs done, look no further. We’ve compiled a list of signs you should watch out for that indicate that your siding needs replacement. How long your siding lasts depends on a great many factors, such as its material, the climate it’s exposed to, how well it’s maintained, and more. 

When your siding needs replacement, it’s crucial to have that taken care of sooner rather than later. This is because your siding plays an important role in protecting your home. If it needs to be replaced, your home could end up with major problems necessitating significant repairs, including structural damages. Replacement siding keeps your home protected, enhances its curb appeal, and can lower your utility bills.

Here are some of the signs to watch out for that indicate that your siding needs replacement. 

There’s Evidence Of Rot

Vinyl siding may not rot, but wood siding does, and so does the wood that goes under most vinyl siding. If there’s any sign of rot, that’s a surefire sign that your siding needs replacement. You’ll want to walk around your home and look for signs of rotting, as well as poking the siding here and there, in order to tell whether it’s solid underneath, or whether it gives way. If you have dry rot, you typically can’t see it, since it’s under the siding, but you’ll be able to detect it if your siding splits, crumbles, or sounds hollow. 

It’s Cracked Or Loose

Another sign that your siding needs replacement is if you can notice cracks or that it’s come loose. Your siding can crack or become loose after storms, high winds, and general wear and tear due to aging. In some cases, you may be able to just replace the cracked or loose boards or sections, rather than getting entirely new siding everywhere. A professional will be able to consult with you and help you determine whether it would be best to get entirely new siding or to just replace the damaged boards or sections.

There Are Holes Or Other Damages

This sign your siding needs replacement goes with the previous one, as much damage to siding is the result of storms or age. Pests can also damage your siding by burrowing into it, creating cracks and holes. This can let moisture past your siding, which can then result in mold growth and structural damage to your home. As with the previous point, a professional will be able to help you determine if you need replacement siding or if you can just replace a few boards or sections.

It’s Blistering/Bubbling

If you’ve noticed little bubbles popping up on your siding, this is a sign that water’s infiltrated your siding. This is a definite sign that your siding needs replacement, as your siding is meant to keep water out of your home. If water is in the siding itself, that means that it is no longer functioning properly and needs to be replaced.

There’s Mold, Mildew, Or Fungus Growing On It

This is another sign that you’re having moisture issues and your siding is no longer doing its job. If you have anything growing on your siding like this, it could indicate that you have water within your siding. This can cause not only structural damage and major repairs, but also create a health hazard, especially for those with mold sensitivities. 

It’s Faded Or Peeling

Some fading is bound to happen over time, but if your siding is severely faded, that means that its weatherproofing is failing and that your siding needs replacement before any damages get the chance to occur. Similarly, if your siding needs frequent painting because the paint keeps peeling, you’ll need to have it replaced too. We recommend vinyl siding, as it can be whatever color you like and does not need to be painted in order to maintain it. 

Your Energy Bills Are Spiking

Your siding is meant to protect your home and help insulate it, so if you’re noticing higher energy bills and your siding looks worse for the wear, that can be another sign that your siding needs replacement. New siding will be able to insulate your home properly, keeping the hot air in and the cold air out in the winter and vice versa in the summer.

Does Your Siding Need Replacement?

Unlimited Siding knows how important your siding is for the aesthetic appeal, insulation, and protection of your home. If your siding needs to be replaced, we can do that for you. To learn more about our siding options or to schedule an appointment, please don’t hesitate to contact us today!

Winter can cause dirt and debris to build up on your siding, bringing down its aesthetic appeal and making it more susceptible to damages. Spring siding maintenance will not only help you prevent easily avoidable damages, but also keep your home looking its best. Here are some of the tips we have for your spring siding maintenance. When in doubt, you can always reach out to the professionals here at Unlimited Siding with any questions or for a service. Maintaining your siding is an essential part of ensuring it lasts as long as possible. 

Here are some of our top tips for spring siding maintenance. Depending on what your siding is made of, your maintenance needs may vary. However, all preventative maintenance will keep your siding looking and performing its best for years to come. 

#1. Keep It Clean

Even the easiest siding material to maintain – vinyl – needs to be washed in order to maintain its curb appeal. If dirt and grime is allowed to build up on your siding, it will bring down the appearance of your home, making it appear drab and uncared for. If your home has any shady and damp areas, mold and mildew can grow. The longer you leave your siding uncleaned, the harder it will be to clean when you decide to get the job down. 

It’s best to clean your siding at least once a year, if you have vinyl siding, though you may need to clean it more frequently if you have another type of siding. We include this in our spring siding maintenance because with the warming weather, it makes it more pleasant to get out and clean. Clean siding equals a beautiful home. 

#2. Inspect It Regularly

No matter how durable your siding is or how careful you are around it, it can still get cracked or break. Storms can make siding loosen, wear and tear can result in cracks, a ball hitting it or a tree branch slamming against it can damage it, and water can also cause significant damage if left unchecked. When the snow’s all melted, it can be easier to do this spring siding maintenance and take a walk around your house, looking for any cracked, chips, or other such damages. 

It can be difficult to notice some types of damages, so if you think something seems off, it’s best to call a professional to come out and give you a second opinion. 

#3. Trim Your Landscape

In spring, things are growing, making trimming your landscape an essential part of spring siding maintenance. Branches can scratch and damage your siding. You’ll want to trim them back so that your siding is protected. If you’re planting new trees or bushes, be mindful of the distance to your home. You don’t want them in too close proximity, otherwise your siding could get damaged.

#4. Keep Heat Away

Vinyl siding is both slow to burn and has a low melting point. Many people don’t realize that putting their grills right up against their siding can melt it – at least, not until they’re done and then see the damage. This spring siding maintenance tip is easy: just put your grill a safe distance away from your siding when you bring it back out of storage. That way, you’ll be able to enjoy barbeques without causing your siding to melt.

#5. Be Mindful Of Potential Dangers

This spring siding maintenance tip ties into the previous tip about trimming your landscape. You want to be mindful of potential dangers to your siding, such as your lawnmower or soccer balls. Be careful not to hit your siding when you’re mowing the lawn, and be sure to put the soccer goal a good distance away from your siding so that balls don’t hit it at high velocity. These can cause your siding to crack or break.

Additionally, you’ll want to be mindful about using products with chemicals around your siding. Common yard chemicals can cause your siding to get stained or discolored. Through simply being alert, you can do a lot to prevent damage to your siding.

#6. Only Use Professional Pressure Washing Services

It’s extremely easy for your siding to break when you try to pressure wash it. Though it may be tempting to try to pressure wash it clean, this is a job best left to the professionals. Professional pressure washers know how to clean siding without damaging it, while many DIYers end up breaking it when they try to do the same thing.

#7. Repair Any Damages

The final spring siding maintenance tip that we have for you in this blog is to repair any damages as soon as you notice them. Left alone, damages can worsen over time, causing serious problems and expensive repairs. If your siding needs to be repaired, it’s important to have it done sooner rather than later. 

These are but 7 of the things you can do to maintain your siding. If you would like more siding maintenance tips or if you need siding repair, don’t hesitate to contact Unlimited Siding. We’re here to help!