With tax season behind us, many families will have received a refund that they can use for home improvements or other projects. If you have received a large tax return, finding some areas around your home to improve is a worthwhile investment. In this blog, we will share how you can use your tax refund in different places in your home, as well as some remodeling tasks that may result in more monetary compensation. 

Look Into Tax Rebates For Remodels

If you truly want to maximize your tax refund and invest it back into your home, completing a remodel that offers tax rebates is your best option. Energy-efficient upgrades often qualify for tax credits, as well as medically necessary upgrades or ADA-compliant upgrades. Choosing energy-efficient windows, installing ramps, or upgrading your siding can all qualify for tax credits to help replenish what you invested in the project.

Improve Your Exterior And Landscaping

One of the best upgrades you can complete on a home is exterior changes, as they boost your curb appeal and the value of your home at the same time. An exterior remodel can include new siding, shutters, gutters, and landscaping upgrades. Remodeling these areas can give the home a more modern look and boost its resale value for the future. 

For landscaping, you can use your tax return to add new ground cover, plant trees and shrubs, add curbing, and sectioning off areas with gravel or concrete can be completed during landscaping renovation. Adding more depth and interest to your yard can make it more appealing for you as well as those in your neighborhood. Landscaping can be expensive, but some improvements can be made by homeowners to save money.

Replace Hardware And Faucets

Another way to utilize your tax return is to upgrade fixtures like cabinet hardware, faucets, shower heads, door knobs, and lighting fixtures. These small features may not seem like they make a huge difference, but even small modern upgrades can boost the home value significantly. Matte finishes or brushed steel are popular options for a more modern look. Upgrading fixtures will also improve the functionality of your space, helping you complete daily tasks more efficiently. These upgrades are typically more affordable than others, meaning that you can stretch your tax return to complete even more upgrades or supplement other expenses around your home.

Upgrade Windows And Doors

Another worthwhile upgrade is updating the windows and doors around your home. Upgrading these features often improves the energy efficiency and comfort of your home. Replacing the frame and glass of the windows will help improve the brightness of the interior of a home, prevent mold and wood rot, and pest invasions. Windows and doors are often one of the most expensive upgrades for a home, but replacing them in an older home or if you are struggling with energy bills is necessary for a longer-lasting home.

Roofing

The roof is one of the most protective elements of a home, stopping weather, birds, and other pests from entering your home. A roof that has missing shingles, sagging fascia, and detached gutters has less curb appeal than other homes. Replacing your roof is a large undertaking, but it is absolutely necessary if you want to prevent leaks or severe heat loss. 

Working with a professional roofing team is the best way to ensure the longevity of your roof, but it will be more expensive than DIY methods. If you are spending your tax return on roofing, you should ensure your investment is worthwhile by choosing a quality roofing company. Professional teams can also help suggest the best roofing material for your climate and other materials around your home. Common roofing materials include asphalt shingles, slate tiles, and metal roofing.

Other Small Improvements

Stretching your tax return money can be done in multiple small projects around your home. Smaller and budget-friendly projects can still update the look and feel of your home, but are much easier and more affordable to digest by homeowners. Some smaller improvements include:

• Add a new backsplash in your kitchen or bathroom
• Upgrade exterior house numbers and mailboxes
• Adding motion sensor or solar-powered lighting around your landscaping
• Install crown molding in rooms that need more life

Modern Siding Upgrades From Unlimited Siding

Unlimited Siding and Rain Gutter is a locally owned company that provides durable solutions to Utah homeowners. Our team can help improve your exterior, roof, and exterior lighting. We stand behind our quality and the durability of our products, going the extra mile to ensure our customers are satisfied with our work. The team at Unlimited Siding can help boost your curb appeal and the longevity of your home. Schedule a consultation with our team to learn what materials and colors will work best for your home.

Choosing a siding option for your home is an important part of the home’s longevity. Certain siding materials are more moisture-resistant than others, including vinyl. While no material is completely waterproof, vinyl siding has multiple properties that make it moisture-resistant and resistant to other extreme weather. Moisture damage is a common concern for homeowners, so working with a professional company and doing research on quality materials can save you from stress later on. This blog will look at how vinyl siding can protect your home from moisture damage that can lead to major repairs and health concerns.

Details About Vinyl

Vinyl is a non-porous material, making it a good choice for siding, roofing, and other exterior projects. It is very smooth, making water and debris slide right off. Choosing this material for your siding also means you won’t need to apply any extra barriers, stains, or paint in order to help it resist damage. Vinyl will hold its color and appearance through different conditions, helping your home look newer for longer.

Vinyl Doesn’t Absorb Water

Many siding materials will absorb moisture either from the air or from snow/rain. Vinyl does not absorb water like wood or composites, which keeps it from settling and turning into mold and mildew. When siding absorbs moisture, it can seep underneath the panels and into the insulation of a home. When it becomes trapped, it can deteriorate other materials, lead to hidden mold, and cause damage that will end up being costly to repair. Repelling water is important if you want your home to be as healthy as possible.

Reduced Need For Cleaning

Using moisture during cleaning is common when it comes to the exterior of a home. Vinyl is resistant to other debris as well, which means that you won’t need to pressure wash or rinse your siding often. Not only is this helpful for busy homeowners who don’t have the hours to dedicate to whole-house cleaning, but reduces the amount of water that comes in contact with the vinyl. Reducing the need for constant cleaning will reduce water drips that could cause discoloration or mold.

Doesn’t Change In Extreme Temperatures

Extreme temperatures like high heat or extreme cold can cause siding materials to warp or rot, which often causes them to lift away from the home. These extreme temperatures can cause the material to expand and contract, which leads to weakening. Vinyl is not prone to rotting or warping, which ensures that the panels lie flat against the home. Gaps between the siding and the sides of your home can put you at risk of mold, pest infestations, and lower energy efficiency. Investing in vinyl siding will keep the more fragile parts of your home protected from the elements.

Proper Installation Is Necessary For Protection From Moisture Damage

Installing siding by yourself can be a complicated process, which can also lead to mistakes and lowered lifespan. Professional installation ensures that the panels are laid correctly and securely, which helps prevent water from getting under the siding. Professionals use high-quality tools, screws, or staples to hold the siding in place through different weather conditions. If you want your vinyl siding to last for over 30 years, it is recommended to have it installed by a licensed team. Professional teams can also ensure that the materials being applied to your home are manufactured correctly and aren’t previously damaged.

Siding Options From Our Professionals

Unlimited Siding offers a variety of products to Utah homeowners that can protect your home from extensive damage. Our siding options include vinyl siding, LP Smartside, and board and batten siding. We also offer soffits, fascia, exterior remodels, and permanent lighting. No matter how you want to boost the curb appeal of your home, our services can help give your home new life.

Unlimited Siding is located in Ogden, UT, and has been working on homes for many years. Our services are top of the line, but customer satisfaction is our top priority. We work hard to provide worry-free installation and high-quality products that you can rely on. Protect your home from damage and update the appearance of your home when working with the team at Unlimited Siding.

Siding is important to the protection and safety of your home, but installing it may take longer than you expected. Installing new siding can be beneficial to the longevity of the home, but there are factors that could impact the timeline of installation. These could put your home or structural elements at risk if the siding is not put in place in a timely manner. This blog will share some of the factors that can extend the timeline of new siding installation and what is involved in the process.

Factors That Affect The Installation Timeline

Unpredictable factors can impact the installation time of your siding, especially the weather. When these factors are present, your siding could take longer than the proposed 2-week or 3-week timeline that is typical for new siding installation.

Weather

One of the most unpredictable factors that can affect siding installation is the weather. Extreme temperatures, high moisture levels, or storms can make it difficult or impossible to work on your siding. It is unsafe for contractors to work in hot temperatures or cold temperatures, as it could cause severe health risks. Weather can also cause damage to the siding or insulation that goes underneath, causing mold growth or rotting soon after installation. If you want to avoid damage to the siding during installation and the need for replacement, it is important that your contractor installs the siding on a mild weather day.

Removal Of Old Siding 

If you have old siding that needs to be removed before installing the new materials, this can prolong the completion date of your siding project. If a contractor needs to remove the old siding from your house before installing new material, this can add a significant amount of time to a project. Some siding materials can be installed over top of old materials, but others need a fresh surface to be applied.

Size Of The Home

A larger home will require more labor and more materials to completely coat. A large home will take longer to complete, especially if there are multiple levels. While a typical home takes about 1-3 weeks to complete with new siding, a large home or rental space may add on 2-4 weeks. 

The Contractor You Hire

The company you hire and the number of employees they have can also impact project timelines. If a contractor doesn’t have room in their schedule for you immediately, is limited on workers, or isn’t a quality contractor with time management skills, your project could get pushed out. The start date and end date of your project can seem longer if you are unable to get on the contractor’s schedule soon after you contact them.

Steps Involved In Siding Installation

While there are external factors that could slow the process of siding installation, there are also important steps that need to be completed for the siding to remain durable. Skipping steps or rushing installation can limit the amount of protection that your siding provides to your home. 

Before any work can begin, a consultation will need to be completed by the contractor or siding expert. This allows them to see what condition your home is in, what siding you currently have, and provide you the opportunity to ask any questions. Contractors will prepare an estimate of how much the project will cost and potentially give an estimated timeline of completion.

Once you have signed the appropriate paperwork and scheduled your installation, the team will start by removing old siding and cleaning the exterior to prepare for the new material. If you don’t have existing siding, this step will be the shortest, but the removal of old siding and making any necessary repairs underneath could add a few days to your project.

Next, moisture barriers and added insulation will be installed around the home. This step is crucial if you want an energy-efficient home and doesn’t add significant time to the completion of your siding installation.

The siding will then be installed, starting at the bottom of the home and working upwards. The actual siding installation can take a few days, depending on the size and complexity of your home. Finishing touches like sealing gaps or specialized pieces around windows and vents will come last. After all of these steps, your new siding installation is complete.

Is Professional Or DIY Installation Quicker?

Every home is unique, and every siding type is unique, which can change the project timeline drastically. Working with a professional ensures that corners aren’t cut, proper repairs are made before new siding is installed, and keeps ventilation vents clear to prevent future issues. Homeowners may think they can complete a project faster instead of waiting for an installer to have room in their schedule, but a homeowner may not have the skills and specialized tools needed to complete the job. If you start out on a DIY project but run into trouble, a professional team may have to backtrack to fix the work you have done, before they can complete the installation the correct way. 

Depending on the type of siding, homeowners could help in the process by removing old siding before a professional team is scheduled to install new siding. However, most of the time, it is better to leave the removal to the professionals and instead remove patio furniture or other exterior elements, giving the team clear access to the home’s exterior. While many factors are out of our control, helping to have a clear workspace can help start your project off on the right foot.

Installation From Our Professionals At Unlimited Siding 

Unlimited Siding is committed to providing siding and roof services to homes in Utah. With so many different weather conditions and external factors in the state, our team provides the best materials to keep you home safe and comfortable. Unlimited Siding provides vinyl siding, board and batten siding, permanent lighting, exterior remodels, and upgrades to your soffit and fascia. Interested in upgrading your home’s exterior? Give us a call today!