The Next Generation of Vinyl Siding - Solid Core

Thankyou for the information do you know any company that will guide someone who wants to do it themselves?

Rich,
Some companies publish a set of instructions. Visit all of the websites of the vinyl-siding companies.

Good morning! I am being introduced to "siding world" by the mother of invention...(How nice of her, don't you think?) Anyway, could you please suggest some companies that offer these high quality supportive siding? Also, how do you feel about Alside Prodigy? I am online all of the time, but I feel like I am going in circles....much appreciated...Rose Anne

Rose,
This is pretty simple. The siding market is so competitive that price is a fantastic measurement of quality.

Hiya! I've narrowed my search down to Craneboard and CertainTeed, both Board and Batten styles. Crane is foam backed, CertainTeed is not. I presently have vertical wood panels (T5?) Do I need Tyvek for both, or only for the uninsulated? I'm getting different info,depending on the source. Could you explain a little about how Tyvek (or similar) plays a role in the vapor barrier?
Do you know of another quality Board and Batten line that might offer a wider range of colors?

Rose Anne,
I cover all of your questions in past columns.

I was offered a "deal" to have solid core (Crane Brand) siding installed at $6.00 / sf. Apparently they want to do a house in my neighborhood as advertising. Is $6.00 / SF a good deal for Crane Solid Core?

I have never shopped vinyl before, so have no comparison other than what the rep told me.

Dave,
No. You really need to be careful of offers like that. Very dangerous.... Look at my Vinyl-Siding Checklist.

I have a brick and cedar home in Louisiana,and for the past 15 years have spent thousands of dollars reparing and painting the damage to the cedar caused by woodpeckers and squirrels. So this year I have decided to bite the bullet and go with a foam back vinyl siding ( since I'm told peckerwoods and squirrels don't like vinyl siding ). My problem is the more contractors I talk to, the more confused I become. Seems everybody trashes the other guys product. Primarily because of the darker colors available, my wife and I are strongly considering an insulated siding by a company called Mitten. They're out of Canada. Have you ever heard of them and if so, what do you think? Good or bad choice. Their literature touts a lifetime warranty, .044 thickness to the panel itself, and a 25 year fade warranty on the color ( which in this case would be a chestnut brown, since thats as close as we can get to the original color on the home ). Thanks for your help with this.. I look forward to your reply.

Roland,
Dave was let go for impersonating an expert. My response will have to do. Warranties are only as good as the company that stands behind it. Are you sure it is a good financial decision? What happens if you bought food for the critters? That could be lots cheaper than the outlay for the new siding.

Hello, I recently installed a bath vent, and am having trouble reattaching the bottom of the interlocking aluminum,foam backed, siding. I see there is a tool for prying vinyl siding off. Is there a tool to reinstall the aluminum siding. It will not pull down over the crimp.

Thank you,

Stew

Hello,

My wife an I are looking to put siding on our old shingle house. She wants fiber cement because it is" safer" than vinyl.

Can you comment on which is better?

Thanks,

Bob

Stew,
Get it warm with a hair dryer.

Bob,
By safer, what do you mean? If you mean someone coming up to your house and cutting into it for entry, no doubt fiber cement is safer. The only other safety issue I can think of would be an exterior fire. Fiber cement wins there.

It sure sounds to me that this new vinyl product does not breathe! It also sounds like it will cause the same problems synthetic stucco did! In the end, synthetic stucco has cost home owners hundreds of thousands of dollars to repair their homes and the builder did nothing the help the homeowner cover these damages. He took his money and ran..fast
!
The substrate has to breathe! Are you promoting this product as an expert? If I have a problem with it I can collect from you? Are you really a builder? If you were an architect I would have better feelings about you expertise..but not as a builder..I have seen and heard too many horror stories builders have created!!

A little knowledge is a very dangerous thing!!

I hope you have a huge amount of Liability Insurance. Be careful what you say, it may come back to haunt you big time!!!

Mary Ann,

Vinyl siding is nothing like EIFS. The overlapping nature of the siding as well as the horizontal seams allow water vapor to readily escape. As far as liability issues, you need to take much of that burden upon yourself. In other words, perform great due diligence and gather real facts. Analyze the data and then proceed.

Can anyone let me know what siding I can use that has the solid core that can be put over existing material that is on my house now. I like to use the siding that has this but I have been told that most companies will void the warrenty if you put this over. I like the fact that is soled filled and not hollow, but also would like to use scollop on my house. thanks for help

We had stucco on our home. Turned into mold problems in certain areas.
My wife wants to use vinyl with foam backing. She likes cranboard.
Because this product is more airtight, are we going to find out in 5-10 years that this also causes mold issues. I know with regular vinyl siding the air flow is what helps keep everything dry.

i'M GETTING MIXED THOUGHTS ON THE FOAM BACKED VINYL...ONE HOME IMPROVEMENT COMPANY SAYS IT IS BOGUS BECAUSE THE FOAM TAPERS DOWN THE SIDING AND CREATES A "GAP" OR "AIR POCKET THAT WOULD TRAP THE COLD OR WARM AIR. I CAN SEE THAT HAPPENING BUT WOULDNT A TYVEK WRAP AROUND THE WHOLE HOUSE TAKE CARE OF THAT PROBLEM. tHE PRODUCT IS THE ELIMINATOR29-IF YOU KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THIS PRODUCT CAN YOU PLEASE COMMENT ON IT. aNOTHER PRODUCT i'M INTERESTED IN IS THE CERTAINTEED CEDAR BOARDS. AGAIN ANY FEEDBACK ON EITHER PRODUCT WILL BE GREATLY APPRECIATED.