What to consider when installing vinyl siding on your home:

 Rich Aluminum & Vinyl Siding Inc. offers a wide variety of products for the exterior of your home.

All manufacturer’s have a builder’s grade product-gauge .036, .038 and .040, (usually lumber yards carry these lines), a better line .044 and a best line .046 and .050.  When you shop for vinyl siding, check out quality as well as name brand.

At Rich Aluminum & Vinyl Siding Inc., we only install product gauge of .044 or better.  The heavier gauge products line up straighter on your home and stays locked.

Siding is more exciting now then ever before.  You are only limited by your imagination.  Many of our customer’s “mix & match”, in other words, they combine a siding color of one brand with a trim color of another brand.

Come and visit our showrooms to see some of the many exciting combinations available and explore the possibilities.

Exclusive Integri-Lock® system snaps panels securely together for a sound installation Textured grain of forest-grown cedar and a low- gloss finish.

Fresh and classically beautiful on the first day it’s installed, Market Square® will keep its clean, sharp appearance from season to season, year after year.  Unique performance features, like our WindBreaker® system make it impervious to wind and weather. Key Features Available in Double 4”, Double 4.5” Dutchlap and Double 5” .044” nominal thickness 5/8” profile edge WindBreaker® nailing system Integri-Lock® locking system Windload Performance: 155 mph Colors: 18 available colors

Charter Oak XL’s extended panels can be used on their own or in combination with regular 12’1” panels. They deliver performance in remodeling and new construction alike, with all the durability and strength of Charter Oak® for faster, easier installation. * See printed warranty for complete details Charter Oak XL Features * Exclusive TriBeam™ Design * Extra long 16’8” panels * Beautiful oak grain finish * Dutch lap and clapboard profiles * Widest variety of trim, soffit and    accent options on the market * Lifetime, transferable warranty*

Product Specifics Profile: Clapboard Exclusive Features: TriBeam™ Design Nail Hem: Fully rolled-over Exposure: Double 4-1/2" Butt Edge: 3/4" Thickness: .046” (nominal) Texture: Richly detailed oak grain Colors: 20 Profile: Dutch lap Exclusive Features: TriBeam™    Design Nail Hem: Fully rolled-over Exposure: Double 4-1/2" Butt Edge: 3/4" Thickness: .046” (nominal) Texture: Richly detailed oak grain Colors: 20 Nail Hem Clapboard Grain Detail Dutch Lap

When people start considering vinyl siding for there home, many times they focus on the per square price of vinyl siding. (Vinyl siding is sold per square, (A square being 100 sq. ft.). This is certainly a valid concern however there are many other components needed to correctly install vinyl siding, as well as experience in handling the product.  These additional products need to be considered in the price.

The accessories can add an additional $100.00 to $200.00 per square to the cost of the vinyl siding itself. 

Some specialty siding has custom starters, J channel, nails and corners that need to be used with their products. 

Some contractors may “USE UP” inventory they have left over from other jobs.  In some cases, the materials are interchangeable with different brands. However, as the siding industry has evolved into more sophisticated products, so do the specialized accessories.  Make sure that what your contractor is “using up” is compatible with the materials you chose for your home.

Many times I have heard vinyl siding getting what I call a “BAD RAP”, when in actuality, it was installed improperly and all the necessary accessories were not used in order to cut costs.  An analogy to this would be buying a Volkswagen expecting it to perform like a Mercedes using Ford parts. 

It is imperative when installing certain specialty siding products that the proper accessories are installed and “that the manufacturer’s instruction are followed”.    In order for a manufacturer to warranty your siding, it has to be installed per manufacturer’s instructions.  If it is not installed correctly, the manufacturer’s warranty is null and void. 

One of the most common problems with vinyl siding installation is the panels “rippling or oil canning and panels that are popping out”.  Many times it is not a product failure but a result of improper nailing, nailing pattern and/or not locking panels correctly.  PROPER NAILING IS CRITICAL WHEN INSTALLING VINYL SIDING. 

As an aside, many heavier panels, .044 or better, have reinforced nail hems and bigger butts.  These features make it easier to lock the panels and to keep them locked.  A thin nail hem and thin butt are hard to lock and line up properly.  The reinforced nail hem and large butt help keep the panels lined up on the side of your home.  In a nutshell, you get what you pay for.

When a siding job is completed on either a new or older home, you should be able to stand in front of your home and see nice straight lines down the sides and on older homes, if the walls have been “feathered out” properly, the surface should be even, no humps or bumps.

Vinyl siding expands and contracts with the weather.  It is imperative that the siding panels are lapped enough and that the panels are nailed correctly in order to allow for proper expansion and contraction of the siding.   The tolerances used in the summer are the same as used in the winter but in reverse. 

Necessary vinyl siding accessories are, starter strip, J channel,, F channel, soffit solid or vented, undersill, inside corners, outside corners, siding nails the correct length, trim nails the color of the aluminum trim being installed, and insulation, various sizes for feathering.

The next product to consider is insulation that will go behind you siding.   At Rich Aluminum & Vinyl Siding Inc. we offer insulation in 3/8”, 1/2”, 3/4” and 1” ESP, one pound density, foil on Kraft paper.

There is another product available that is called “Fullback” insulation.  This insulation not only adds insulation to your home, its insect resistant!

About Perform Guard®.
A patented defense against boring and nesting insects based on a naturally occurring mineral..

Termite-damaged untreated foams.

Perform Guard termite resistant foams.

Perform Guard is a proven, patented pest control product made from naturally-occurring boron. It is the result of over a decade of extensive research and field testing by R-Control Building Systems, a manufacturer with production and sales facilities throughout the United States, Puerto Rico and Japan. The company has conducted extensive research to identify an effective non-toxic additive that would deter termites. It has developed processes for the incorporation of the additive into expanded

We can install our 1” foam board insulation on your home in conjunction with the Fullback insulation for an R factor of 7.9.

Foam board insulation serves two purposes, one is insulation the other is a leveling board.  Frequently on older homes, it is necessary to “feather” the wall to get it level, (dips and bulges on your house wall need to be leveled off in order for the vinyl siding to line up on the wall and to lock the panels properly).  That is the reason we stock foam board insulation in several different sizes.

After you have chosen your siding colors, you need to consider the trim colors.  In the vernacular of the siding trade, trim is the soffit, fascia, window and door casings.  This is a custom made product from aluminum coil stock or vinyl coated coil stock.  The trim must be in aluminum coil stock because it has to be bent and shaped to cover your existing trim.

When we are installing vinyl siding to the exterior of your home, we are bringing the face of your home out 1” 3/4” inches.  In order for your window and door casings not to be recessed, we install 1” x 2” lumber around all your casings.  This gives us a solid base to install our aluminum on.  Please note that a common practice in the trade is to “FLOAT” the aluminum trim around window and door casings, when a contractor does this, the aluminum trim does not have a solid base and is easily damaged.

At Rich Aluminum & Vinyl Siding Inc. we have our own woodshop where we custom make our lumber.  Our 1” x 2” is a full 1” x 2”.  Our custom woodshop allows us the flexibility to make any necessary wood sizes we may encounter when working on an older home.  Over the years, lumber sizes have changed. Because of our custom woodshop, this is not a problem for us.

Our 1” x2” wood is installed around your window and door casings.  This wood is then covered by custom bent aluminum trim.   It is important that your trim around all casings is installed in a “water-flow” correct manner.   We miter our J channel and bend the “EARS” over on the J channel installed on top of your casings.   This is the “water-flow” correct way of installing J channel.   The aluminum trim is then sealed with caulking to the J channel installed around your windows.

At Rich Aluminum & Vinyl Siding Inc. we automatically include the “extras” that most other contractors charge for. 

We automatically include all necessary J blocks for your lights, J vents for your dryer, and split J blocks for your faucets plus any necessary louvers.  These are available in 220 colors that match most siding or you may go with a contrasting color for accent.

Below are examples of some of the accessories that we may use on your house.  Once again, these “extras” are included at no additional charge to our customers. 
    
Mounting Blocks
When it comes to a home, little things can matter the most. That’s why unfinished rough openings around exterior lighting and fixtures can take away from even the best siding job. Mounting Blocks help to seat fixtures correctly, giving your siding job a completely finished look.
Available in:
• Mount Master® Mounting Blocks in six sizes.
• Recessed Style Blocks in four sizes.
• Split Block to fit around outdoor faucets, etc.
• Surface Master® Mounting Blocks.

• UL–Listed Electrical Blocks.
• Meter Block.
• Standard House Address Kit.

Master® Exhaust Vent
• Available in over 220 colors plus paintable.
• Patented exhaust flaps stay closed
when not in use. Patented Lock-On Trim Ring. Includes 8" long aluminum tube (4" dia.).
• Net free area: 12 sq. in.
• Optional Small Animal Guard available. 

    
Mid-America Gable Vents

 
At Rich Aluminum & Vinyl Siding Inc. we automatically include removal and disposal of all construction debris related to your project.

The last but not the least item to consider when you are going to side your home is the quality and expertise of your siding applicator.

Vinyl siding is not wood siding.  There are many tolerances working with vinyl siding that need to be taken into consideration.

Vinyl Siding is a very weather sensitive product.  It expands in the summer and shrinks in the winter.  Therefore, you need to make sure the seams are lapped properly allowing for temperature differences.

The seams should face AWAY from the high traffic areas. You do not want to be looking into open seams as you look down the side of your home.

An experienced applicator will line up a house before installing siding.  This means you need to find the low point on the foundation and measure around the base to make sure the panels will run level around corners. This also assures you that the corners will be installed straight and true.

An experienced applicator will measure up from the base of his starting point to the bottom of the eaves to make sure the last panel will end properly.  If this is done correctly, it can save a lot of wasted materials and labor cutting and fitting.

When you are running soffit and fascia, you need to square off the soffit so it is level.  A chalk line should be snapped.  The F channel will be installed on this line.  The fascia also has to be checked for level.

Soffit needs to be installed correctly.   The panels come in 12 foot lengths and are cut to length.  When soffit is installed it needs to be nailed and locked to prevent wind from dislodging it.

Custom aluminum fascia is bent and shaped to the contour of your existing fascia.  The strength of the aluminum is in the bends.  Therefore, it is not advised to have a flat fascia over 8’-9”.  If you go over this width, your aluminum will ripple.  To avoid this, we will install a piece of 1” x 2” wood on the fascia to be covered with bent aluminum.  This adds extra strength to the fascia as well as a decorative dimension.

Nailing is critical in aluminum fascia.  Aluminum fascia should be pre drilled before a nail is installed.  This prevents “dimpling” in the aluminum.

As you are lining up the house, this is an ideal time to check for rotted wood.  It is company policy at Rich Aluminum & Vinyl Siding Inc. to never, ever go over rotted wood.  Rotted wood is charged materials plus labor.  Most homes have some small areas of rotted wood. 
Insulation should be installed with a snug fit.  This will cut down on air infiltration around window and door openings.  At this time an experienced siding installed will compensate for any bows or dips in the walls, (feathering), as needed.

A home is the largest single investment the average person makes in their lifetime.  At Rich Aluminum & Vinyl Siding Inc. we treat your home with the respect it deserves.