If you happen to live in an area that is prone to encountering high winds like hurricanes or tornados, you have likely seen your house’s siding get blown off in the wind at least a couple of times. Even if your siding remains intact, rain driven by the winds will often get blown into the cavities of your house’s exterior walls, which is also equally troublesome.
Houses in coastal areas always require more maintenance than inland residences. Maple Shade Township roofing and siding contractors suggest that all the maintenance requirements should be taken into consideration during the initial processes, like selection and installation. If you are planning to build a new house or re-side your property in a coastal area, the following information will be of great use to you.
Vinyl Siding
We all know that vinyl is one of the most popular siding materials in use worldwide. When designed, manufactured, and installed correctly and properly, vinyl siding can definitely be used on homes located in coastal areas. Most vinyl sidings are tested rigorously to withstand high wind pressures and hence are recommended by Maple Shade Township roofing and siding contractors for residential installation in areas with highly exposed buildings, high wind speed, increased building height, or in areas where all of these are encountered.
In addition to choosing vinyl siding that has survived such tests, installation is also important in making sure that the siding works optimally. Maple Shade Township professional roofing and siding contractors will guide you through the process, which usually involves the installation of exterior and interior wall sheathings in addition to the vinyl siding itself. When it comes to installation, even smaller details count, like using the right nails. Since we are talking about siding for homes in coastal areas, it is only wise to use nails made from corrosion-resistant materials like galvanized steel and aluminum.
Fiber Cement Siding
Fiber cement siding is another material recommended by Maple Shade Township roofing and siding experts for use in high-wind regions. Unlike many other siding materials, installing fiber cement siding must be done only by professionals because it involves the use of specialized cutting tools. And to make sure that the installation is done properly, installation, finishing, and painting recommendations from the manufacturer must be followed precisely.
Wood Siding
In order to make sure that your wood siding lasts a long time and can endure the tough weather in your region, you need to choose wood types that are decay-resistant. Cypress, cedar, teak, and California redwood are some options you can consider. It is important to stain or paint the back of the wood siding before installation, as this helps improve its durability. The detailing instructions given by the manufacturer should also be precisely followed in order to prevent too much water from seeping into the back of the siding.
Maple Shade Township roofing and siding contractors suggest that using siding products that are specifically designed for high-wind regions is very important. However, not all manufacturers rate their products clearly, so it would be quite difficult for you to determine on your own whether or not a particular siding will be suitable for your environment.
When there is wind, there will definitely be wind-driven rain. This rain can easily penetrate the exterior walls of your house. To prevent this, installation of a moisture barrier like building paper or housewrap is essential.
Also, commonly referred to as a water-resistive barrier, the moisture barrier is usually installed between the siding and the wall envelope. In addition to preventing water from wind-driven rain from entering your walls and shedding, the moisture barrier also has control over air flowing through the wall. Moisture barriers have to be properly sealed in order for them to do their job correctly, so have a professional roofing and siding contractor install it for you.