Many homeowners choose to have vinyl siding installed on their homes.  It is known for lasting for a very long time and it is practically maintenance free.  However, there are certain situations that can cause vinyl siding to bloat, swell, and even warp, which will make it look horrendous from any vantage point.  Since all homeowners want their home to look beautiful inside and out, they are not going to want their vinyl siding to look bad at any time and therefore should take proper precautions to avoid these issues.

When a homeowner hires an exterior home improvement contractor, they will want to make sure that the contractor is a professional and has years of experience hanging vinyl siding.  Without this experience, exterior home improvement contractors might nail the vinyl siding too closely to the house.  That means that the vinyl siding will not be able to move as it needs to from thermal expansion and it will buckle and warp.

The elements can really wreak havoc on vinyl siding as well, and it is common for the siding to become buckled and warped after being exposed to many different elements for months or years.  Some of the elements that are the worst include severely windy conditions, intense sunlight, and even extreme rain.

Of course, homeowners also need to consider chemical exposure or heat from nearby buildings if they start to see their vinyl siding bloating, swelling, or warping, because those two things can create a lot of damage too.

Exterior home improvement contractors all agree that homeowners should inspect their vinyl siding on a regular basis.  This will allow them to catch the buckling and warping much sooner, when there is a possibility of it being repaired easily.  Regular maintenance on your homes exterior will prevent siding issues from turning into siding catastrophes.

Unfortunately, if damaged vinyl siding isn’t repaired quickly, there will be no way for exterior home improvement contractors to fix it.  The reason for this is that the buckling and warping will continue to spread to larger areas and the only way to make the siding look nice again is completely replacing it.  At least, when the damage is limited to a smaller section, there is a chance that only that section would need to be replaced.

We always recommend that homeowners hold onto the vinyl siding that is leftover from the installation, so if a small section does buckle or warp, it is easy to replace those pieces.  However, those few pieces will not be of any help if an entire side of a house needs to be redone.

No matter what, homeowners will want to call their exterior home improvement contractor as soon as they see their vinyl siding bloating, swelling, or warping.  This phone call can save a homeowner thousands of dollars if they do it quickly enough.

Learn more about Kearns Brothers, a full-service home improvement contractor servicing all Southeast Michigan’s construction needs by visiting their website at www.kearnsbrothers.com or contact a remodeling expert at 888.355.6700.

Want to improve the exterior décor of your home? The best option to consider is new exterior siding. It will not only improve the exterior décor but improve the value of your home as well. Moreover, it will also improve the energy efficiency of your home.

Siding that is over forty years old should consider getting it replaced as part of an exterior home improvement plan. It will add freshness to the curb appeal of your home and improve its overall look.

Many people make the mistake of relying on DIY methods instead of leaving it to professionals when it comes to siding. It brings a lot of hassles, chaos, and of course, consumes a lot of time. Hence, it is recommended to leave it to the pros and get the process completed in a professional manner.

Here are some of the reasons why leaving siding to the professional is a better idea than doing it on your own.

Lack of Professionals

A prominent factor that goes in favor of the pros for exterior siding is that they are professionals. Hence, they can employ professional techniques to complete the whole siding project in an efficient manner. On the other hand, opting for DIY methods require so much time, effort, and energy. Despite spending hours or days in completing side project, you may still not get the desired results.

Lack of Expertise and Experience

Hiring professional exterior contractors for a siding project is also recommended since they have the required expertise and experience, which a layman doesn’t have. There is a vast difference in the result of an exterior siding project that is completed by a professional and a layman. This is due to the fact that professionals use their experience, skills, and extensive knowledge optimally to ensure the project is completed in a timely and professional manner.

No Access to Required Tools & Gears

An exterior siding project requires the use of certain tools and gears, which, generally a layman doesn’t have access to. They either have to buy or rent them that can burn a hole in their pockets. On the other hand, if you are relying on exterior contractors, there will be no such issue since the advanced tools and gears will be arranged by the professionals themselves.

Chances of Chaos, Mess, and Hassles

An exterior siding project can create a lot of hassles and chaos if not done properly. Furthermore, there will be a lot of mess left behind that will further add to the hassles. With hiring professionals, the whole process will be completed in a smooth and efficient manner. There will be no hassles, mess, and chaos at all.

Learn more about Kearns Brothers, a full-service home improvement contractor servicing all of Southeast Michigan’s construction needs by visiting their website at www.kearnsbrothers.com or contact a remodeling expert at 888.355.6700.

While the purpose of your home’s exterior siding is mainly to protect your structure against exposure to the elements, prevent heat loss, and for aesthetic purposes, some siding materials are more susceptible to deterioration over time. There are several different types of siding.  Most of which seem to be made from imitative material which after some time, fall into a state of disrepair and it’s important to know when to replace your siding when the time comes.

Moldy Siding

Mold is a fungus that produces harmful spores and grows and spreads rapidly especially in humid conditions. Skilled exterior contractors will tell you that your home’s exterior siding is the perfect breeding ground for mold and the best way to tell that you have this problem is through a musty smell including black or gray dirt-like spores on your siding. While some homeowners will opt for a professional power wash, hiring an experienced exterior contractor to replace your siding will ensure the mold is completely killed and your family’s risk of getting mold-related health concerns such as asthma is reduced.  It also means that you can consider hardier vinyl siding such as what you see from CertainTeed or fiber-cement from James Hardie.

Soaring Energy Bills

An unexplainable spike in your energy bills is a sure-fire sign of an exterior siding issue that needs to be addressed, window seals leaking, or installation issue.  Some older homes have very little insulation in their walls and heat loss could be attributed to the lack of insulation. Your siding can become worn due to excessive exposure to temperature fluctuations which can contribute to a loss in heat or air conditioning. This is when you will want to consult with exterior contractors who can help you determine whether your heat loss is as a result of lack of insulation or it’s your HVAC system that’s working double time to maintain adequate temperature levels in your home.

An exterior home improvement project can be a costly affair, however, if you’re an energy conscious homeowner, hiring a professional team of exterior contractors to replace your siding can be a crucial line of defense against keeping your home energy low and cost-efficient.

Physical Damage

Warping boards, rust, discoloration, cracking, splitting, are all clear visual signs of siding wear and tear. If you find that you need to repaint your exterior siding often to keep it looking fresh, it could mean that this is a sign of structural damage that needs an assessment from professional exterior contractors.  Thus resulting in an overall exterior siding replacement just to be on the safe side.

Learn more about Kearns Brothers, a full-service home improvement contractor servicing all of Southeast Michigan’s construction needs by visiting their website at www.kearnsbrothers.com or contact a remodeling expert at 888.355.6700.

2018 is the year that is taking the curb appeal of your home to the next level.  Homeowners are more aware now than ever before that how their homes look on the outside has everything to do with how the inside is viewed.  This is even more important when looking to put your home on the market.  The exterior of your home is a reflection to the rest of the world of you.  It can make your home look warm and inviting or just the opposite based solely on how it looks.  One way that homeowners are looking into bringing new life to their homes exterior is through the installation of new vinyl siding.

Vinyl siding installation creates an entirely new look for your home.  It is important to choose a color that expresses who you are while also taking into account other homes within the neighborhood and future buyers preferences.  In some areas vibrant colored vinyl siding is the norm however for many of us safer choices such as shades of gray or beige are more suitable.

To really determine what color is best for your homes new vinyl siding homeowners should consider the advice of an outside source, such as the siding contractor.  Professionals will offer you the cold, hard truth about your choice in the color choice of your vinyl siding.  Often times exterior siding contractors work with professional decorators to come up with a plan for exterior home renovations to be sure that all plans for the exterior of the home are tied together.

One aspect that contractors and decorators will consider is the color of the exterior doors of the home including the garage door as well as the color of the roof.  If you as a homeowner are not looking to replace the entry and garage doors or to install a new roof, then it is crucial that the homes vinyl siding is compatible with them.

The homes siding should also compliment the architecture of the home.  Certain styles of architecture fit better with certain colors and not with others.  Think about the typical colonial home; what comes to mind?  Yep, solid color vinyl siding in yellow, white, green, or blues.

Another feature to take into account is the size of your home.  Super dark vinyl siding makes homes stand out.  Dark colors can be considered overwhelming when used on larger homes where as on smaller homes they can create a cozy feeling.  If you are looking for your home to blend into the homes around the neighborhood then it is best to stick with lighter vinyl siding colors such as white or yellow.

Consider the climate in which your home is as well.  There are particular colors that are perfect for homes in cooler climates however look off when used in tropical climates.  Sunlight exaggerates brighter colored vinyl siding while heating up dark color siding.  It is also crucial to consider color combinations as well. Dark blue and black appear dark and drab whereas dark blue with white trim appears nautical and fresh.

Learn more about Kearns Brothers, a full-service home improvement contractor servicing all of Southeast Michigan’s construction needs by visiting their website at www.kearnsbrothers.com or contact a remodeling expert at 888.355.6700.

Anything you hold near and dear is a potential investment, and like most investments, you want them to appreciate rather than depreciate in value. Many homeowners do not think about increasing the value of their home until they have to suddenly sell it or until it’s too damaged that any repairs would be as if pouring their money down the proverbial drain. Home improvements needn’t be rushed or put off for another day, in fact, given time, a few smart purchases, a little elbow grease, and a few helpful hands, you can boost the value of your home within no time. Consider the following tips:

1. Exterior home improvements

The external structure of your home and its surrounding environs say a lot about you as a homeowner. You may not necessarily have a perfectly manicured lawn or a healthy rose garden, but with a few money-saving ideas, you can improve the exterior of your home and its curb appeal. For example, if you like flowering beds, consider planting flowers and shrubs that fit a minimum maintenance level.

Ground cover plants that are that is self-propagating such as ferns and ivy grow easily, and all you have to do is keep it trimmed. Consider also renting a power washer to remove stains, dirt, and debris from your sidewalk, driveway, and patio to ensure your grounds in entirety look well-maintained and neat.

2. Structural Improvements

The exterior of your home is your first line of defense, and unfortunately, through no fault of your own, it is quite susceptible to the harsh elements. When siding begins to age, it fades to a dull and very unattractive color that becomes an eyesore. Fortunately, you can repaint or replace them with new siding that comes in a variety of colors, profiles, and textures. The goal is to find professional siding contractors who are more than willing to take the exterior of your home to a whole new level of elegance. Another addition to consider to your siding project is window replacement, but if the budget doesn’t allow, you can still achieve a wow factor for your buck with a lick of paint on your shutters, doors, and gutters too.

3. Interior Improvements

If you must paint, always use neutral paint colors on your walls to give potential buyers a fresh canvas to work with. Remove all worn-out or dated wallpaper because not only does painting over old wallpaper a turn-off, but it also makes the removal process challenging. Replace scuffed or stained carpets and spend a little more on a new floor, preferably hardwood floors because they are trending and very easy to maintain. Paying close attention to things like the heating, drainage, drafty windows, or simply swapping the shower curtain for a glass shower door goes a long way. Consider buying new lighting fixtures, faucets, and handles, and have the tiled areas of the house such as the kitchen, bathroom, and floors professionally cleaned or re-grouted.

Learn more about Kearns Brothers, a full-service home improvement contractor servicing all of Southeast Michigan’s construction needs by visiting their website at www.kearnsbrothers.com or contact a remodeling expert at 888.355.6700.

Have you taken a look at the siding on your home recently? Over time it can breakdown and begin to look unsightly.  Since it is a gradual process you may not notice until it’s too late. A house’s siding has been designed to protect the interior structure from the harsh elements. Is it time for it to be upgraded? Check your siding for one of the following five signs.

• Is it falling apart?

Is your house’s siding falling off at an alarming rate? Do you constantly have to hire a handyman to go onto the ladder to reset it in place? Perhaps you’ve had to buy new siding from the store and patch it up. Now it looks uneven, but you’re uncertain whether it’s worth painting. It may be time to do some exterior home improvements.

• Is there excessive dampness within the home?

If your home is starting to feel damp inside and you can’t seem to get it warm enough, your siding may be failing. This can be causing dampness and moisture to get into the structure of your home. Over time, this can cause major problems, such as issues with the development of mold that can infest your entire home. And while you’re having your siding done, you may want to do some replacement windows too, that can help provide energy bill savings.

• Are little critters finding their way into your home?

If your siding is falling apart, this can be an opening for little critters to get in. They love the warmth of a home. You may start seeing a lot more insects too. There may be cracks and gaps starting in your siding. It’s time to withdraw the invitation and get the siding contractors to install fresh new siding and do other exterior home improvements too.

• Does your siding look like it is fighting the wind?

Even if the siding hasn’t completely fallen off yet, it may be loose. If you ever hear any exterior noise during a wind storm, it may be the siding banging against your house. It’s only a matter of time before it comes off, which can be a safety hazard for people walking past. This is a sign that you need to call the experts to do exterior home improvements.

• Are you uncertain if your siding confirms to fire regulations?

When was the last time the siding contractors came by and fully replaced your siding? If you’re the new owner of a house, you may have no idea when it was last done. Did you know that siding contractors use fireproof and flame-retardant siding now? Not only will your home look brand-new if you hire siding contractors to tear off your old siding and install with new, but you’ll also be conforming to industry regulations that will keep your family safe.

You may experience many other signs that it’s time to upgrade your siding. This may also be the perfect time to get replacement windows or have the roof done too. Soon your home will look brand new, for only a fraction of the cost of buying a new house!

Learn more about Kearns Brothers, a full-service home improvement contractor servicing all of Southeast Michigan’s construction needs by visiting their website at www.kearnsbrothers.com or contact a remodeling expert at 888.355.6700.