When installing vinyl siding on your home in Boston, you’ve got lots of options to choose from if you want your house to stand out from the rest of the neighborhood. Roof Hub has been a vinyl siding contractor in Massachusetts for almost a decade, assisting homeowners with seamless siding installations that completely transform the look and feel of any home’s exterior.
New siding from Roof Hub will protect your from the elements, increase the overall value of your home, and can improve the energy efficiency of your house. Request a custom siding quote using the form below today, or keep reading to the learn more about Roof Hub’s install methods, materials, warranties, types of siding, and warning signs that your siding needs to be replaced.
If you prefer to speak with one of our siding experts over the phone, call (857) 237-7648
Full Service Siding Installation by Roof Hub
Lots of siding companies will simply tear down your old siding and put up the new siding without thinking too much about it. Just like with our roof replacement process, Roof Hub prides ourselves on installing these projects right the very first time, so you’ll never need to worry about your home’s siding for as long as you own the house.
Overview of Roof Hub's step-by-step siding process:
1) Local permits obtained
2) Dumpster ordered
3) Strip existing siding (generally clapboard, cedar shakes, or asbestos siding)
4) Replace rotted wood
5) Tyvek House Wrap (moisture barrier, which waterproofs your home)
6) Waterproofing tape on all windows and doors, forming an airtight seal.
7) Metal Starter strip for a solid siding start point
8) Install j-channeling, with a heavy focus on inside and outside corners where leaks are common
9) Light, spicket, and vent blocks to further waterproof your home from the elements.
10) Metal fascia capping and soffit to waterproof and tie the entire home upgrade together
11) Insulation (if applicable on the project, but highly recommended to get the full value)
12) Brand new vinyl siding installation
13) Inspection of all work
The more intricate/important parts of your siding installation will be covered below.
Important Steps for Your Siding Project
1. Siding Permits
Siding replacements are done on short-form permits and are typically quick and easy to obtain. Roof Hub handles all aspects of your siding install, permitting included. You’ll never need to worry about sitting in line at city hall for a little piece of paper that says you’re now allowed to install siding. We do that for you.
2. Siding Removal and Wood Inspection/Replacement
Many companies will do a “go-over” of existing siding, placing a new layer of siding over the original. Roof Hub does not recommend this because (much like with adding a second layer to your roof) it is like placing a band-aid on top of another band-aid. Removing all layers of existing siding prior to a new installation is always best practice.
When you remove 100% of the old siding, you can clearly inspect and replace rotted wood that had previously been hidden. Common areas for wood to rot is at the base of walls, around windows, and at the inside and outside corners. These are problem areas because most contractors cut corners with waterproofing, leading to issues months and years after installation. We’ll cut out the old rotted wood and replace it with new wood for you.
3. Waterproofing Your Siding Project
Waterproofing is done with a combination of breathable house wrap and window wrap. The seams of the house wrap are then taped with waterproof tape. Upgrading your soffit capping, fascia capping, gutters, gutters, and windows when you replace your siding helps us tie the whole home makeover together at once, leading to increased home waterproofing.
Roof Hub uses Tyvek or Everbuilt housewrap because they’re waterproof and breathable
4. J-Channeling The Entire Home
The purpose is j-channeling is for the siding to slot into the house and be held into position. Without extra care during this step, your siding will not be resistant to the high winds or any type of precipitation.
Before installing the siding on your house, j-channeling is installed around all windows and doors, along the soffits and eaves, inside the corner posts, inside corners, and fascia capping. J-channeling around the corner posts allows for increased design options, like larger corner posts or different color and textured posts than the main siding.
5. Siding Insulation For Energy Efficiency
There are two ways to make your home siding energy efficient; purchase siding with insulation built in, or install fanfold insulation behind the siding. Installing insulation behind your siding is the most cost effective and popular. For insulated siding projects, we install ⅜ fanfold insulation on the walls behind the new vinyl siding.
Fanfold siding insulation not only creates an insulated barrier from the elements (wind, rain, snow, zombie apocalypse), but also creates a smooth surface to install the siding over. Having insulation under the siding can help guarantee a smooth look with no dips or waves.
Lots of siding companies will simply tear down your old siding and put up the new siding without thinking too much about it. Just like with our roof replacement process, Roof Hub prides ourselves on installing these projects right the very first time, so you’ll never need to worry about your home’s siding for as long as you own the house.
Vinyl Siding Installation vs. Wood vs. Hardie Board
When it comes to choosing the exterior siding for your home, wood, vinyl, and hardie board are the three most popular options. All three offer a wide range of benefits, from aestetic appeal, to durability, and resistance to weathering. Knowing the differences between wood, vinyl, and Hardie Board is important when deciding which option is right for your home.
Roof Hub highly recommends vinyl siding, but we’ll cover the pros and cons of all three below so you can make an educated decision.
1. Wood Siding
Aesthetics and price are the two reasons most homeowners choose wood siding. Wood is the cheapest option, and many folks love the ‘natural’ look that wood siding can provide a home. Homes on Cape Cod, Massachusetts are famous for their cedar shake roofs and cedar shake siding.
Clapboard is a less expensive type of wood siding and are often used in cases where cedar shakes simply don’t make sense for the home’s exterior. Clapboard is popular for new construction homes where the main consideration is a cheap install.
Wood siding materials are typically less expensive than vinyl, though this can vary depending on the type of wood used. Labor is less expensive too, because a nail gun can be used in place of hand nailing methods that are necessary for vinyl siding installation. In recent years, wood siding prices have risen due to the increase in lumber pricing. When you choose wood, you’ll also need to factor in painting or staining your home every few years to keep the siding looking fresh. These costs can really start to add up depending on the size of your home, not to mention the annoyance of physically painting an entire home every few years.
Sure, there are some pros to wood siding but on the other hand, wood is also prone to warping, splintering, and other damage over time. High heat, rain, and other adverse weather condition are often what lead to warping and splintering. Vinyl siding is more durable and resistant to these kinds of issues and also tends to be less expensive than wood over time due to its superior resistance to wear and tear.
2. Hardie Board
Hardie Board or fiber cement siding, a material made from cement, sand, and cellulose fibers. One of the bigger advantages of hardie board siding is that it is much more durable than vinyl siding. Hardie board siding can last for decades, whereas some brands of lower quality vinyl siding will often start to show signs of wear and tear after just a few years if the contractor does not install correctly. This is why choosing a high quality vinyl siding product and contractor are important if you want to go that route.
Another benefit of hardie board is that it is fire resistant, making it a popular choice for apartment buildings, condos, and duplexes. The hard board is termite resistant, too. Overall, hardie board and vinyl siding options are both lower maintenance because they can be cleaned with a garden hose unless the pollen buildup is too significant, in which case you’ll need a pressure washer.
3. Vinyl Siding
Roof Hub recommends vinyl siding for a variety of reasons. Experts view vinyl as the best siding type mainly because it can be much more energy efficient when installed with insulation.
Vinyl is lighter and more breathable than something like hardie board and pairing insulation with the siding install can save you a significant amount of money on your monthly energy bill. This is an important factor in Massachusetts, where energy prices have skyrocketed in recent years. According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics’ New England office, “Boston area electricity costs have exceeded the national average by at least 67.9 percent over the past five months of February 2022”.
Many homeowners find that they love the look of wood or stone siding, but they don't want to deal with the hassle of maintaining it. With vinyl siding, you can have the best of both worlds. You can mimic the look of wood or stone siding while keeping your home improvement extremely energy efficient.
Plus, vinyl siding is much more durable than its natural counterparts, so you won't have to worry about replacing it anytime soon. One of the bigger misconceptions of vinyl siding is that it is not long-lasting, but in reality, the vinyl siding products installed by Roof Hub can withstand winds of up to 110 mph and season after season of unpredictable New England summers and winters. Your home will be more protected from severe weather by vinyl siding than by wood siding.
Installing Vinyl Siding
When installing vinyl siding, it is important to use proper installation methods or else you’ll be left with a costly home upgrade that needs another replacement in just a few years time. Everything down to the nails is critical to consider when installing home siding…
Vinyl siding should be nailed using nails with a dime thickness worth of space between the siding and the wall. It is best practice for the siding to be able to slightly move back and forth with the changes in temperature. Doing so will protect your siding from warping.
Vinyl siding can be much more cost effective than most folks think. It’s important to consider the energy efficiency improvements that vinyl will bring that wood or hardie board could never hold a candle to. A small extra upfront cost will be significantly outweighed over time by the energy savings, so it is a great option for budget-minded homeowners planning for the long term. To get a vinyl siding quote from Roof Hub, fill out the form below:
Warning Signs That You Need Siding Replacement In Boston
If your home already has vinyl siding, there are a handful of warning signs that can show it needs to be replaced.
If gone untreated, older vinyl siding can have many negative consequences on your property.
Severe Fading
Does your siding look like a faded version of it’s original color?
Faded siding, often caused by long term exposure to the sun and elements, means that the siding is deteriorating right in front of your eyes. Because the siding is now “weaker” than it used to be, it can no longer protect your home as well as it could in the past. The end result can lead to some of the other warning signs listed below.
Leaking
If your siding is leaking, then you may be able to get away with a repair for now, but it’s likely a warning sign of worse issues related to the original installation. Leaky siding can often come as a result of wind driven rain. If you’re looking to install new siding now, it’s important to choose one of the best siding installers in Boston so you can avoid leaks down the road. The last thing you want is water festering between your siding and home’s walls.
Cracks and Warping
If your siding starts to fade, you need to be on the lookout for cracking and warping. Faded siding is weak siding, and weaker siding is more likely to crack and warp. Cracks are bad because they expose your home to water infiltration. When the army of water infiltrates your home, you’re only one hot summer away from mold and mildew starting to form.
Most Popular Designs & Styles of Vinyl Siding
What styles of vinyl siding are available?
Roof Hub’s access to siding styles include but is not limited to:
- Clapboard
- Traditional Lap
- Dutch Lap
- Beaded Seam
- Board & Batten
- Cedar Shake
- Traditional Shake
- Hand-split Shakes
- Half-round (Scalloped)
- Log Vinyl Siding
One of the most popular styles of vinyl siding is vinyl shakes. Vinyl shakes look just like traditional cedar shakes, but do not need to be constantly treated and maintained like wood shakes. They also come with the added energy saving benefits of vinyl, especially if backed by insulation.
Vinyl shakes have a similar installation process as wood cedar shake siding, but can take longer due to smaller pieces.
Common Home Siding Questions, Installation Timeline, FAQs
Installing siding is a fun home remodeling project because it completely transforms the look of your entire property. Below are common questions asked to us by homeowners before beginning a siding project with Roof Hub. If you have any other questions, we're only a phone call away! Call us today: (857) 237-7648 or us the form on our contact page.
A typical whole house siding installation for an 1800 square foot area would take 5-10 days. The variables that increase and decrease the timeline are; old siding removal, number of existing layers, the number of windows and other obstructions on each wall, specialty design (such as scalloped or shake), and wood rot replacement.
According to the 2019 Remodeling Impact Survey conducted by the National Association of Realtors, vinyl siding can increase your home’s value by 60-65% of the project’s cost. Vinyl siding projects are the 3rd highest appealing home improvement for new home buyers behind only a brand new roof and energy efficient vinyl windows.
Vinyl siding is known to last 20-30 years, but can last longer when properly installed and well-maintained. Climate plays a big factor in siding lifespan, with siding generally lasting longer in moderate climates than areas of the country with large temperature swings throughout the year.
A complete exterior home makeover can be achieved with the replacement of your siding, windows, gutters, soffit, fascia, and entry doors. When you make all these home improvements at once, you not only give your home a beautiful facelift, but also allow for greater waterproofing because all materials can be tied together.
Many folks would paint older vinyl siding when it started to fade, but newer vinyl siding materials (if properly installed by an expert siding contractor) will not need regular painting like you would need to do with wood siding.
You ready to get your siding project started? Fill out the form at the top of this page or call us. Roof Hub will be your guide throughout the entire process. From working with you to design your beautiful new home exterior through installation and warranty, Roof Hub is the Boston siding contractor you can depend on.