If you plan on building a new home or your current house in cold and snowy weather it is wise to look into insulated vinyl siding which is also known as solid core siding. Especially if you want to build as energy efficient as possible to keep your energy costs under control.
Vinyl siding is virtually maintenance free unlike wood siding which requires regular maintenance and is subject to rot and termites. There are so many beautiful and durable siding products on the market today and is considered the best choice by many people. Some siding companies, like Alcoa, have several hundred different color choices.
Insulated vinyl Siding Overview
This vinyl siding is backed with an extruded polystyrene or polypropylene foam which gives insulative properties as well as strength. Insulated siding is often more expensive than regular siding ,the increased cost of the siding, which can run between 25% and 30% more than conventional siding, could be well worth the cost if you save more on your energy costs.
One type of insulated siding that is very popular is Fullback Thermal. It has an contoured foam insulation behind the siding that fits the shape of the siding to fill the voids behind your siding. This foam insulation will also increases the impact resistance of your siding. Fullback Thermal may have an “R” value of up to 5.5.
Another wonderful insulated vinyl siding product is Crane. It comes with the best warranties offered in the industry. Their insulated vinyl siding is Oracle. With its solid core Oracle siding has an “R” value of 3.0-4.0 and is 300% more impact resistant and offers a 45% noise reduction.
You should also remember that before conventional siding is installed on a home there is an insulative layer placed. Most people choose to use a product to insulate before they add the final Tyvek House wrap. Tyvek Housewrap is not an insulator but is an air barrier. Mitten Levelwall is a rigid product with a high “R” value that insulates wood studs and helps to eliminate noise.
If you’re a homeowner who is planning to build a new home or remodel a home you may want to look into insulated vinyl siding. Not only will it add value to your home it will definitely help at sale time.
Benefits of Insulated Vinyl Siding
- Efficiency – greater increase in efficiency therefore reducing your energy consumption which will decrease your energy costs.
- Insulation – insulates entire home exterior even in areas where significant heat loss takes place.
- R-Value – can increase the R-Value of your house up to 25%
- Noise Reduction – it provides a good acoustic insulator and will reduce high frequency noises and wind sounds by up to 45%
- Wind Resistance – can withstand high wind speeds, some of even over 200mph. Usually can handle four times the impact compared to that of regular siding.
- Appearance – various wood grain details and colors, very firm and durable like wood siding.
- Ease of Installation – easy to install as insulated siding is more rigid making it easier to fit and cut.
Popular Makes of Insulated Vinyl Siding
Crane-Board Insulated Vinyl Siding: Requires minimal maintenance, is energy efficient, has a 4.0 R-Value, high impact resistance, repels insects and reduces noises
Dura-Plank Insulated Siding: Can withstand high wind pressure of up to 265mph, is the thickest panel on the market therefore offering superior rigidity and strength (.054″), has a free floating foam system, and has a R-Value of up to 3.65
Prodigy Insulated Siding: Has an R-value of 5.0, provides industry-best energy savings, offers an energy Gap Protection, and has a secure interlocking panel design.
Polar Wall Plus Insulated Siding: Offers a superior .044″ thick vinyl siding panel, “BearHug” locking system, performs great in adverse weather conditions, it is foam laminated permanently to each panel, and is available in Dutchlap.
Cedar Boards Insulated Siding: Available in 3 styles – Double 6″ Cedar Board, Double 4″ Clapboard and Double 4-1/4″ Dutchlap; Thick 1-¼” rigid foam backing, it reduces energy costs, reduces outside noises, custom contoured foam provides high impact resistance, it can withstand wind load pressures up to 180 mph and has a .044″ thickness.
InsulSiding Insulated Siding: It offers easy installation, energy-efficient thermal protection, requires minimal maintenance, can withstands hail, wind and misdirected objects and retains its original shape for a long time.
Timbermill wood-grain vinyl siding: Replicates the look of log panels, improves energy efficiency, reduces noise transmission, and doesn’t require any staining.
CedarMax insulated vinyl siding: Able to save up to 20% on energy costs, has a R-value of up to 4, the EP-Xtra laminated permanent backing adds impact resistance to the siding.
R-value Testing of Insulated Vinyl Siding
The performance of insulated vinyl siding is key for it to qualify as a residential insulation. There are various tests, standards and regulations that are used to determine how the insulated vinyl siding is manufacturer and tested.
Insulated vinyl siding is designed to be rigid, stable, and reach high levels of thermal performance through particular R-value testing.
Vinyl sidings R-value is a measure of the thermal resistance it can withstand, the higher the R-value, the more effective the insulation is, therefore when looking for quality insulated vinyl siding, look for the one with a high R-value.
Tips For Installing Insulated Vinyl Siding
- Place the starter strip over the house wrap or building paper to begin the installation of the insulated vinyl siding. Use the starter strip which was specified by the manufacturer to ensure best performance.
- Use the first panel of vinyl siding to obtain the exact position of the insulated foam under layer.
- Once the foam layer is in place, fasten the vinyl siding in accordance to the vinyl siding manufacturer’s instructions.
- Solid core insulated siding is installed similar to regular vinyl siding, the sections of siding are just larger.
- Cutting insulated vinyl siding should be done with extreme caution using a fine tooth circular saw blade in the reverse direction. Ensure to ease it when cutting and not to cut any other materials with the saw blade reversed.
- Ensure that the panel locks are fully engaged with the panel below, this ensures the strength and longevity of your vinyl siding.
- Make sure to fasten nails in the center of the nailing slot to allow for side to side movement.
- Try to avoid using panels that are shorter than 24inches.
- A water resistant layer should be placed beneath the insulated vinyl siding, as the insulated siding is not completely water resistant. This layer will function as a barrier to protect your house from excess water or rain.