With the often harsh weather we get here in the Minneapolis area, making a home more energy efficient is an important factor to many of the prospective exterior remodeling customers we meet with. Usually the items they are thinking about are replacement windows and exterior doors, but did you know that the siding you choose can make your home more energy efficient?
Of course, the insulating materials such as house wrap that get installed under your siding will help with conserving energy, but the siding material you choose can make a big difference, too. Homeowners in our area generally choose between three main types of siding: genuine wood, fiber cement siding products such as those offered by The James Hardie Company®, and vinyl siding. We don’t install wood siding (nor do we recommend it because of the high maintenance required), but we do offer Hardie siding and vinyl siding, including an insulated vinyl product from Royal. Here’s how these three stack up in terms of energy efficiency:
Wood siding provides excellent insulating qualities, and when it is kept properly finished, it stands up well to our weather. But it can be expensive to install and requires frequent repainting or staining and it is susceptible to insect and rodent damage.
Fiber cement siding is an eco-friendly product as wood siding is, but its maintenance needs are much less, especially if you order yours prefinished. It does have decent energy efficiency and has a plus of being resistant to fire. But not all siding contractors install it (we do!).
Vinyl siding is the least expensive of the three for initial installation. Vinyl siding does have a drawback of being susceptible to light fading over time, meaning if you have damage you need to replace an entire section rather than just a spot. But the insulated vinyl siding we install can’t be beat in terms of energy efficiency. It comes in a wide range of colors and a variety of styles, so you can choose color and style combinations that can create a custom look for your home.
If you’re concerned about facing high heating bills this winter, perhaps it’s time to consider either James Hardie fiber cement siding or Craneboard insulated vinyl siding. We’d be happy to schedule a no-obligation consultation in your home to discuss your options and give you our recommendations. Just contact us today!
Window Outfitters, Inc. is a licensed Minnesota siding installation contractor. We serve the greater Twin Cities area.
Window Outfitters is a premier Window Replacement, doors, siding contractor and installer. As Contractor in the St Paul, Minneapolis, (Twin Cities) Minnesota (MN) metro, we proudly serve, but are not limited to, the following areas: Minneapolis Energy Efficient Vinyl Windows, Replacement Window Contractors Minnesota, Burnsville, Apple Valley, Lakeville, Savage, Bloomington, Edina, Richfield, Eagan, St Paul, Hastings, Minnetonka, Plymouth, Maple Grove, Eden Prairie, Farmington MN, Chaska, Shakopee, Chanhassen, Victoria, Mendota Heights Anderson Windows Minneapolis, Marvin Windows Minneapolis.
