mardi 2 avril 2013

Varieties of Exterior Finishes for your Home

By Bob Haynes


Aluminum is among the most common siding materials. Aluminum siding can be made to look like wood, including vertical shingle and shake styles. Aluminum expands and contracts with temperature changes, so installation by a skilled installer is important. Aluminum does not add to structural strength. It is installed over sheathing.

Vinyl siding is the exterior cladding of choice for homeowners, remodeling contractors and builders. Compared to other siding products, vinyl is attractive, durable, easy to maintain, and cost-effective. Vinyl siding is made of extruded polyvinyl chloride (PVC). The color permeates through the material. Scratches do not need to be repainted. If the vinyl is scratched, the scratch is the same color. The color does not peel or chip off the surface. Vinyl will not fade, rust or dent easily. It comes in a wide variety of colors and styles.

Structural insulated panels (SIPs) are high-performance building panels used in floors, walls and roofs for residential and light commercial buildings. SIPs are manufactured under factory-controlled conditions. The panels are typically made by sandwiching a core of rigid foam plastic insulation between two structural skins of oriented strand board (OSB).

The majority of construction with SIPs is very similar to conventional framing. SIPs accept dimensional lumber and are fastened together using staples, nails or screws. Proper sealing is especially crucial in an SIP structure. All joints need to be sealed with specially designed SIP sealing mastic or low-expanding foam sealant, and/or SIP tape. Voids between panels and unused electrical chases need to be filled with low-expanding foam. On-site modification can be easily done. A few additional SIP-specific tools are needed. Panels can be cut using a beam saw or a beam-cutting attachment on a circular saw. The foam core can then be recessed for splines or dimensional lumber using a hot-wire foam scoop or specialized angle-grinder attachment to recess the core.

A wide variety of stucco accessories, such as weep screeds, control and expansion joints, corner-aids and architectural reveals are sometimes also incorporated into the lath. Wire lath is used to give the plaster something to attach to and to add strength. Types include expanded-metal lath, woven-wire lath, and welded-wire lath.

As with any cement-based material, stucco must be reinforced to resist movement cracking. Plastic or wire mesh lath, attached with nails or screws to the structural framing, is embedded into the base coat to provided stiffening for the stucco. One method often used to help conceal the smaller surface cracks that may appear is the application of one of a variety of pre-mixed acrylic finishes. Flexible acrylic finishes have the ability to stretch and bridge over cracks, improving appearance and limiting the passage of moisture behind the stucco.

Clay and slate shingles have the longest life expectancies among siding materials - generally, 100 to 400 years. But regular maintenance is still recommended to prolong their life. A regular maintenance inspection of the clay or slate siding can help determine the condition, potential causes of failure, and the source of any leaks, and will help in developing a program for the preservation and repair of the shingles.

The Barrie Home Inspector is fully trained to inspect your new home and has the knowledge and experience required to help you make an informed decision when purchasing a new home. Let a Professional Home Inspectors training provide you with peace of mind when purchasing a home.




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