Don't Skip These Crucial Improvements When Having New Siding Installed

Having new vinyl or fiber cement siding installed on your house is a wise investment that will give you years of added beauty and durability to your residence,but many homeowners miss this opportunity to save some money and aggravation on other home improvements. The fact is there is never a better time to upgrade other features that can be easily addressed after the old material is removed and before the new vinyl or fiber cement is put in place.

Upgrading Your House Wrap

The air barrier between your home's exterior walls and the interior is sometimes referred to as a house wrap. This is a material that is designed to keep drafts at bay and prevent moisture from collecting within the walls and causing damage down the line. The lightweight, synthetic material is easy to put in place when the exterior material is taken off and minimizes the intrusion of moisture while improving your home's energy efficiency. By either adding house wrap or upgrading the quality of it when siding contractors are installing new vinyl or fiber cement, you can improve your residence's energy efficiency and comfort level.

Installing Exterior Wiring Under Your Siding

This is the prime time to add external wiring for outdoor lighting or additional receptacles for a multitude of uses. Even if you weren't planning on immediately adding more illumination around your home, you should consider adding new wiring in regularly used areas so that it is available if and when you do decide to add fixtures a few years down the road. By doing it when the exterior walls are open, you'll save yourself a considerable amount of time and money. If you improve your front porch lighting or want to add a ceiling fan on the covered patio in a few years, you'll be glad that the wiring is already in place so that you don't have to cut into your beautiful exterior walls to do the work. Adding additional, protected outlets on each side of your house is also a good idea. You never know when you'll want to add more holiday lights, plug in some outdoor speakers or use an electric hedge trimmer. Siding contractors or an electrician can advise you on other practical locations for outdoor lighting or receptacles.

Beef Up Your Insulation

Siding contractors generally suggest that homeowners consider adding new, batted insulation to their homes whenever they have new siding installed in order to improve the insulating qualities of the home's exterior walls. This is separate from the house wrap, which is the moisture resistant layer.

Replace Old Windows With New Ones

When contractors are installingvinyl or fiber cement on your house, you may realize that your older windows aren't looking as good as they used to, and aesthetics is certainly a good enough reason to install improved replacement windows, but it isn't the only reason. Many homeowners discover that after they've improved their house's insulation and added energy efficient fiber cement, they still have some problems with cold spots or drafty windows. The solution is simple -- replacement windows that are more energy efficient. Adding them at the same time as you have the insulation and siding installed means you're improving your home's efficiency on all fronts, which can have a significant impact on your fuel bills and your family's comfort.

When you're ready to upgrade your home's exterior with new siding, it always makes sense to take care of other exterior improvements that are more easily done at the same time.