Preparing for the Cold, Part II: Vinyl Siding

As today marks the first official day of fall, it’s getting more and more important to get your home prepared for the upcoming winter months.

A few weeks ago, we discussed the importance of your windows and doors in “winterizing” your home.

But to make sure your home is ready for the winter months, there’s an additional item to add to your checklist: your home’s vinyl siding.

Vinyl siding is always an important part of your home, but it becomes especially important during the winter months. Not only does vinyl siding help keep your home insulated, but it also helps protect your home from the outdoor elements.

And with ice and snow headed our way in the upcoming months, protecting your home from the elements should be a No. 1 priority.

Not only will you want to prevent weather from damaging the structure of your home, but you’ll also want to prevent other outdoor elements – like animals – from damaging your home. Small holes in your siding could allow bugs or tiny animals (mice, squirrels, etc.) to enter your home or further damage the exterior.

How can you make sure your home’s vinyl siding is ready for the upcoming winter? Here’s a quick checklist –

Check for obvious damage. If your vinyl siding doesn’t look like it can hold up over the course of the winter, it’s time to consider replacing the siding. Even if it seems minor now, damage to your vinyl siding (cracking, warped or buckled siding, etc. is only going to get worse as the weather gets colder and create even bigger problems when it does.

Remove vegetation or storage items against the house. It’s never a good idea to put additional pressure on your home’s vinyl siding, and it becomes even more important during the winter months. A thick blanket of snow on the ground may look beautiful, but it could cause problems when putting pressure on your home’s vinyl siding.

Check for fungus/mold. Although it seems relatively harmless, fungus or mold on your vinyl siding could be a sign of a much larger problem. The presence of fungus or mold could be an indication of moisture – which means potential damage to the materials behind your vinyl siding.

Related Articles: Preparing for the Cold, Part I: Replacement Windows and Doors, Benefits of Vinyl Siding

Have a question about your home’s vinyl siding? Contact one of our home improvement specialists today!

Want to learn more about getting your home ready for the winter months? Check out “Preparing for the Cold, Part I: Replacement Windows and Doors”

Hear from your neighbors! Customer testimonials

Over the course of the past month, we've done a lot of work that we're really proud of and we're really excited about these projects. We've been fortunate to do work in a few different areas with some really great people.

But there's nothing more satisfying than hearing how happy our customers are with the projects we've been able to complete for them! This is why we want to share some customer testimonials from some of the most recent projects we've been able to complete.

Splendid sunroom in Ephrata

"Workers arrived within the time stated. They were very nice and competent. The work took 2 days to complete. They took out the back wall of our sunroom, and placed glass panels and a sliding door. It works well and looks terrific inside and out. They replaced 3 windows also. They cleaned up, making sure nails and screws were picked up. We are very satisfied." - Constance R., Ephrata, PA

Wonderful windows in Bryn Mawr

"Sales representative was friendly, knew the products and was willing to negotiate pricing. The installers arrived at the scheduled time, they had all their supplies. They were efficient and they cleaned up as they went along. So far, we have not encountered any problems with the windows… Overall this company did a good job and I would recommend them." - Dean S., Bryn Mawr, PA

Superb siding in Nottingham

"Artie came out and worked with me to come to a reasonable price and negotiate a scope of work. He made recommendations that kept the price within my range. David arrived and measured and scoped the property. I changed the colors originally selected and it was no issue.

A before-and-after look at Michael L.'s home makeover
in Nottingham, PA.

Crew arrived on time a week earlier than promised. Crew was very careful with my 1-year-old roof and in setting up scaffolding and accessing the dormers. Job was complete in two days. They hung shutters for me, replaced light fixtures, and paid attention to detail, such as the way I wanted the siding seams to be done. They also cleaned up very well.

David came out the next day and inspected and discussed the project with me to make sure I was satisfied. Highly recommend." - Michael L., Nottingham, PA

Wondrous windows in Ephrata

"I used Aspen to replace 3 deteriorating windows in my home in 2013 and when another window fell apart, I decided to have 3 more replaced... The installation went like clockwork. The two installers arrived on time and set up in my driveway. They went right to work: one on the inside removing and replacing the windows, and one on the outside working on trim. They were completed in 4.5 hours and cleaned up all the debris inside and outside and carted away all the old windows.

The windows are attractive and seem to be well-built... I am very satisfied with Aspen Home Improvements and I am not easy to please. I will use them for a door replacement in the future." - Deborah, M., Ephrata, PA

Superior siding in Mechanicsburg

"Due to damage to original vinyl siding, house needed to be resided. Aspen Home Improvement facilitated residing of entire home and assisted negotiation of details with insurance company… Aspen staff was very responsive from the beginning of the project. Aspen assigned a reasonable cost to the project, assisted in negotiations with the insurance company and delivered a quality product in a timely manner." - Gail W., Mechanicsburg, PA

If we've completed a project for your home, and you would like to share your own testimonial, we'd love to hear from you! Review our work on Angie's List, Google, or send us an email with your experience. Feel free to leave a comment below as well!

Are you interested in starting a home improvement project of your own? Contact our team to get started with a FREE estimate!

Preparing for the Cold: Replacement Windows and Doors

For the past several months, we've discussed the importance of energy efficiency in your home.

During the heat of summer, energy-efficiency is incredibly important when considering cooling costs in your home. Proper insulation, sealing, and window glazing are all essential in keeping the cool air in your home and preventing outdoor heat from entering.

But with the weather beginning to cool down, it’s time to start thinking backwards.

What do we mean by backwards? During the fall and winter months, it’s just as important to think about energy-efficiency. But instead of keeping the warm air outside and the cool air inside, think backwards: keep the cold air outside and the warm air inside.

If your windows and doors aren't properly insulated, then your whole home is vulnerable to energy loss. According to Energy Star, replacing your old and outdated windows and doors with Energy-Star rated products can lower your home’s energy bills by up to 15%.

What should you look for in your current windows to make sure you’re equipped for the upcoming cold weather?

Check for drafts. Check for the obvious first. Drafts are an obvious sign your windows or doors aren't properly insulated. If you’re feeling drafts of air coming through your windows or doors, they could be damaged, not properly sealed, or other issues that may not be visible.

Check the panes in your windows. The amount of panes in your window can tell you a lot about the window’s energy efficiency. Single-pane windows are the least energy-efficient and are big contributors to energy loss. Double-pane windows are a must in any home, while triple-pane windows offer even greater energy-efficiency for homeowners.

Look at the material. The material used in your windows and doors could also be an indicator of its ability to properly insulate your home. Vinyl and composite offer more energy-efficiency to homes than wood. Older products made of wood have a tendency to rot after being exposed to the elements for a long period of time, while vinyl and composite windows and doors have a much longer lifespan against the elements.

Want to get your home prepared for the upcoming fall and winter months? Contact our team today to discuss your window and door options!

September Events

We hope everyone had a great and safe Labor Day weekend!

With the summer months now behind us, there's now one thing on our mind - fair season!

Fair season is probably one of our most favorite times of the year, and this year is no exception. We'll be incredibly busy with fairs and upcoming events this month, and we want to see YOU!

Here's a quick list of our upcoming events we'll be attending this month - hope to see everyone there!

**Event list subject to change**

Root's Market

When: Every Tuesday in September (September 2, 9, 16, 25, 30)

Where: Manheim, PA

Website: http://www.rootsmarket.com/

Suburban Maryland Fall Home Show

When: September 6-7

Where: Discovery Sports Center at Maryland SoccerPlex (Germantown, MD)

Website: http://www.mdhomeshows-ds.com/

2014 Home & Garden Expo

When: September 13-14

Where: Ripken Stadium (Aberdeen, MD)

Website: http://northernchesapeakeexpoevents.com/2014-home-garden-expo-ripken-stadium-harford-countymd/

65th Annual Solanco Fair

When: September 17-19

Where: Quarryville, PA

Website: http://solancofair.com/

90th Annual West Lampeter Fair

When: September 24-26

Where: West Lampeter Fairgrounds (Lampeter, PA)

Website: http://www.westlampeterfair.com/

Summer Days at Aspen

It’s sad to say – the days of laying on the beach, enjoying the sun, and outdoor barbecues are almost over. The kids are back in school, and it seems as though fall is just around the corner. That’s why we want to share some of our summer highlights with you.

We hope that everyone has had a great, eventful summer! Whether you spent it at the beach, vacationing across the country, or simply enjoying it in your own backyard, we're confident you've made a few memories that will last you a lifetime!

We know we have been incredibly busy this summer, so we wanted to share some of the great projects we were able to complete this summer.

Here are just a few –

Palmyra, PA - 

A great-looking before-and-after shot!

American Legion Post 56 - Lititz, PA

New siding in Nottingham! - Nottingham, PA

One of these projects catch your eye? Contact our team of home improvement specialists to discuss your own home improvement!

The 3 G's of Replacement Windows: Glass, Gas, & Glazing

Quick: what type of glass do you have in your current windows?

If you’re like many other homeowners, your answer is probably: “I don't know.”

Choosing the right glass for your window replacement is incredibly important. Not all windows are created equal, and the glass is a big reason why this is true.

The types of glass used in your window replacement are all found on the NFRC Window Label, which can sometimes to be difficult to decipher. To help out our customers, we wanted to share with them the 3 G’s that make up their window: Glass, Gas, and Glazing.

Here’s a quick guide for the different glass, gas, and glazing options that makes your window replacement unique –

Glass

Double-Pane. Double pane-windows have become the standard in home building and window replacement. Double-pane windows have two panes of glass with a space in between (filled with gas, but we’re getting to that) that provides a layer of insulation.

Triple-Pane. Triple-pane windows are exactly like double-pane windows, but they have an additional pane of glass and an additional layer of insulated space. This provides an even greater amount of insulation for your window replacement.

Gas

Remember our mention of gas earlier? The space in between the panes of glass is usually filled with argon or krypton gas to provide more insulation. These two gases are both denser than air, which makes them better insulators than what’d you normally find.

Glazing/Coating

Low-e (Low-Emissivity). Low-Emissivity coating is a microscopically-thin layer of coating on windows that reflects heat. It acts as an additional insulator for your home; the low-e coating can reflect the temperature of your home back inside, or even prevent the heat/cold from entering your home.

High-Performance. High-performance glazing is a great indicator of high-performing windows. High-performance glazing combines several of the features mentioned above to give you the best windows possible.

Do you have questions about your current windows? Or are you thinking about replacing them with new, energy-efficient windows? Contact our home improvement specialists today!

Related Articles: Replacement Window Benefits, Reading Energy-Efficient Window Labels

Benefits of Vinyl Siding: Your home's main protector

When you think of your home’s protection, you likely think of your home security system and door/window locks.

But what about your siding?

It may not be the same type of security and protection, but siding is an essential protector of your home. What exactly does your siding protect you from? It helps protect against weather, noise, debris, etc. -  assuming your siding is up to the challenge. 

Here are just a few benefits of siding that you may not have considered - 

Prevents energy loss. Siding can be a huge benefit for your wallet. Insulated siding helps prevent the loss of energy through your home’s exterior, helping you save on your heating and cooling costs. This will help you save on your energy bills just by upgrading your siding.

Protects from weather elements. How often do you think of your siding during bad weather? You should – it’s your home’s main protector against weather elements, including rain, wind, and even debris kicked up by storms. Improved siding for your home will give you an added sense of protection during any harsh weather.

Noise. An added layer of insulation not only helps you save, but it also helps cut down on noise. Our siding from Majestic Home Exteriors can actually help cut down on noise levels by up to 30 percent!

Easy maintenance. You already have a lot on your plate as a homeowner, so why should you have to worry about adding one more thing to your busy schedule? Vinyl siding requires very little maintenance because of its durability – helping save you valuable time spent on your home.

Have you added new siding to your home and seen any of these benefits? We’d love to hear about it – share your experiences with us in the comment section below!

If you have any questions about siding or other home improvements you can make for your home, contact us at any time!