Cleaning tips for Care and Maintenance of Vinyl Siding

Certainteed Cedar Impressions Vinyl Siding

Even though Vinyl siding is a low maintenance product you will want to do some Care & Maintenance every now and then to keep it look its best. Here are some quick tips to help you along.
1. Soil, grime and chalk are easy to remove with soap and water.

2. Chalk may also accumulate on the surface, this is normal, and occurs on any pigmented surface that is constantly exposed to sunlight and the elements.

3. Stubborn stains can usually be removed with cleaners like 409 and simple green.

4. Work from bottom to top when cleaning vinyl siding to reduce streaking.

5. If mildew is a problem in your area commercially available mildew cleaners are available at good hardware stores.

         a. MIXING CLEANER

             i. 3 quarts water
             ii. 1 quart household bleach
             iii. 1/3 cup powdered laundry detergent
             iv. 2/3 cup TSP (soilax trisodium phosphate) available at hardware stores

Power washing is not recommended because it can cause moisture intrusion and water damage

Call Cat Exteriors (877-652-2420 with any questions you may have regarding this problem and we will do all we can to find you an answer to your problems.

Important Remodeling Tax Credit Information to Consider Before Filing Your Tax Return

Summary of 2011 Home Energy Improvement Tax Credit Now Available

Harvey Building Products Windows

As noted earlier, the federal energy efficiency tax credit has been extended through 2011, but the federal government has significantly changed the credit limits and eligibility requirements. And we’ve been getting a lot of questions about this.

For measures installed between January 1, 2011 and December 31, 2011, the credit is generally 10% of costs on qualifying energy efficiency improvement measures, up to a maximum of $500.

However, special limits have been put on certain qualifying equipment and measures. For example:
· 10% up to $500 for insulation, roofs, and doors
· High efficiency furnaces and boilers – $150
· Air-Conditioners and heat pumps – $300
· Main air circulating fans – $50
· ENERGY STAR Windows – 10% capped at $200
· Energy efficient water heaters – $300

Certainteed Roofing

The $500 cap will apply to anyone who received the credit from Jan. 1, 2005 to present. Thus, if you’ve claimed a cumulative credit of $500 or more since Jan. 1, 2005, you won’t be eligible for the 2011 extension. If you’ve claimed less than $500 cumulatively, you are eligible for the difference with qualifying measures.

Certain renewable energy tax credits for solar PV, solar hot water, and geothermal, for example, remain in place at 30% of cost, with no cap.

[Note: 2009-2010 tax filers, the 2010 tax credit information is still available—don’t forget to claim any credits you’re eligible for when you file your 2010 tax return.]

By Terry Quinn, CS, CGR, CSI, CAPS

Ice dams and how to avoid them

With all this snow and cold weather, alot of homeowners are starting to experieance Ice dams.  Ice dams are a result of a build up of ice along the bottom eve edge of your roof.  The excaping heat from your attic warms the roof sheathing and melts the snow from the bottom, causing it to run down the roof under the snow cover.  When it reaches the overhang area where there is no heat, it refreezes and turns to ice.  Now this ice builds up over time and makes a dam.  The continuing snow melt backs up at the dam and starts to go under the roof shingles. when it gets built up enough, it runs under the shingles, and plywood, and drops into your attic and runs down the exterior walls of your home, causing stains and in time, mildue. 

There are several way to stop this One way is by removing the snow. But this isn't a permanent solution.

If you can get the temperature of you attic to be the same as the tempature outside, then the snow wont melt and you have no problem. That can be done by adding ventilation to the attic.  Removing the ridge cap shingles and cutting open the ridge two inches on each side and installing ridge vent is one way to ventilate the attic.  Ridge vent works best with soffit venting. 

And if your are re-roofing dont forget to ask for "ice and water shield" to be install under your new shingles. This is a product that should be installed by a professional, I have seen it done many times and done wrong by people doing it themselves.  

Always hire a professional and check his refferences and licenses.  Anyone on your roof should be covered by workmans compensation insurance (required by law in Massachusetts). Be sure to check these things and see a copy of the building permit before you let the job start.

Insulated Vinyl Siding

One of the newest trends in exterior cladding is Insulated Vinyl Siding.  First introduced i the 1960s, vinyl siding has become the number one choice for exterior cladding across the US. Then introduced in the 1990s insulated siding has recently been recognized as ENERGY STAR rated. Due to its ability to reduce thermal bridging, insulated vinyl siding has been added to the checklist of building products that can help quality homes as ENERGY STAR rated. Replacing a home's exterior cladding with insulated siding can improve the thermal performance of the walls while reducing heating and cooling energy costs.
  
Some things to consider before you buy is R-values.  R means resistance to heat flow. The higher the R-value  the greater the insulation power. Green building value of vinyl siding- evidence hows that vinyl siding is sustainable throughout its life cycle. The fact that insulated siding provides additional energy efficiency benefits is like icing on the cake. Rigid vinyl siding will not sustain combustion without an external source of heat and will tend to self-extinguish if that heat is removed.Foam plastics used in the insulation portion contain a flame retardant designed to limit rapid flame spread.  And of course a professional installation is the most important consideration in installing this product on your home