What You Need to Know About New Siding and Energy Efficiency
Looking for a way to lower your home’s energy usage — and by extension, your energy bills? The answer might be found in new siding. While it’s often windows, and even roofs, that are discussed the most in terms of energy efficiency, your siding also plays a significant role. It can protect the insulation inside your home and keep a tighter seal, which will help your home to resist drafts and heat loss.
The Problem With Old Siding
If your siding is old — and what constitutes old varies based on the material, but 20 years is a good rule of thumb — it’s probably decreased significantly in quality since it was first installed. This may mean that it doesn’t seal your home as well as it once did, allowing for more heat loss and drafts which can cause your heating and cooling bills to spike. It may also be outdated, lacking some of the more modern advancements in siding materials and energy efficiency. The little nooks and crannies in which your old siding fails make a big difference when it comes to energy efficiency.
Energy Efficient Materials
Another important factor is the material for your new siding. You want a material that’s durable, heat resistant, and resists warping and leaking in order to get the best energy efficiency. Vinyl siding is one of the most popular options, both for its low maintenance nature and its general affordability. Too-cheap vinyl is not often energy efficient, but high quality vinyl siding with spray foam insulation installed behind the surface can be a great way to keep your home comfortable without raising your energy bills. Vinyl also has a good natural thermal performance to keep the house from feeling too stuffy.
Fiber cement siding is more expensive, but considered a much more high end product. It can take on the look and feel of wood siding, but it’s much more durable and energy efficient. It’s noncombustible, low maintenance, and resists warping and rotting to provide a tight seal around your home that keeps it from becoming drafty and keeps your energy bills low.
Energy Efficient Colors
The colors of your siding can also impact its energy efficiency, though the right color for your home depends on your climate. Scientifically, lighter colors reflect sunlight while dark colors tend to absorb heat from the sun. If you live in a particularly hot climate, dark siding can make your walls hot and your home stuffy, while lighter colors will better resist the heat from that sunlight. In cooler climates, however, you might actually prefer darker siding colors in order to take in some free heating for your home and lower your heating bills.
Ready to boost your home’s energy efficiency with new siding? Contact Best 4 U Roofing today for more information.
