Choosing the Right Company- Single or Double Pane Glass Back Contact-Us
APPLYING INSULATION - Proper ventilation
Cold Roof System - Rain Gutters
Choosing the Right Company
While most siding lasts forever, the same can't be said for contractors that sell siding
Avoid using "fly-by night" contractors; they may very well be long gone when problems arise.
Choose a reputable contractor such as Dave's Galster [Dave's Custom Siding] who has been in the business over 30 years.
Proud Member of the BBB, Utah Licensed, Fully Insured, Reputable, has references, Certified Master Craftsman, has certified window and siding Installers, has an office an warehouse located here in Salt Lake City, Utah
When choosing a "lifetime product," it is equally important to deal with a company that will be around as long as you are, and stands behind their work. It will cost a few dollars more, but most things worth having done are worth having done right the first time
Replacement Windows
Single or Double Pane Glass
Think your energy bills are coming down anytime soon? Think again. Not with the country in the middle of an energy crisis and no relief in sight. Before you run out and downsize your home, experts recommend you look at your windows. To be more precise, look at the type of windows you have.
The U.S. Department of Energy reports: "More energy is lost through windows in America than the annual amount of oil that flows through the Alaska pipeline."
The largest culprits for energy loss in your home are your windows. As much as 60 percent of all heating and cooling loss goes right through your glass. That does not even take into consideration air filtration.
Most homes have either single or double pane wood or aluminum windows. These windows may have been sufficient 25 years ago but are as outdated as an 8-track tape player.
Our Replacement windows are individually engineered to far exceed industry standards for energy efficiency, quality, and value -- and provide energy savings all year long. Uniframe windows combine with Krypton gas and warm edge technologies to create superior energy efficiency and long-term durability. The system also blocks out 84 percent of damaging ultraviolet rays; seals out winter cold and summer heat, and offer maximum condensation resistance with reduced sound transmission. No, it will not keep Superman out but it will eliminate most all-heating and cooling loss. It is 10 times denser and is completely safe.
Modern replacement windows are made of vinyl and require no painting; they tilt in for easy cleaning. Also, avoid windows with metal spacer bars between the panes of glass, as they are prone to seal failure, causing the window to fog up. Added security and dust reduction within the home are also great benefits of replacement windows.
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APPLYING INSULATION
Use insulation as an underlayment for the siding.
Adding extra insulation is a plus as it helps reduce utility bills and soundproof the home.
The insulation used does not have an extremely high R-value; however, R-value can be misleading at times.
In order to reduce your utility bills you must stop air infiltration and regulate hot/cold airflow.
Most insulation is made of Styrofoam or polystyrene and some have a plastic or foil moisture barrier.
A moisture barrier is an important feature because it helps keep the old wall dry.
When vinyl siding is used and a foil moisture barrier is used, it is best to have the foil face in or be next to the old wall as vinyl siding tends to get very warm during the summer and the foil facing out will sometimes cause warping of the siding. However, this is not the case when steel siding is used.
Most insulations are available in either 4' x 8'sheets or fanfold style-4' x 50' bundles and besides insulating the home, they help create a flat, even wall to work with.
In short, use insulation under your new siding. It will solve a multitude of problems. Proper ventilation
Ice dams are barriers to water runoff that usually form at the roof edge, just above the gutter, in cold, snowy climates. They form when snow melting on warmer areas of the roof, usually near the ridge, runs down and refreezes at colder roof overhangs. Warm spots on the roof are caused by the heat that escapes from the attic and by the sun. Eventually a barrier is formed, trapping the snowmelt and allowing it to flow up and under shingles. Here's what can happen as water begins to penetrate sheathing, insulation, wall cavities, and sheetrock or plaster:
paint can begin peeling on both inside and outside walls
roof coverings, fascia and gutters can be damaged
structural damage can result from the weight of the ice dam
Homeowners usually blame their gutters, since that is where the problem appears to be, or lack of attic insulation. However, newer, wider, deeper gutters will not solve the problem. Nor will additional layers of insulation alone. What will solve it is adequate ventilation combined with proper levels of insulation.
Cold Roof System
The key to solving the problem is to create a cold roof, with the temperature of the inside roof sheathing near that of the outside air temperature. To create such a condition, large volumes of outside air must enter at soffit intakes, sweep along ridge rafters, then exit at vents near the ridge. To prevent trapping warm air in the attic, an equal balance must be established between intake and exhaust air volumes.
Since such a ventilation system is bringing cold air into an attic, the insulation must minimize heat loss at the attic floor (See the CertainTeed Insulation home page for more information on insulation). As an added precaution, use waterproofing shingle underlayment. It provides a waterproof-barrier beneath roof shingles, which pooled water from melting ice dams and driven rain cannot penetrate (See the CertainTeed Roofing home page for more information on roofing)
Rain Gutters
Rain gutters are very important and people want to know why. To put it most simply they are necessary to protect your home from its worst enemy - water.
If your gutters are old, damaged, sagging, missing parts or improperly installed, it is likely exterior damage to your home is sure to follow. A gutter that is missing, or that drains too close to the house will saturate the ground. This wet saturated ground can produce a variety of problems.
It is a breeding ground for Mold and Mildew. It will eat away at foundations and basement walls. Leaks and cracks will develop and will worsen quickly in the winter months when the ground freezes and expands.
Driveways and walkways will sink and rise; interior and exterior walls and floors can warp, bow, or become wet, molded, or stained. Entire homes have been destroyed due to water damage, which could have been easily and affordably prevented with a quality gutter system
From Dave's Custom Siding & Rain gutters
Gutters are not glamorous. However, unless there are long overhangs on your roof and your property is steeply graded, they are essential for routing roof runoff away from your home. Installed properly, gutters keep basements and crawl spaces dry, preserve topsoil, protect siding from backsplash stain, rot, and shield windows and doors from water infiltration and damage.
Poor rainwater drainage can lead to costly repairs It is extremely important that roof gutters and down pipes clear away rainwater quickly and efficiently from the roof of a house. Poor rainwater drainage, if ignored, leads to the probability of very expensive remedial bills - which cannot be ignored!
If water overflows over the back of the gutter, damage to exterior and interior (via the cavity) walls can occur and damp can result. The gutter should be checked for debris and blockages and the fascia brackets checked as they may have been damaged, causing the gutter to sag.
If water overflows over the front of the gutter, this can be very annoying, both to walk under and because of the noise it can create. This is generally due to broken brackets or the gutter not being installed correctly to catch the rainfall from the roof tiles.
If joints are leaking, the rubber seals inside the joint will probably need replacing, or sometimes the joint itself should be renewed. You will find this job a lot easier if attempted in hot weather, as the plastic is much more pliable