When it comes to choosing what type of siding to use for your home exterior, the most important factor you would want to consider is how energy efficient the material is. Summer and winter temperature extremes can really play a role in how taxing your energy bills are, so choosing a siding option that will best maintain the temperature inside your home would greatly benefit your pocketbook. When you get new siding in Downriver Michigan be sure to explore the energy efficient options that are available to you.
Be Sure to Opt for Energy Efficient Siding in Downriver Michigan
There are many different things that you should consider when getting new siding installed on your Downriver Michigan home. Listed below are some tips to help you better understand the energy efficient options that may be available to you. Be sure to talk with your siding contractor about these tips and discuss the costs associated with them.
The R-Value of Siding
The measure of energy efficiency of building materials or appliances is found in their R-Value. The higher the R-value of a product, the more energy efficient they are. Many siding options have R-Values between 3 and 5. Most siding options, though, score less than 1, with some scoring as low as 0.11 in their energy efficiency. You’ll want to seek out the highest R-Value you can find within your style preference and budget to reduce your energy footprint and costs.
Insulated Energy Efficient Siding
Insulated siding options can be far more energy efficient than traditional siding options, with some being as much as 5 times more energy efficient. Insulated siding is available in aluminum, steel, and vinyl options, allowing for a great many option to choose from for your home. Insulated siding has R-values of 2.5 to over 5, which could qualify your home for the Energy Star designation should you choose one of these options. These insulated siding options are also very durable, requiring little maintenance, yet still lasting nearly thirty years or more.
In addition to choosing an insulated siding option, you should opt to wrap your home in thicker and more rigid exterior insulation when replacing your old siding. This will increase your energy efficiency even further. These measures include spray foam and interior insulation to greatly reduce the energy usage. This virtually guarantees your energy costs to drop dramatically.
Added Benefits
You may consider siding your Downriver Michigan home in energy efficient material to take a pretty big chunk of change, but you may be surprised to find that you can recoup that cost in as little as a few years’ time. Installing energy efficient siding not only reduces your carbon footprint, but it can reduce your energy costs so much you can recover the cost it took to replace the siding.
Additionally, you may reap some of these extra benefits if you outfit your home in insulated, energy efficient siding:
- Increase the lifespan of your HVAC system – By providing that extra layer of insulation with your siding, you are sealing your home in and reducing the strain your HVAC will face during the months with extreme temperatures – whether hot or cold. This reduction of strain will just extend the life of your system, saving you money.
- Reduce the risk of mold infestation – In addition to sealing out the extreme temperatures, insulated siding will also help to seal out moisture, thus reducing the likelihood that mold will develop.
- Increase your home’s value – As with any major home improvement, you stand to increase the value of your home if you choose to side your home in better quality materials and energy efficient materials. Increasing the energy efficiency raises your resale value.
- Qualify for Energy Star Home designation – By becoming more energy efficient, you could have your home designated as an Energy Star Home. These homes qualify for all sorts of incentives and tax credits, potentially saving you even more money.
As always, it is important to fully consult with a professional siding contractor in Downriver Michigan for any home improvement project such as changing the siding you use. Not only will you ensure the project is done correctly, but a contractor will be able to provide you the best information about what is going to work best for your specific project.
A licensed siding contractor in Downriver Michigan such as All Point Construction will be able to go through your energy efficient siding options with you to best match your budget, the level of energy efficiency you seek, and your style preference. Along with installation and product warranties, you will also be able to rest easy knowing that a professional team will be aiding you in making your home better.
