CertainTeed Corp. is targeting wood planks and the fast-growing fiber cement business for its new reinforced vinyl siding, Certaplank.

The vinyl cladding looks like hardwood, with a lightweight 7-inch slim profile that is rigid.

"Certaplank is the result of many years of research and product development," said Kara Radcliffe, director of vinyl siding product management at CertainTeed. "Fiber cement and wood planks are cumbersome and heavy, and they require special tools, extra crew and safety gear to install."

Ease of installation is a big issue on construction, and manufacturers of plastic building products are playing it up.

According to CertainTeed, because Certaplank is lighter and more flexible than fiber cement or natural wood siding, contractors can hand-unload the vinyl siding without any special equipment, storage or stacking requirements. Also, there are no restrictions from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration on handling or cutting the material outdoors.

CertainTeed is offering Certaplank in 18 colors with a wood grain finish.

CertainTeed, based in Malvern, Pa., ranks No. 5 in the latest Plastics News ranking of pipe, profile and tubing extruders.

See the rest here:
CertainTeed eyes growth with reinforced vinyl siding - Plastics News

Published 11:00pm CST, Saturday, February 8, 2020

Renovation work has been completed on a HomeAid Houston project for Agape Development. HomeAid, a 501(c)(3) charity of the Greater Houston Builders Association (GHBA), partnered with custom builder and GHBA member Sandcastle Homes, to make improvements to Paris House, a 950-square-foot house that was converted into an office and counseling center for Agape Development. The enhancements will provide a more modern space for day-to-day operations and provide a place for work placement assistance and counseling for the young men and women working with Agape.

Sandcastle Homes, led by Nicole Keown and assisted by Steven Speer, project manager, spearheaded the work as part of their commitment to improving the lives of young men and women in the Third Ward. Keown and Speer began by handling much of the demolition themselves as they removed the exterior siding, gutted the interior and loaded trash in preparation for the upcoming improvements.

Additional work included removal of deteriorated materials inside and outside of the building for full restoration; replacing windows and drywall, installation of paneling, new trim and interior doors and cabinets, refinishing the interiors of a bathroom and breakroom, providing fixture replacements and new countertops. Work also included installing new flooring, new paint and hardware and replacing the fencing on the property.

Agape identifies existing properties that, in some cases, have been abandoned or are in total disrepair and refurbishes them. The houses provide stable housing for young adults who are in crisis or as in the Paris House, a place for education and life skills training. At the same time, these renovated houses revitalize the community.

With its location within Houstons historic Third Ward, the faith-based Agape Developments Gateway Houses are part of a residential program to help 18-25 year olds make the transition to healthy adulthood by assisting with housing, utilities, food and transportation while providing counseling, job preparation and guidance in continued education.

I really enjoyed the project and the overall outcome of the building, said Keown. This was one of the rare opportunities where I could roll up my sleeves and do some of the work myself. Steven Speer and I were inspired by the kids we saw, who were being helped through Agape. We were proud to work on this from the Sandcastle Home side and to represent HomeAid and their mission.

The following were companies who donated to the renovations: EC Contractors provided sheetrock, paint, exterior siding, and window replacement; Sandcastle Homes provided interior demoltion; Juan Hurtado donated carpentry; Houston Carpet Service provided the flooring; Western Pacific donated building materials. Other vendors included Kent Moore Cabinets; Rolando Delgado Landscaping; Coastal Plumbing, and Aztec Glass and Mirror.

HomeAid Houston has been building transformational housing for homeless care agencies throughout Houston and surrounding counties since 2003. For more information about HomeAid Houston, visit http://www.homeaidhouston.org or call 281-970-8970.

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Sandcastle Homes completes renovation of HomeAid project in the Third Ward - Chron.com

The Washington Parks Department started 2019 with a new parks and recreation director Wayne Dunker, who assumed his new duties Jan. 7.

Dunker has been working in this field all of his career, dating back to 2000. He moved around the St. Louis area working for different parks departments before coming to Washington.

Last year was a busy year, he said. I had a lot of things come in and out of this office, but now I have a better feel of things.

With one year under his belt, Dunker said he has a better handle on a lot of things, including the budget, the different events and the Washington Town & Country Fair.

Dunker did admit that the Washington Parks Department is a little busier than he expected, but he was able to accomplish quite a list in 2019.

Dunkers first task was updating athletic and facility fees. His office looked at comparable facilities and organizations, evaluated pricing and updated the fees accordingly. This also included fee increases for rentals for the senior center, pavilion, fairgrounds.

Several roofs in the park system have been replaced in the past year. This roof replacement was an ongoing project that started in 2018 after storms in 2017 damaged facilities.

What was most pleasing about the project was after the roofs were replaced the department had an excess of funding and was able to make other improvements. This included a renovation to the main park pavilion which now has new siding, paint, suffixing, gutters, as well as a new roof.

Another highlight was the opening of the front nine holes of Busch Creek Disc Golf at Burger Park and a new trail was installed with 1,700 square feet of wood fence around the quarry at Miller Post Nature Reserve, which is open.

The parks department also updated city hall with LED lighting, new windows and HVAC improvements. The lighting also was updated at the police station, library and fire houses.

Dunker said Washington participated in the America in Bloom Competition for the ninth year. The city finished first in the 12,000-14,000 population category and received special recognition for its flowers.

Some other accomplishments in 2019 included renovations at the South Point Dog Park, such as parking lot paving, sidewalk installation and landscaping; resolving the drainage issue at Lakeview baseball soccer field; receiving the Tree City USA award for the 14th year; installing an informational kiosk on the riverfront west trailhead; and other renovations and improvements in the Washington area.

Washington residents can expect to see several changes and exciting in the new year, according to Dunker.

The America in Bloom National Symposium will be held in Washington Oct. 1, which is expected to bring between 200 to 250 people to the city for the day.

The back nine holes at Busch Creek Disc Golf Course will open later this year and there will be new playgrounds in the main park, renovations to the Optimist skate park and updated and revised park entry signs.

The department also plans to install large and small dog fencing at South Point Dog Park.

The fountain at the Farmers Market parking lot will receive an upgrade this year as well.

Dunker explained that weather and river levels permitting, renovations will take place on the eastern portion of Rotary Riverfront Trail after MoDOT completes its work, which will allow the trail to reopen.

A big picture idea that the department is working on is continuing to evaluate how Washington can connect to the Katy Trail, Dunker said.

Originally posted here:
Parks Office Reports Busy, Successful Year - More to Come in 2020 - The Missourian

Judith Faulkner, CEO of healthcare IT giant Epic Systems.

Source: Epic Systems

Epic Systems CEO Judy Faulkner recently urged some of the largest health systems in the country to sign a letter opposing proposed rules designed to make it easier for patients to obtain their medical information and share it with apps.

About 60 of these health systems have signed it.

The letter, which was obtained by CNBC, was addressed to Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar and opposed proposed rules designed to help medical information flow more easily between health systems and patients. The rules also aim to make clinical data accessible through application programming interfaces (APIs).

Epic, which is privately held, sells its electronic medical record software to hospitals across the country and is one of the largest health-technology companies in the U.S. An Epic installation is a major undertaking and can cost upwards of $1 billion for a major health system to implement.

Epic's CEO Judy Faulkner previously urged health care executives to take a stand with her: "HHS needs to hear from you so they understand that you feel these issues are important," it says. "Very little time is left."

A spokesperson for HHS told CNBC that it did indeed receive the letter. "We appreciate all stakeholder feedback as we continue to finalize the rules," they said. "Our ultimate goal is to ensure that patients are able to easily access their electronic medical records."

The largest technology companies, alongside patient advocates and caregivers, have taken the opposite stance and have spoken out in favor of the rules. Apple, Microsoft and Google recently joined a call with a non-profit called Carin Alliance to discuss ways to get the rule finalized and released. These companies favor the rules, in part because greater interoperability between systems that store medical records could help them move into the $3.5 trillion health care sector.

"There are many health systems that have deep concerns regarding the rule, and they've shared those concerns with HHS," Epic said in a statement to CNBC. "We are supportive of the goals of the proposed regulations, but we believe that important changes must be made to the rule before it becomes final in order to protect the privacy of patients and their personal health information. We appreciate the work that HHS is doing to incorporate different perspectives and ensure that the final rule is a good one."

The letter reads, in part, "While we support HHS' goal of empowering patients with their health data and reducing costs through the 21st Century Cures Act, we are concerned that ONC's Proposed Rule on interoperability will be overly burdensome on our health system and will endanger patient privacy. Specifically, the scope of regulated data, the timeline for compliance, and the significant costs and penalties will make it extraordinarily difficult for us to comply."

The letter goes on to recommend some changes, including more clarity around health information related to family members, and a longer timeline -- at least 12 months to prepare and 36 months for "development of new technology required by the rule."

It was signed by health systems including Ardent Health Services, Atrius Health in Massachussets, Bay Health in Delaware, NYU Langone Health in New York, Parkview Health in Indiana and Ohio, University Health System in Texas and UW Health in Wisconsin among others. Several life sciences companies also signed it, including Exact Sciences, maker of a diagnostic test for colorectal cancer.

A handful of organizations were also listed as sending their own separate letter.

One doctor who signed says he shared Epic's privacy concerns as the number of proposed medical apps skyrockets.

"There are tens of thousands of health care apps," said Neil Calman, MD, chairman of family medicine at Mount Sinai in New York and president of the institute for family health, in an interview.

"Getting these big computer systems to communicate in a predictable and secure way took a decade and now people are writing these apps in all different languages. There's no possible way a system that has been in development for decades now could all interface with all these apps and keep information secure. This needs a lot more thought, and more structure and regulation."

Some health IT experts note that the letter has not been signed by some of the largest health systems in the Epic ecosystem, and they say that's significant.

"Their absence represents a thundering silence," said David Brailer, the first National Health Information Technology Coordinator, appointed by George W. Bush. "Many health systems are quietly discussing how the data access and data fluidity actually benefits them in the long-run."

Here is the full list of health systems and health companies that signed the letter, not including those who chose to send their own:

Access Community Health Centers; Community Health Center Network, Alameda Health Consortium; Altru Health System; Atrius Health; Adventist Health Portland; Affirmant Health Partners; Lovelace Health System; Arc; UT Health Athens; Ardent Health Services; Bay Health; Buffalo Medical Group; Christie Clinic; Deaconess Health System; Genesis Healthcare System; Catholic Health; Community Health Network; Exact Sciences, Group Health Cooperative, South Central Wisconsin; Charlotte Eye Ear Nose & Throat Associates; Confluence Health; Fresenius Medical Care; Gundersen Health System; Guthrie; HonorHealth; Institute for Family Health; Mercy; UnityPoint Health; Hospital Sisters; HSHS Wisconsin; Iowa Specialty Hospitals & Clinics; Mercy Care; VHS; HSHS St. Clare Memorial Hospital; HSHS St Joseph's; HSHS Illinois; Mary Washington Healthcare; Mercy Health Services; Middlesex Health; Beth Israel Lahey Health, Mt. Auburn; NYU Langone Health; PeaceHealth; Piedmont Healthcare; Northshore's Evanston Hospital; OhioHealth; Pembia County Memorial Hospital; Pine Rest Christian Mental Health Services; Norton Healthcare; Parkview Health; Permanente Dental Associates; Prevea Health; River Valley Primary Care Services; Singing River Health System; University Health System; Vancouver Clinic; Riverside; Southcoast Health; Titus Regional Medical Center; UT Health San Antonio; Wellstar Medical Group; Self Regional Healthcare; SSM Health; UHS Inc. and UHS Hospitals; UW Health; West Virginia University Health System.

More here:
Epic and about 60 hospital chains come out against rules that would make it easier to share medical info - CNBC

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As much more than a hotel, Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser will be avacation experience unlike anything Disney has ever created. The hotel will offer a two-night itinerary where guests become immersed in their own Star Wars story.We are just as anxious as you to see it complete, so we stopped to see whats new since our last update.

As you approach the hotel, it looks kind of drab. But spaceships arent usually pretty. We do expect more trees and greenery planted to camouflage the area.

The first thing youll see when passing by is the Galactic Starcruiser Terminal. There has been a lot of progress on this area, which serves as both the main entrance where guests arrive/unload. (Do note that this is different from where guests will be transported to Batuuvia intergalactic transports.) Workers are getting ready to build out the overhang, and the shape of the entrance is starting to grow.

This is concept art of what the terminal will look when complete. You can already see the geometric pieces in our photos.

Moving further down the hotel, we saw that most of the purple siding we previously reported on is now covered with gray concrete. The rounded metal archway you see is where the intergalactic transports will wait to depart to Batuu. Not much work has been done to this section.

Continuing along, this is where the actual guest cabins (i.e., rooms) are located. Scaffolding still stands, and all the windows have been closed off as expected. Rather than windows, guests will see screens reflecting the galaxy, which will make you feel as if youre really in space.

This makes me a little claustrophobic. But Ive done an inside cabin on the Disney Cruise Line that has the magical porthole screens, so I think I can make it through. But really I wont have to worry about that, as I doubt Ill be able to afford staying here.

Even from further away on a guest road near Disneys Hollywood Studios, you can see the hotels theming in the distance.

The immersive, all-inclusiveStar Wars: Galactic Starcruiser experience opens in 2021.

Related

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PHOTOS: Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser Guest Cabins Fully Enclosed in Preparation for Interior Screen Installation; Latest Work on Arrival Terminal...

Garage door replacement among highest return on investment

REMODELING Magazine released its 33rd annual Cost vs. Value Report that found exterior improvement projects yield the greatest return on investments. In fact, nine of the 10 leading investments were exterior home improvements, with the exception of a minor kitchen remodel. The leading returns were primarily siding, doors or decks.

"As in years past, the national averages for exterior replacements outperformed those of larger discretionary remodeling projects," said Clayton DeKorne, Editor-in-Chief of REMODELING Magazine. "Exterior facade facelifts improve the curb appeal and makes a great first impression as buyers approach the home, that translates to real dollars at the closing table which is why we see such tangible returns on that investment."

According to the 2020 report, the overall cost-to-value ratio stands at 63.7%, down from last year, and well below the decade-high of 71.2% in 2014. As in prior years, there are significant variations in return in different regions. The average regional payback for the 22 projects in the 2020 Cost vs. Value Report ranges from a high of 132% for a garage door replacement in the East South-Central region to a low of 40% for an upscale master suite addition in the same region.

The 2020 report surveyed nearly 1,400 full-time real estate professionals, each with a network of more than 100 consumers, about returns for 22 home improvement projects in more than 100 U.S. markets.

Top Ten Cost vs. Value: National Averages

Rank

Remodeling Project

Job Cost

Value atSale

CostRecouped

1

Manufactured Stone Veneer

$9,357

$8,943

95.6%

2

Garage Door Replacement

$3,695

$3,491

94.5%

3

Mid-range Minor Kitchen Remodel

$23,452

$18,206

77.6%

4

Fiber-Cement Siding Replacement

$17,008

$13,195

77.6%

5

Vinyl Siding Replacement

$14,359

$10,731

74.7%

6

Vinyl Window Replacement

$17,461

$12,761

72.3%

7

Wood Deck Addition

$14,360

$10,355

72.1%

8

Wood Window Replacement

$21,495

$14,804

68.9%

9

Steel Entry Door Replacement

$1,881

$1,294

68.8%

10

Composite Deck Addition

$19,856

$13,257

66.8%

Principle takeaways from the 2020 Report:

To see the geographic cost vs. value averages and get more information on the survey results, visit http://www.costvsvalue.com.

About Hanley Wood

Hanley Wood, represents the housing industrys leading provider of rich data, backed by Zonda and Metrostudy, and the industrys top advisors for residential real estate development and new home construction. With products and services geared for homebuilders, multifamily developers, lenders, and financial institutions, we provide innovative solutions to maximize opportunities in today's real estate development landscape.

Hanley Wood, Meyers Research, Zonda, Metrostudy and the company logo, are trademarks of Meyers Research, LLC and/or its subsidiaries.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200121005901/en/

Contacts

Media Contact Alyson AustinEmail: alyson@gaffneyaustin.com Phone: 949-403-0484

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Cost vs. Value Report by Hanley Wood Details 22 of the Most Compelling Remodeling Projects Across the Nation - Yahoo Finance

Pro Brush Painting and Remodeling has decades of experience in executing painting and remodeling projects. The company serves residential and commercial clients in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. It has earned a reputation for professional work and attention to detail.

According to announcements released by Pro Brush Painting and Remodeling and Jesse Campuzano, the company is the first choice for homeowners looking for a painter Arlington, TX. Qualified and experienced painters can paint walls with designs, patterns, and textures. Homeowners and property owners can expect a first-class painting job with cathedral ceilings, cabinets, decks, fences, siding, brick, and other materials and surfaces. Pro Brush Painting and Remodeling handles deck and fence staining, epoxy floor coating, wallpaper removal, and more.

According to sources, the company is preferred by businesses in Arlington, Texas, for commercial painting jobs. It enables businesses to acquire a unique look that they can market to engender a positive perception with their customers. Arlington businesses that include restaurants, hotels, and retailers are assured of quality work delivered in a realistic time-frame and with no hidden pricing. For any home remodeling, including kitchen remodeling, the company ensures that homeowners have to spend the minimum amount of time out of the home. Its expertise in home renovations includes granite installation, bathroom remodeling, cabinet remodeling, flooring installation, and more. The company offers a special one-on-one consultation for its customers so that they understand everything about the scope of the project, opportunities to save, and the time required to get the job done.

For more information, go to https://probrushpainting.net/

Jesse Campuzano of Pro Brush Painting and Remodeling said, When you are considering a new look for your home, our residential painting experts can create a custom look thats both modern and inviting. If you are looking for an experienced painting team that can complete your project quickly, call our professionals to produce a warm, professional atmosphere, fast. Bring your cabinets back to life and make them more beautiful than ever with our expert cabinet refinishing services. When the most used rooms in your home need a facelift, our experts can create a modern, custom style thats sure to impress. Protect and seal your fence and deck while keeping them beautiful with our professional fence and deck staining services. Dont risk your familys well-being. Let our experts handle the popcorn ceiling removal process in your home. Epoxy coatings are the better option for a garage floor, but there are some important things to remember.

Concerning the company's painting services, Campuzano said, We at Pro Brush Painting and Remodeling are the premier commercial painting services in the Dallas-Fort Worth area! Our team has over 20 years of experience with home renovation projects, which we will use to help you turn your visions of your business into a reality. Whether you just need a few rooms spruced up, or need an entire building repaint, our team of experts has the tools and skills for the job. Our local painters can paint, stain, or refinish almost any structure on your property, such as sheds, garages, shops, decks, and even wrought iron fencing. Let our painting experts help create your own masterpiece.

Contact and location information are available at Pro Brush Painting and Remodeling

Media ContactCompany Name: Pro Brush Painting and RemodelingContact Person: Jesse CampuzanoEmail: Send EmailPhone: (817) 789-5441Address:617, West Main Street, Suite 617c City: ArlingtonState: TX 76010Country: United StatesWebsite: https://probrushpainting.net/

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Painter Arlington TX Residential and Commercial Remodeling and Painting Services in the DFW Area - Press Release - Digital Journal

Arguably, the best way to install lap vinyl siding is to get a professional siding contractor to do the job for you. Thats also twice as expensive as the alternative approach of doing it yourself. Since vinyl siding is only moderately challenging to install, at least on simple one-story homes, lets walk through the process.

What this guide entails:

1. Tools and Materials for hanging siding2. Insulation3. Removing Old Siding4. Quality Window and Door Trim5. Preliminary Steps for Hanging Siding6. Guide for Hanging Siding Pieces7. Wrapping Up

The must have tools include:

via VinylSiding.org

Additional tool considerations:

Materials:

In our DIY guide, we are assuming you are working with lap vinyl siding, or the traditional look of horizontal boards that appear to wrap around your entire home. Vinyl siding offers other variations such as vertical panels, tiles and even a split-wood appearance. The horizontal lap is the most common and our main focus.

With that variation comes two distinct types known as hollow-back or foam-back. Hollow-back is the most common type and offers enormous amount of variation with colors, width of panels, design or profile of panels type of hem line, and thickness of siding. Standard thickness for residential siding usually ranges from .040 to .046 inches.

The thicker the material, the more durable it is, in terms of impact resistance. While these measurements seem very thin, hollow-back vinyl siding is fairly adequate in providing insulation. It scores .61 on the R-value scale. Compare this to say Cedar Shake which scores .9 and is around 10 times the thickness.

Foam-back vinyl siding is ideal for increasing the insulation of your home. Better insulation means greater energy efficiency. Foam-back scores 1.8, or three times the R-value of hollow-back. In terms of all types of siding, this is near the top. To put things in perspective, Fiber Cement, Brick and most Stone veneers are all well under 1.0. Besides increasing insulation, foam-back also enhances impact resistance, generally has less seams, and the foam material (EPS) doesnt absorb moisture.

The caveat is, of course, the added material cost. Hollow-back usually runs about $1.50 to $3.50 per sq. ft. for material. Whereas foam-back premium vinyl panels can costs $2.00 to $4.50 per sq. ft. Siding systems must also account for the additional thickness, which may add to overall cost. And waste of materials gets more expensive going with insulated. The tools for the project are all essentially the same, though youre better off using a circular saw for cuts rather than relying on tin snips.

While it is possible to put vinyl siding over some instances of existing siding, we suggest you remove all the old siding. Working from scratch is the first goal of a siding project. This way, you can see if any portion of the exterior walls needs repairs and address that before new siding goes up. Plus, youll have better ability to put house wrap along wall studs and create a smooth sheathing for all new siding.

Removing old siding can be fairly labor intensive. A professional crew charges between $1,000 and $3,000 for this part of the siding work. The crew will consist of 2 to 6 workers who likely have the experience to complete a tear off in 1 day.

The main tools are: ladder(s), pry bar, reciprocating saw to cut through nails, and disposal bin. The larger disposal bins can be rented and hauled away, but that will run you around $1,000. Alternatively, you could lay out large tarps to you put waste onto, or use a utility trailer. Both these options usually mean multiple trips for eventually dumping of the material.

With siding removal, it is recommended you start at the top and work down. The first step is to remove all items from the house that can be removed, such as light fixtures, address plates, outlet covers, etc. Special care must be used around windows and any trim that is going to be retained. With regards to utility fixtures and electric meters, you have to work around these. A reciprocating saw can help, but you obviously do not want to tamper with any electrical wires.

Then just use the ladders, plural, to have your crew pry off boards, dropping them into the disposal area on your property. Tackle each wall until the project is complete and make sure to clean up all loose pieces and nails.

When installing vinyl siding around windows and doors, J-channel strips are usually placed around all edges to fit the siding and hide your cuts on siding panels. Fitting is also known as butting siding boards into channels.

When it comes to economical siding systems, basic J-channel strips are usually included. These amount to about .65 to 1.5 inches of trim. That works and is functional for installing the siding. But it makes for an arguably low quality project. Why not transform the average, basic doorway into an inviting entry?

Wider versions of corner posts, window and door trim can greatly enhance the overall appearance of any siding job. Such design options as 5 inch lineal, pilaster, mantels and crown moulding are all possible in vinyl siding and add a majestic appearance. That are all functional as well, proving the J-channel for siding panels to fit into.

Typically, a home with vinyl siding recoups about 80% of the cost put into it at the time the home is sold. This amounts to a very good ROI. Adding high quality trim will routinely increase that number. For better understanding on making quality trim work, see this article from Georgia-Pacific Vinyl Siding & Accessories. Going the DIY route allows you to make a conscious decision on the trim you find most appealing and to use it throughout the homes exterior.

In our guide below, where we reference J-channel pieces, you can substitute that with quality trim pieces. Ply Gem provides a few examples of vinyl siding and related accessories.

The preliminary steps for installing siding are measuring, leveling and fastening trim pieces to the house. Measuring and trimming are the exact science portion of the job while fastening trim entails the art and skill that makes for premium quality.

Youll always work on one wall at a time. So first measure length of outer counters from eave to foundation. Similarly, if the wall has an inner corner, measure that vertical line from upper point to foundation.

Next, measure gable lines, or from roof peak on the eave side, along the rake, to where outer corner meets lowest part of the eave. Write these measurements down.

Additionally, measure width of the wall along the bottom edge, at top of the wall where the gable starts and then overall height of the wall from eave to ground.

Next cut J-channel strips based on the measurements for every edge except outside corners. J-channel is what edges of siding panels fit into. Corner moldings also have J-channel as well as the molding that enhances the visual appeal of the overall siding, framing each wall. Next, youll cut 2 corner moldings a 1/2 inch short of the measurements you made for outer corners.

Then prepare to attach the corner moldings. Because these are what frames the siding, it is critical they be plumb, or aligned exactly to the vertical edge of the house. To prepare for accurate attachment, use your level and chalk line to assure vertical precision. Lines on both walls that the corner piece will be attached to is suggested.

Then youll attach the corner piece on either side of the current wall. Start at the top and fasten it on both sides every 10 inches or so. Along the way, double check that you are maintaining straight alignment. Attach the other corner post with equal care.

Next attach the J-channels strips along the roof line. Measurements on these strips need not be as precise as corner pieces. Where precision matters here is mitering of the two pieces that meet at the peak and along the edge of the corner posts. Mitering is as simple as cutting pieces, with tin snips, at an angle so everything aligns with a snug fit.

By this point you should be done with fastening all trim pieces for the current wall you are working on. Additional preliminary steps are for adding trim to all objects or openings along that same wall.

Next youll do trim around windows, doorways or other permanent features along the exterior wall. J-channel goes around the outer edge and pieces are mitered for alignment and to account for proper drainage. Your first go at these areas can take awhile to think the process through. To help understand what it takes, see the video below for a good visual on fastening trim and drip cap around a rough entry:

Final part of the preliminary steps is the starter strip. First prepare the wall with two considerations. Placement of the strip is typically an inch or two above the foundation. The measurement you took at center of the wall from roof peak to foundation will help determine if siding panels will be exact or if youll need to specially cut a piece to make it fit at the gable peak. Sometimes, vertical adjustment of the starter trip can help, but more often youll need to plan on it not being exact.

If the measurement is say 18 feet and your siding panels are 10 inches wide each, then youll be able to fit 21 panels along that wall with 6 inches left over, so the final panel would need to be specially cut. The second consideration is to ensure the starter piece is exactly level.

Using your level, use a pencil to mark off a level line an inch or so above the foundation. When thats done measure exact length of that line to the foundation, and proceed to move down the wall making similar markings at same length. Then snap a chalk line along your pencil markings. Double check that line to ensure it is level.

You are now ready to install your siding panels.

via A2HomePros

Installing siding is relatively easy compared to the first preliminary process. It is time consuming and there are certain caveats to keep in mind. The two biggest are that unlike trim, siding is never fastened to the wall. Instead it is hanging on the wall. When pieces are nailed via the hem line, you will never want to make it so the panel cant slide left to right.

Vinyl siding needs allowance to expand and contrast due to temperature changes. So nails are hammered straight (never at an angle) and a gap of 1/8th inch is left between panel and nail head.

The second major caveat is that pieces are always cut short. Youll always want to measure each piece before cutting, and not assume that your corner posts are 100% accurate. So, if width of the wall is say 10 feet 2 inches, and your panels are 12 ft in length, youll cut each piece to 10 ft, 1.5 inches. The exact allowance will depend on what the siding manufacturer notes, but usually it is around a half inch, which translates to a quarter inch allowance on each side.

Now, if your wall is say 20 feet in length and youre working with 12 ft. long panels, then youll need to overlap pieces to have it fit. This is where ingenuity comes in. Overlapping seams ought to never line up as that would be fairly visible from a distance. So, youll cut panels at different lengths to vary the distance at which seams will occur.

Another pro tip is to consider the piece that will overlap on top. The idea is that seams are visible from one angle and very hard to detect from another angle. Pros go with maintaining overlaps that are away from street view. So, panels closer to the front wall go on top. On the front wall, youll make a decision based on which side of the house gets more foot or vehicle traffic.

Once all that is considered, the process of hanging siding entails cutting out measured lengths and snapping bottom edges to lower pieces. The starter strip has its own edge to snap the first piece to, and each piece after that provides a strip to snap the piece above it.

Another pro tip is the vertical adjustment youll give each piece as you work your way up. The hem line is a small gap, but will budge just a little bit, and enough that you can pull up slightly before nailing each piece.

Nails along the hemline can be every 2 to 3 feet, and each time youll want to pull up slightly before nailing the piece to the wall. Ideally, youre using your stud finder to nail along the studs.

Inserting pieces around windows, doorways and fixtures takes a bit of practice and special cutting. Youll essentially want to cut the hemline out and insert the cut portion into utility trim pieces to ensure that those arent flapping in the J-channel on windy days, along the windows edge. Along window and door sides, the process is essentially the same as for corner post J-channels.

When you get to walls with gable ends, youll cut your panels at the angle that matches the roofs pitch. The gap allowance on each side of the panel is still in effect.

When you get to the top, youll specially cut a panel so that there is likely no longer a hem on that piece. For gable walls, youll end up with a pointed piece that cant fit into any channel and expect to stay there, so youll use a small head nail to fasten that to the wall. For walls where the eaves are parallel to the ground, youll use a utility strip to snap the specially cut panel into that trim.

Once the first wall is done, the rest of the job becomes easier to understand and complete. Your first time installing vinyl siding on a home will probably introduce unique situations around every corner, or on particular walls. Its important to take a moment to think things through rather than doing a rush job that has poor results.

Pros work efficiently, but that comes with lots of practice. Its often good practice to pause along the way and take a wider view, checking how the whole wall is coming together. The goal is to align siding that is level and installed with care.

When the job is done, relax and enjoy your new siding.

Some considerations to consider going forward are annual cleanings. See this article for how to go about that. Also be on the lookout for panels needing special attention or repair. Popping panels out is relatively easy and new ones can be put in. Keep in mind, the color of pieces will be different as sunlight will cause colors in vinyl to fade ever so slightly.

Another caveat with vinyl siding is that it doesnt fare so well under intense heat. This is a non-issue from direct sunlight, but a neighbors window coated with Low-E can reflect sunlight in such a way as to overheat, and ultimately warp vinyl siding. This is actually quite rare, but it does occur.

Moreover, if you enjoy cooking outdoors on the grill, be sure to keep that a good 10 feet or more from your walls. Intense heat from the grill will possibly damage the siding if left too close to the wall. Besides, the further you are away, the more you can appreciate the craftsmanship of your homes vinyl siding.

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To install UltraShield composite cladding, you will need to gather some tools, research some topics and perform a few tasks. These include:

As mentioned above, your composite cladding cannot simply be installed on a flat surface. You must install it on joists to allow for proper ventilation. This structure is known as the under construction. Before installing this structure, keep these tips in mind:

Before you install the under construction, we recommend you speak with a licensed professional.

We have so much confidence in the quality and longevity of our products that we offer them with a transferable limited warranty of 25 years. We will even cover the labor costs involved in replacing the materials if their performance is less than promised.

Warmer temperatures will cause your siding boards to expand, and cold temperatures will cause them to contract. For this reason, it is necessary to leave a gap between boards during your installation and you must know how much of a gap to leave. For instance, if youre installing an 8 board when its just 32 F, you must leave a 2/16 gap. If its 68 F, you only have to leave a 1/16 gap. You can?see the full chart?in our siding installation manual.

NewTechWood has been a dominant force in the composite wood industry ever since its beginnings 15 years ago. It has become known around the world for its advanced, attractive and reliable composite wood products.

At NewTechWood, we attribute our success to our philosophy we are committed to listening closely to homeowners, homebuilders, architects and contractors and work hard to carry out their requests and bring their visions to life. We believe our ability to realize our customers needs is in part due to our products wide range of colors and patterns, which allows us to find a look that works perfectly for every project.

Apart from our siding, we also offer a number of other composite wood products that can enhance your outdoor living experience, such as:

If youd like to learn more about our products, wed be happy to speak with you! You can reach us by calling 281-570-6450 or by filling out our online form. If youre ready to install one of our products, you can locate a nearby distributor that sells our products.

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Composite Siding & Cladding | Wall Panels | NewTechWood

Fiber cement siding is not that difficult to install if you have some basic information. One of the most essential facts and obvious is to follow your fiber cement manufacturers instructions that have been formulated based on their product and specifications.

Fiber cement siding must be cut face down with a diamond tip blade. When an irregular cut is needed, a jigsaw equipped with a medium or coarse-grit carbide blade can be used. A diamond jigsaw blade will be useful too.

Make sure the wall or surface is prepared to receive the cement siding. Make sure that the windows, doors, and openings have been flashed all around their perimeter. Also, check if your manufacturer requires a weather-resistive barrier.

Nails used to hang fiber cement siding shall penetrate at least 1 into the studs or the structural framing. Remember that the siding is hard so be sure the nails are located at the right place before driving them. If the cement siding is to be installed over wood sheathing (7/16 OSB or plywood at a minimum), it is recommended to use a 6d nail. Sometimes, if you are trying to drive the nails and you are having problems, you can pre-drill the holes to facilitate the job.

Siding can be installed over wood and metal studs. These studs shall be a minimum 20 gauge, 3-5/8" C-studs. Fasteners shall be flush to the surface material. Do not countersink or angle fasteners. When blind nailing, place nail 1" down from the top of the board, and when face nailing, place nail 3/4" up from the bottom.

It is important that the insulation product used when installing fiber cement siding will be able to level the wall and align each siding panel properly. When you add insulation to the siding, the customers energy bill will be reduced too, so you might want to highlight this as an additional benefit for your client. Fiber cement siding should be installed over plywood, OSB, or sheathing.

Be sure that the siding installed is dry. Otherwise, it might shrink at butt joints. When sheathing is the preferred surface that will receive the fiber cement siding or any other fragile substrate, be sure to pre-drill the holes at corners to prevent accidental damages. Building codes will usually require installing siding over water-resistant barriers and nailed into the studs every 16 or 24 inches.

When installing fiber cement siding be sure to leave at least clear space between the siding and the flashing vertical siding should be installed and attached to the structural framing when a non-structural sheathing, gypsum board or foam-type sheathing are used.

When you are getting close to the final grade, leave at least 6" between the bottom of the siding and finish grade, and a minimum of 1 above rooflines and decks. Fiber cement siding shall have a 1/8" gap between trims of windows and doors. If you need to cut cement siding a 100% acrylic latex primer must be used to reseal the surface. Install all butt ends and joints in contact with one another.

Be sure to caulk, paint, or finish fiber cement siding following manufacturer's recommendation. By doing this, you will be making sure that the siding is ready to withstand changing weather conditions. Caulk around windows, doors, trims, and self-flashing penetrations.

Fiber cement siding should be kept covered while not been installed on a clean, flat and leveled surface. The siding must be protected from direct exposure to weather that could damage the cement siding before it is installed. If you need to move siding pieces, be sure to carry them by their narrow edge and support it when you cut larger pieces.

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Fiber Cement Siding Installation Tips