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EXTERIORS

SIDING BY SIDING COMPARISON

Latest maintenance-free options hold up well ↓

by THOMAS J. MONIGAN

FEB/MAR 2021

TRENDS FROM FLOOR TO CEILING, FRONT TO BACK

↖ Siding manufacturers using new materials and processes have arrived at products that are both durable and easily kept up.

Siding is a key element in the overall appearance of a house, and contemporary options are attractive.

Doug Speck, the owner of Re-Side Exterior Renovations in Pensacola, and Dave Williams, general manager of MidSouth Lumber Co. of Northwest Florida in Panama City, offer alternatives to traditional materials such as wood, metal, brick and stone.

“There are three basic kinds of siding,” Speck said. “You’ve got your vinyl siding, fiber cement siding and a product new to the market, PVC composite.”

“Vinyl siding and the PVC composite are both low maintenance,” Speck said, adding that James Hardie fiber cement siding will require occasional painting.

Household budgets often dictate decisions about siding, and “plain old vinyl siding is the most budget-friendly product,” Speck said.

Unlike vinyl, fiber cement siding is usually created to mimic another material, typically natural wood. It’s rare to find it taking a form of its own.

A composite, oriented strand board (OSB), is made from sawdust with a bonding agent for extra strength. It resembles natural wood, making it a popular option, but OSB may be susceptible to water damage.

Fiber cement board is made of cement, sand and cellulose fiber. While durable and aesthetically pleasing, it is harder to install than composite siding made of other materials.

“The PVC composite is a little tricky to put up, but you’ve got a prefinished product that you don’t have to paint, and most of them have a 30- or 40-year warranty,” Speck said.

Regarding vinyl siding, Speck said, “I would likely pressure-wash once or twice a year, depending on whether you live on a high-traffic street and what kind of activity you have going on. Really, all you need to do with the vinyl is just spray on some house wash they have at

↙ Fiber cement board, pictured here, presents some installation challenges, but typically comes with a 30- or 40-year warranty.

Home Depot or Lowe’s, and then hit it with a garden hose. The same thing with composite.” Williams, meanwhile, is a proponent of James Hardie Color Plus. “At some point in time you’re going to have to repaint Hardie, so vinyl would be the least-maintenance siding there is,” Williams said, “but the problem with vinyl siding is it’s not windrated, and it’s not really good to put up anywhere near the coast.”

So, what’s the alternative?

“Hardie, if it’s installed right, has a warranty up to 150 miles an hour,” Williams said. “Color Plus is mildew resistant, so Mother Nature takes care of it. Any time it rains, it washes the house for you. The warranty on it is 15 years unconditional; 15 years later, it should look just like the day you put it on.”

When it comes to repainting?

Sherwin Williams has a 25-year paint,” Williams said, “so if you put something like that on, you’re going to get 40 years out of the house.”

Hurricane Michael in 2018 had a major impact on the local siding market.

“Now, everybody is more prone to ask what will hold up in a storm,” Williams said. “Before the hurricane, no one even considered that. We had sold vinyl siding forever, and our vinyl siding business took a big hit.”

People have discovered that if a storm blows your siding into the street, it’s no longer maintenance-free. EC

↑ Vinyl siding, once popular because it is so easily maintained, has proven to be a poor match for powerful storms.

Open Up with Custom Style

Acheery bright red, a stately custom-made oak, or paneled with gleaming windows — no matter the style, the front door is the first look any visitor gets of your home. A door is the first welcome any guest will get, and Southeastern Sash & Door specializes in best first impressions.

Since 1996, Southeastern Sash & Door has made a name for themselves as a premier millwork company distributing custom-made doors, windows, mouldings and stair parts from their facility in Fort Walton Beach to the Mississippi border. Their specialty and most soughtafter product is their own brand of custom doors titled Gulf Armor, which are Florida-approved, impact-rated wooden entry systems.

“What sets us apart is we manufacture everything ourselves,” said Bill Peacock, owner of Southeastern Sash & Door. “In doing our own builds, we guarantee the highest quality, a faster turnaround and customizations to your exact specifications. And if there are any issues, we will fix it right away.”

Peacock intends for each build to be completed in a timely manner and held to the highest standards of quality, because the staff is experienced and they have the most indemand materials stocked in their 60,000-square-foot manufacturing facility. Within the industry, other companies might take weeks to obtain the materials you desire.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF CAPTIVISIONS

Quality and customer satisfaction are at the forefront of this company, and Peacock acknowledges that their success in these areas stems from the loyalty of the employees. As a large company with many departments, more than half of the staff has celebrated anniversaries that range from 5 years to 20 years.

“The staff are dedicated people that want the work done right the first time and have a strong sense of commitment to making the customer happy,” said Peacock. “Our goal is to be a one-stop-shop for those specialized items they’ve always dreamed of that turn a house into a home.”

SOUTHEASTERN SASH & DOOR

FORT WALTON BEACH / PENSACOLA SANTA ROSA BEACH / MOBILE

SoutheasternSashandDoor.com