Siding Frequently Asked Questions

Appearance of fungus, obvious separation of seams, caulking failure, swelling, delaminating, boards that no longer lay flat against your house, paint failure, moisture on the inside of your house, all could be signs of siding failure.

It can be difficult to tell if your home has dry rot without removing the siding first; then we can tell how extensive the damage is and repair it. In extreme cases you may see signs of excessive moisture on the surface of your siding or moisture on the inside of your house.

Dry-rot repairs can be as little as $50 and as much as several thousand dollars. The average repair is $200 to $500. Approximately one out of eight homes have dry rot.

New siding will rejuvenate an older home, give it a completely new look, and significantly reduce cost for home upkeep and maintenance. It will protect the home from elements and eliminate the need for costly, frequent repainting.

Most Realtors will tell you that it is necessary to replace your defective siding if you wish to sell your home in a timely manner and for a good price. You will find that trying to sell your home with defective siding can be major deterrent. If you do get an offer the buyer will almost always want a hefty discount because of your siding. Even if your siding is in good shape, you will usually need to replace it because of the negative stigmatism in the market place

Your home style, neighborhood CC&Rs (Covenants, Conditions, & Restrictions), desired effect, and your budget determine the best solution for you. Have an A.B. Edward Representative out to give you a free estimate. Get the ultimate curb appeal you deserve.

Replacement of your moisture barrier is required. During the tear-off process your old barrier, if any, usually gets torn and oftentimes your old barrier was not installed correctly. We cannot warranty your job without replacing your moisture barrier. A new moisture barrier is critical to a good siding job.

Winter is a good time to start your siding project. Oftentimes it is much easier to reserve a space in the winter than it is any other time of year. The only drawback to having your project started in the winter may be paint delays. In addition, during winter months we tear-off smaller sections and reside those sections before we move on. That ensures that your home will always have limited exposure to the elements

Typically, 7 to 14 days for siding and 2 to 4 days for painting. It depends on the size of your home, the time of year we do your job, and weather conditions.

Our crews generally start work between 7:00 - 8:00 AM and work until 5:00 - 6:00 PM (daylight permitting) Monday through Friday. On occasion we may work Saturdays upon your approval.

During most days we will only remove as much siding as we can replace with a weather barrier during that same day.

All of our siding and painting crews work as carefully as possible to avoid doing any damage to your landscaping when they are on the job. However, we do suggest that before your siding project begins, you should move and/or tie back all plants that are important to you. While our installers are careful, sometimes damage to plants is unavoidable.

Residing may cause your walls to rattle when the siding is being torn-off and when your new siding is nailed on. We suggest that you remove any fragile items from your interior walls that may fall during the residing process. On occasion, caulking around your windows may crack and you may experience small drywall cracks or drywall 'nail-pops'. These side effects are unavoidable and the cost of fixing them is minimal.

Depending on the Product that is installed.

Under normal conditions, we require a minimum of four days for your caulking to cure. As a general rule, we usually start painting your home one to two weeks after your siding is complete. However, during winter months it may be longer than two weeks . We cannot paint during extreme wet weather. However, almost all of the products we install are pre-primed and caulked. Because of this, your home does not need to be painted for 90 to 180 days depending on what type of siding is installed.

The equivalent of two coats of a quality 100% acrylic latex paint is applied to the body of the house. All siding is painted to the manufacturer's specifications.

Because we offer siding at a number of price points to fit any need and any budget, and because every home and siding job is unique, there is no way to answer this question. The best thing to do is invite a sales representative into your home so he can measure it accurately and discuss other needs you may have.

Most siding is replaced because of product failure or improper application. In order to maintain or increase the value of your home, it is important that you select a siding company that can aide you in the selection of a product with proven integrity. This company must also have a proven record for professional application and finishing.

We accept cash, check, Visa, MasterCard, and financing on approved credit.

Fiber Cement:

More expensive than Vinyl
Less expensive than Stone and Brick
Less expensive than Stucco
More expensive then Steel Siding

Vinyl Siding:

Less expensive than Stone and Brick
Less than Fiber Cement
Less expensive than Stucco
Less then Steel Siding

Steel Siding:

More expensive then Vinyl
Less expensive than Stone and Brick
Less than Fiber Cement
Less expensive than Stucco

Stone and Brick:

More expensive then Vinyl
More than Fiber Cement
Equal or more expensive than Stucco
Less then Steel Siding

Vinyl siding is manufactured from polyvinyl chloride (PVC), a revolutionary building material that has replaced metal as the prime material for many industrial, commercial and consumer products. PVC has many years of successful performance as a construction material, providing impact-resistance, rigidity and strength.

No. There is no paint to peel, flake off or blister.

No, unless the siding is coupled with a contoured or fan fold insulating product behind the vinyl siding.

Usually all you will need is a to rinse your siding down annually with a garden hose. Every few years’ professional pressure washing with the appropriate cleaner will help restore the appearance your siding.

Vinyl siding will not cause any of these problems, but neither will it cure problems that existed before the siding was installed. Vinyl siding can be applied with assurance that it will not promote rotting, moisture or termite infestation. Indeed, the siding itself is impervious to rotting, and does not attract insects. It is designed to allow for proper ventilation. Pre-punched weep-holes along the bottom butt edge of the siding allow condensation to drain out.

None at all.

Vinyl siding is competitively priced with other siding materials. When you consider that you no longer need to have your house repainted every few years, the cost is very economical and eventually will be recovered by eliminating repainting costs. Vinyl siding is designed to last 50 years or more. Consult Sussel Builders for specific warranties.

Yes, Fiber Cement lap siding must be painted, stained or coated. You may order many James Hardie products coated with the ColorPlus™ Collection by James Hardie factory finishing and coloring system; or you can have the siding painted. Paint warranties vary from 10 - 20 years.

You are required to have James Hardie siding painted within 180 days of installation.

James Hardie as well as the current IL building code requires the use of a weather-resistant barrier. It is good building practice.

The following are suitable trim products for use with

Fiber Cement siding:
Fiber Cement
Real Wood
Engineered Wood

The IL building code requires that exterior sidings be installed with a minimum 6" clearance of soil. This will allow for clearance when soil is back-filled against the foundation.

Any weather-resistant barrier complying with the IL building code is acceptable.

James Hardie fiber cement is 2.3 pounds per square foot.