When it comes to buying a home for your family, there are so many different options. Between building type, size, and location, it can be overwhelming.
One of the most important aspects to consider when buying a home is whether you would like to buy a new build or an older home.
There are a lot of pros when buying an older home, such as character, established neighborhoods, and lower cost. Generally speaking, the price of a modern new home is approximately 30 percent more expensive. There are also some cons, such as maintenance, changing safety restrictions and compliance, and potential added costs like changing the color or repairs.
As you can see, the right purchase is going to be different for everyone.
Recently, our subject in today’s blog post decided to purchase a home. Our client didn’t want to have to worry about any of the issues that can arise when purchasing an older home, even color. So when she found the perfect new build right by the water in Rye, New York, she couldn’t believe her luck. Shortly afterward, she and her husband became the proud owners of a brand-new home.
Our client barely had time to enjoy her new home with her family when a sign of trouble popped up: The new lap siding started to warp and fall off.
This was rather shocking, of course, because when properly installed, modern lap siding should last decades. Fortunately, we had just replaced the roof shingles and lap siding for a friend of hers, so she knew to connect with us.
After describing her concerns, we drove out to the site for an immediate consultation to see what was in store for us. We had an idea of what we would discover, but we never can be 100 percent sure until we can visually inspect the home. Just as we thought, the previous installers applied the lap siding wrong.
Upon closer inspection, it was obvious the siding was applied in a rushed manner and the previous installer did not use the right nails necessary to keep the siding in place. For this particular job, stainless steel nails were needed, and since they were not used, all of the nails had started to rot out, hence the reason the siding was falling off.
Stainless steel nails will not rust, even if they come into contact with water, and are less likely to loosen over time, which means that your siding will stay in place for years to come.
Obviously, the lap siding would need to be removed and replaced. In addition to the lap siding, the client wanted very specific trim. She has two roof dormers that she wanted to stand out and pop against the lap siding that was going on the house.
For this product, we used James Hardie fiber cement lap siding in a striking blue color. We knew that using James Hardie lap siding would be a great choice for this house.
James Hardie is a world leader in the design and manufacture of fiber cement siding, and James Hardie fiber cement lap siding is, in our opinion, the best among the siding brands on the market. It resists damage from weather, insects, and fire and is incredibly durable, meaning it won’t crack or warp like vinyl siding, stucco, or natural wood can.
Vinyl siding may be a common choice, but James Hardie technology is amazing, and James Hardie products are low maintenance, rot resistant, and easy to clean. James Hardie’s lap siding comes in a variety of colors and styles to suit any home’s exterior design.
James Hardie’s fiber cement products include the Statement Collection of colors. The smooth and striking Deep Ocean blue lap siding for this project is part of the Hardie Statement Collection.
If you were wondering, durable fiber cement siding is made from a mixture of Portland cement, silica sand, and cellulose fibers. The cellulose fibers of this fiber cement mixture are usually derived from wood pulp or recycled paper products.
Fiber cement siding can be manufactured in a variety of colors and textures. James Hardie’s fiber cement siding is a great choice for customers who want the look of wood without the high maintenance.
This fiber cement lap siding checked all of the homeowner’s boxes for style, color, and price. The James Hardie siding would also hold up against the elements based on the location.
For the trim, the client had the perfect idea of how she wanted it to look in her head but was unable to find a picture that would properly match and convey to us what she wanted. This is a common problem, and we are always prepared to smooth things out quickly.
One thing we always do when we are going over the different building exterior choices is give our clients visual options to browse for inspiration. This eliminates confusion and helps in the decision-making process.
So many accessories are similar in type, size, and color. It can be really confusing to try and pick something for the exterior without visualizing it. We gave our client some photos based on what she was describing for some ideas. (This works the other way, too … use things like photos or magazine articles to guide us about what you envision.)
In addition, we gave her several other options that we felt would complement her home’s exterior in the manner that she wanted. She was very grateful for the help in the decision-making process beyond the fiber cement siding. It allowed her to see several different visions play out (color, etc.), and she ultimately chose something completely different than what she had in mind.
This was a large house, and it needed a lot of work done using the James Hardie siding and trim. We expanded our crew to work efficiently at this job site. We were able to complete the entire lap siding project in just over a week.
Due to some work commitments, the client’s husband was unable to receive in-person updates. No problem at all. We made sure to communicate as efficiently and minimally as possible per their request.
This fiber cement lap siding project was a unique combination of style, form, and color, and the smooth Hardie trim ties the whole house together with personality … just a great choice.
In addition to looking good (including some great curb appeal for the block), the homeowners can finally enjoy their new home with correctly installed fiber cement siding and trim.
This just goes to show you that regardless of age, any home in any zip code can have issues, whether it’s siding, shingles, windows, or gutters. When in doubt, get it checked out.
Contact us. We are only a phone call away for answers and a free estimate!
City: Rye
State: New York
ZIP: 10580
Category: Siding
Materials used (manufacturer): James Hardie
Materials used (type): Fiber cement lap
Materials used (color): Deep Ocean
Project Cost: $45,000
Time to Complete: 8 days