Protecting a Home’s Exterior: Siding, Insulation, and Weatherproofing Basics

We live in a world where many homeowners focus on siding options that look good but don’t offer the durability they need to stand strong for years.

If you want to protect your home properly, you need to do things a little differently.

Today, this guide covers siding, insulation and weatherproofing tips to keep your home safe from the inside out.

Want to learn more about protecting your home’s exterior?

Read on and check out these 4 weatherproofing tips for siding you should know.

Here’s what you’ll learn:

1. Why Weather-Resistant Siding Is Important
2. Top Weatherproofing Siding Materials
3. Insulation + Siding = Protection
4. Weatherproofing 101

Why Weather-Resistant Siding Is Important

Weather-resistant siding does exactly what it sounds like – it acts as a barrier between your home and Mother Nature.

Wind, rain, ice, snow, and changing temperatures can cause major destruction if your home isn’t properly equipped to handle it.

Most homeowners don’t think about siding until it’s too late.

Cracks start showing. Panels begin to warp. Energy bills go up month after month. If you aren’t careful, your home could be significantly damaged on the inside by the time you notice a problem.

Extreme weather can also rip siding materials right off of your home. Once that happens, you’re opening your house up to all sorts of issues – moisture damage, mould, and insulation damage just to name a few.

That’s why it’s so important to choose quality weather-resistant siding and pair it with expert siding installation to get the job done right.

Want to keep reading? Great. Don’t scroll past this paragraph!

It’s not just about curb appeal. Weather-resistant siding helps keep your home safe and keeps energy bills down year round.

Think about what happens to everything behind your siding when it starts to fail. Your insulation gets wet. Wooden supports begin to rot. And your energy bills skyrocket.

That’s not something you want to deal with.

Studies have shown that 89% of single-family homes are under-insulated. If that’s the case, your home’s siding and insulation are literally fighting an uphill battle.

Siding protects insulation. Insulation keeps your home’s temperature regulated. Both work together to keep heating and cooling costs lower than they would be without them.

Popular Weatherproofing Siding Materials

Not all siding is created equal.

When it comes to weather-resistant siding, the materials you choose can be the difference between keeping your home protected or exposing it to harmful elements.

Here are the top 3 siding materials for weatherproofing:

1. Fiber Cement Siding
2. Insulated Vinyl Siding
3. Engineered Wood Siding

In that order.

Fiber cement siding is one of the toughest on the market. Not only can it stand up to moisture, fire, and insects but it also doesn’t warp or crack with extreme temperature changes.

Did you know insulated vinyl siding has better thermal insulation than wood or aluminum siding?

That’s right. Insulated vinyl siding has a foam backing that increases your home’s ability to regulate its temperature inside.

Engineered wood siding is another solid choice. While it still offers the look of real wood, it’s much more resistant to rotting, pests, and moisture.

Keep in mind where you live when choosing siding materials.

You’ll want to pick something that can stand up to the elements common in your area.

Boards that expand and contract during extreme changes in temperatures won’t fair very well in areas with heavy snow and below freezing temperatures.

Materials like fiber cement and engineered wood are better for areas that experience the freeze/thaw cycle frequently.

Insulation + Siding = Protection

Something else to think about…

Your home’s siding and insulation work together.

You wouldn’t have one without the other.

Think of siding as your home’s first layer of protection against water and wind. Insulation serves as the second barrier that keeps your home’s temperature where you want it to be.

When you combine both of these elements, your home benefits in the following ways:

• Reduced heating and cooling costs
• Improved comfort levels year round
• Less stress on your HVAC system
• A decreased chance of moisture getting behind your siding

Did you know there’s something called an “R-value?”

That’s the measurement of how well a material can resist heat flow.

Insulated vinyl siding can have R-values ranging from 2.0 – 5.0 depending on the brand.

Here’s the crazy part…

Your home’s insulation won’t do you any good if the siding on top of it is cracked, warped, or improperly installed.

Broken siding allows for air to get into your home. The more air that gets in, the harder your heating and cooling system must work to maintain a comfortable temperature.

Eventually, your energy bills will start to show it.

According to a national survey by Fixr, 39% of homeowners choose to replace their home’s siding due to damage.

Can you imagine how many homes are left vulnerable with damaged siding? It’s not good.

Weatherproofing 101

Weatherproofing your home isn’t just about installing new siding. In fact, there are several layers you can add to give your home the best chance at staying protected.

Here are the basics.

Start With a House Wrap

Installing house wrap under your siding adds an extra layer of protection against moisture. It keeps water from entering your home while allowing moisture to escape from within your walls.

Seal Tight

Caulking around windows, doors, siding seams and other transition points helps prevent any cracks for air or water to sneak in.

Ventilation Is Key

Believe it or not, proper ventilation is an important step that many homeowners skip. Without it, you run the risk of moisture getting trapped behind your siding and slowly destroying your insulation and walls.

Professional Installation

If you want your siding to last as long as it should, professional installation is key.

This point cannot be stressed enough.

Bad installation leads to buckling, warping, and gaps. That’s the opposite of what you want when you spend money on upgrading your home’s exterior.

Investing in weather-resistant siding, insulation, and weatherproofing your home from the inside out is the best way to protect your biggest investment.

Wrap Up

Homeowners often make the mistake of thinking their siding is only there for aesthetic purposes.

It does so much more than that!

Your siding, insulation, and weatherproofing work together to keep your home safe from the inside out.

Here’s your siding, insulation, and weatherproofing lesson again:

1. Invest in quality, weather-resistant siding
2. Add insulation to go along with it
3. Implement house wrap, sealing, and ventilation for a complete weatherproofing job
4. Have it done by pros who know what they’re doing

Think about your home’s siding as the foundation that holds everything else together. Without it, you’re begging for problems to happen.