Siding plays numerous important roles in the overall scheme of your home, but perhaps none is as important as the role it plays in insulating your living space against unrestricted airflow. During the months when we rely on forced air to keep our living spaces comfortable, the insulation that good siding provides is a key to ensuring that our HVAC system doesn’t have to work overtime to keep up with our demand for comfort. But, if your siding isn’t quite measuring up to what it’s worth, you may find yourself battling the elements a bit closer than you want to inside of your house.
It starts with the siding itself, which is generally vinyl. This outermost portion of vinyl siding in Calgary is the prime aesthetic component, which gives your home its look and feel. However, it’s also the first line of defense for your home against the wind, rain, snow, sun and other elements that might damage the insulation that lies below it.
That’s right, below the outermost layer of vinyl siding in Calgary lies a coating of insulation. Usually made of some type of poly-board or spray foam, this is the insulation that stands as the barrier between intrusive and escaping airflow. If this section of your siding is damaged, it’s almost invariably going to end up costing you in the long run, whether it’s the cost of siding repairs, the cost of a replacement section of insulation, the cost of higher energy bills or some combination of these costs combined.
Measuring effectiveness or ineffectiveness
Spotting inefficiency in your home’s siding isn’t always going to be a cut and dry procedure and the truth is that it’s extremely hard for an untrained homeowner to spot issues. That being said, however, there are a few giveaways that can point you in the right direction when it comes to being suspicious of your home’s vinyl siding in Calgary:
- If sections of your siding are damaged or show visible duress, there’s a good chance that the insulation below is also damaged or strained, which could lead to inefficiency.
- If you notice areas in your home are colder than others, it could be a sign of ineffective insulation. This is also a symptom of HVAC troubles as well, which can send homeowners into a panic in and of itself, so don’t put too much salt in this sign.
- If outside noises are amplified in certain rooms of your home, it may be the result of compromised siding.
Looking out for the above symptoms of damaged siding may leave you grasping at straws, which is why it’s important to have an exterior specialist inspect your home every couple of years to make sure that your siding and insulation are in good shape. Having a keen, professional eye run the length of your home and map out problem areas is going to give you a world of peace of mind and the knowledge to keep your home safe and efficient.