Beautiful new home is completed in Richland County

Posted by Kevin yoder on

Beautiful new home is completed in Richland County

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When Dan Arnold began the process of building his new home, not all the details were in place at the start. Dan knew a general idea of the type of home he wanted to build, but he was not sure where all his materials and supplies would come from. He did know that he wanted to have a Standing Seam roof on his new home, so he started to make contact with metal roofing installers in the area. In his search for a qualified installer, he made contact with Wes Miller, from Miller Premier Construction, and was impressed with the knowledge and experience that Wes possessed. Wes suggested that Dan would stop in at First Choice Exteriors showroom and take a look at the metal roofing options that would be available, and that is how Dan became aware of all the options that First Choice had to offer.House4

When Dan stopped in at First Choice, he was surprised to discover that they also offered Vinyl Siding, Stone, Windows, Doors, and so much more. During the discussion about available products, Chris ( who is a sales representative at First Choice ) offered to price out a number of the other items that were needed for the home. When everything was said and done, Dan and his wife Tara chose Terra Brown D4D Vinyl Siding, Newton Vinylmax Windows, Rustic Manor Ledgestone by Prestige Stone, Terra Brown 7″ Split Shakes by the Foundry, and 26ga Mansard Brown 16″ wide Weatherlock Standing Seam.

One of the House5main things that Dan mentioned that impressed him regarding the service and products that First Choice provided, was the willingness that Chris showed in going out of his way to answer questions and to provide helpful information. He also mentioned that when it came to pricing, First Choice Exteriors was always able to provide a competitive price to comparable products in the area.

We asked him to sum up his experience with First Choice, ” I have found that First Choice provides the highest quality of both House6Products and Service, In addition, I appreciate the knowledge and product experience their sales representatives have. It is extremely helpful and not available in the box stores “

It really has been a pleasure to work with Dan and Tara, and we want to be the first to congratulate you on the completion of your beautiful home, and may you have many happy years ahead.

 

 

Questions to ask when purchasing Vinyl Siding

Posted by Kevin yoder on

Questions to ask when purchasing Vinyl Siding

Purchasing vinyl siding for your home can be a big step, and its not something that you want to take shortcuts on. Often when we are not familiar with a line of products, we really don’t know the proper questions to ask when we are researching it. Lets look at some questions that should be asked when purchasing Vinyl Siding.

Style of LapSiding

There are two common styles of lap in vinyl siding, Dutchlap and Straightlap and both of them have there pros and cons. If you are using the siding on a older home, or you know that the wall substrate has some imperfections, you might want to choose a Dutchlap siding. Dutchlap siding tends to hide wall imperfections better because of the profile. Straightlap Vinyl siding is very popular in some areas because of its clean profile, and is gaining in popularity every year.

Thickness of the Siding

There are several thickness of siding that are common, among them are .040 .044 .046. Which thickness is best for you really depends on your budget and your long term goal.  A thicker panel will cost some more, however the panel will be stiffer, and will be able to stand up better to the elements. Many of the darker colors are not available in the thinner panels.

Recycled materialvinyl-recycling-

Another question to ask is if the siding is made using recycled material. All siding goes through a extrusion process, however many company’s will use recycled vinyl for the middle and back layer of the siding. This process is more economical for the siding manufacturer, but some shortcuts are not worth taking. Using recycled material can cause color changes on cut laps, and also lower the siding resistance to fading.

Warranty’s

Warranty’s are something that tends to make everyone’s eye’s gloss over, and often we only skim through and don’t really pay attention. There are however distinct differences in siding warranty’s, and you can tell how much a siding manufacturer believes in their product. Some things to look for are– Amount of fade that is excepted? When does it begin to pro-rate? Is labor included? Is the warranty transferable? Does the warranty lose value after it is transferred?Print

Here at First Choice Exteriors, we stock Vinyl Siding by Royal Building Products, because we believe that Royal products exceed in all these category’s and more. Give us a call today for more information.

The information provided is for reference only and may change without notice

Miller home renovation is completed

Posted by Kevin yoder on

Miller home renovation is completed

Renovating  your home can be a daunting task when you start looking at all the options that are available. But instead of becoming overwhelmed, Paul Miller from Millersburg OH, tackled this task with vigor. He replaced the old and faded vinyl siding with Norman Rockwell siding from KP building products in the Khaki color. He then chose Foundry Rustic Cedar Staggered Shakes and Antique Parchment Aluminum Trims to help accent the Khaki. He also replaced the existing brick with manufactured stone, which really added that finishing touch.Before

 

When it came to his roof, Paul  knew that he wanted a Metal Roof to replace his shingles. Classic Metals had the privilege of supplying him with several color samples and options. After a few weeks of considering, Paul decided to go with  Grip Tex Bronze 29Ga. Ag Panel. The AG Panel has been used for decades as the go-to profile for metal roofing as well as siding. When we asked why he chose the Grip Tex option he replied, “ I chose Grip-Tex for several reasons, but the main one being because it wasn’t as shiny as your standard metal roofing.” Some of the other highlights of the Grip-Tex is, better traction for the ones that are installing it and the textured paint also provides better scratch resistance, due to Paul 2the textured surface. When it came to the installation of the roof, siding and accessories,  Paul’s close family and friends were the first to offer their services. Paul is extremely happy with the way everything turned out. The colors work together, creating a beautiful, classic look to his home.Paul 3

Congratulations Paul on the beautiful Renovation you accomplished! We are so glad that you gave us the privilege of working with you and helping  make your dream a reality!

Siding by Royal Building Products: Better in Every Way

Posted by Kevin yoder on

Siding by Royal Building Products: Better in Every Way

Royal Building Products has been manufacturing high quality home exterior products for over 40 years. These many years of research and development has lead them to being a leader in the field of vinyl products. Their quality products offer durable, low maintenance features that deliver lasting beauty and enduring value. They are committed to designing products that reflect a high standard of excellence while enhancing your home, and thus your neighborhood. First Choice Exteriors is proud to be able to partner with Royal Building Products in order to provide exterior products that exceed our customers expectations.

Thickness of the Siding Panels

Royal Building Products prides themselves in not taking shortcuts when it comes to quality. One of the ways that some other siding manufacture’s cut costs, is to shrink the thickness of their siding panels. A siding panel can be marketed as a .044 thickness, however if you were to measure the thickness, it would be slightly under .044. Royal manufactures their siding panels in a way that insures that the thickness meets or exceeds the stated specs, which leads to a panel that has more rigidity and stiffness.

Manufacturing Process

Another way that some siding manufacture’s cut costs, is to used recycled material for the back side of the panels. This process obliviously is in the best interest of the manufacturer, however this can lead to color problems and other issues down the road. Sometimes the cut edges will show white, instead of the color of the siding because of this process. Royal Building Products vinyl siding is made using the same material on the back as on the front. This is by far a more superior way of manufacturing, and lends itself to a longer lasting product.

 

Deep and Rich ColorsPrint

Royal Building Products has been investing in research and development for years, in order to have deep and rich colors in vinyl siding. They have been successful in designing a process that allows the darker color tones to resist the fading powers of the sun. You will be amazed when you see the large color selection that is available in all color tones. These Dark and Rich colors are sure to make your home the envy of the neighborhood.

Unbeatable Warranty

In order to show that they believe in their products, Royal Building Products covers their vinyl siding with a warranty that will far exceed your expectations. What makes their warranty so special is that it does NOT PRO-RATE or DIMINISH for both the original owner and the following owner. What this means is that if there is uneven fading, or another warranty issue, Royal Building Products will cover both the material and the labor for as long as the original owner owns the home. These benefits can also be transferred to the subsequent homeowner, without any changes to the coverage, and the coverage will continue for as long as they own the home. Click here for a copy of the Double Limited Lifetime Warranty

There are a lot of options in vinyl siding for your home, however it is easy to see that Royal Building Products stands out among the rest, as a manufacturer that is willing to go above and beyond. Whether it is the warranty or the colors that are available, They are committed to providing a product that cannot be beat. Feel free to give us a call today, and we will answer any questions that you might have.

 

The information provided is for reference only and may change without notice

Are Replacement Windows worth the Investment?

Posted by Kevin yoder on

Are Replacement Windows worth the Investment?

When it comes to replacing the windows in their home, folks often think of it as merely another expense to add to their budget. A lot of homeowners tell us, “Oh, we’d love to put your windows in our house, but we just don’t think we can afford them.” Often, many of them don’t consider the fact that the old windows they currently have could be significantly draining their finances already. Even if the windows seem to function properly, here are a few ways that they could actually be costing you money.

1. Ultraviolet lightWindow-Film-UV-Rays-Protect

Plain, untreated, clear glass lets in UV rays. These rays are responsible for perpetual damage to the inside of your home. Items that you know would be affected by sunlight outside are still being damaged indoors, but at a slower rate. This can mean discolored carpet, faded artwork, disappearing photographs and faded upholstered furniture and wood floors. Homeowners commonly report that blinds become brittle, and curtains or other window treatments become discolored and start deteriorating. Having to replace your furniture, rugs or drapes that were damaged over time could be quite costly.

2. Heat transfer

Old windows can’t keep the heat out in the summer or in during winter because the frames don’t have insulating properties. Common outdated frame materials, such as aluminum, conduct heat directly from the outside to the inside of your home. If you feel a different temperature when you are near your windows, they are doing very little to insulate your home. This causes your furnace or air conditioner to run unnecessarily, driving up your monthly energy bill.

3. Leaking

Old windows often have many tiny cracks, even when they seem to close and function properly. The weather causes windows to expand and contract, so the glass doesn’t fit properly. Panes of glass can become loose, or the glass itself can break. The caulking around the windows crumbles over time and the weather stripping fails. Not only can this make your home drafty, it can also let in dust and other allergens, as well as cause water damage. These are some negative effects you will experience when that happens:

prarie-style-sliding-door-and-windowsYou’ll find yourself spending more by adjusting your thermostat to compensate for the drafts. The leaks will let in spiders and other insects and put a bigger exterminating bill on your budget. The biggest costs that come from the water damage will have long-standing effects on your home, possibly leading to mold issues, and the need to replace entire sections of plaster or drywall. You might be feeling unwell from the dust, mold and other allergens coming into your home, which affects your quality of life.

4. Upkeep

Especially for homeowners with wood windows, the wooden frames need to be stained or painted frequently or they are subject to wood rot. The cost to maintain wood windows is substantial, as they have to be meticulously masked off, sanded and primed, with several coats of paint to keep them in good condition. Additionally, some other window frame materials that were not designed to be painted may have been mistakenly painted, and then they start peel and blister. New windows are designed to be virtually maintenance free and never need painting.

At the end of the day, if you are experiencing any or all of these issues with your old windows, you are probably spending more on those windows than you’d care to. You may even find that the cost of new windows isn’t really much more than what your old windows are costing you. Give us a call at First Choice Exteriors to find out how affordable that replacement windows can be 330-674-7051

The information provided is for reference only and may change without notice

5 Home improvement Projects & Upgrades this Winter

Posted by Kevin yoder on

5 Home improvement Projects & Upgrades this Winter

If you’re like most people, you’ve been spending a lot of time indoors lately. Unfortunately, there are several more months of winter to get through before we start seeing signs of spring.

Before you throw your hands up in despair, why not break the monotony by working on your house? After all, you’re stuck inside anyway, and you’re probably searching for something to do that doesn’t involve sitting on the couch and eating snacks Plus, some home improvement projects will increase your property value, save money on your utility bills, and potentially prevent larger, more expensive issues from developing.

Here are some easy winter projects you might want to tackle before spring hits.

1. Repaint
You’ve been staring at your neutral colored walls every day for months. Want to brighten your mood? Try repainting! Go with a bright, cheery color to liven things up. I always repaint in the winter because that’s when I need the most visual stimulation. A new coat of paint can dramatically lift your mood and the mood of the entire room. Make sure you crack open the windows to let in fresh air while you’re painting. Or, consider going with an eco-friendly, low-VOC paint so you don’t have to worry about breathing in toxic fumes.

2. Work on Your Floors
Is your carpet threadbare? Are your hardwood floors freezing your feet? Putting in carpet is a great winter project because it can increase the comfort of your home dramatically. Whether you do it yourself or have it installed, remember: the off-gassing from new carpet is tremendous. Make sure you open windows to allow those toxic fumes to escape. You can also ask your carpet retailer to air out the carpet several days before they install it in your home. If you don’t like carpeting, there are plenty of other home flooring idea’s  such as tile and laminate that you could also consider.

3. Declutter
When Spring gets here, you’re not going to want to spend your time sifting through those piles of junk in your basement. You’ll want to be outside, enjoying the fresh air. Winter is a great time to work on getting organized (which is why January is “Get Organized Month”). So, devote time every week to decluttering in general and organizing what you decide to keep.

Tip: Don’t try to tackle the entire house at once. Do this and you’ll find yourself with a broken spirit, huddled on the couch. Start small, and go slow. Focus on one shelf, or one corner, and work until you’ve got that space looking exactly how you want. This way you’ll be able to see the progress you’re making.

4. Look at Your Bathroom
Is your grout gunky with unsightly mildew? Is your sink hopelessly outdated? Are you over the pale green paint you put on the walls three years ago? Bathrooms make great winter projects because once they’re done, you can appreciate your handiwork every single day. And, there are plenty of ways to frugally remodel your bathroom. Updates like replacing a faucet, re-grouting tile, or repainting are relatively easy for the do-it-yourselfer. But if you get more ambitious (like, you want to replace the tile floor or buy a new toilet) you might want to call in professional help. Your sanity will thank you.

5. Add Insulation
Okay, so adding insulation doesn’t exactly make your heart pound with excitement. But it will lower your utility bills, and help make your home more comfortable and eco-friendly. Crawl up into your attic. If you can see the floor joists, then you need more insulation. Since heat rises, you could save quite a bit by adding another layer of insulation up there. You can also add insulation in your basement and in crawlspaces to prevent heat loss there as well.

Final Word

It’s easy to get cabin fever this time of year. We’re all going through it. But working on home projects is a great way to keep yourself active, add value to your home, and beautify or improve your living space. It’s a win-win!

The information provided is for reference only and may change without notice