Will New Siding Help Insulate and Lower Your Energy Bills?
New siding alone may not be the most energy efficient thing you can do for your home. Most siding materials have a low R-value (insulation). However, when coupled with insulation, the values go up significantly and you can really get some help with your energy bills. New siding may not pay for itself in energy savings – at least not right away – but it can help you reduce those bills and anything that reduces your energy costs is good. In this article, we’ll delve more into the question – will new siding help with your energy bills? Here goes.
When you install new siding, it’s one of the best opportunities you, as a homeowner have, of adding extra insulation to your home. When the old siding is removed, you can see where you could have exterior insulation added before your new siding goes on. This investment can pay off in the long run. Why? New siding combined with good exterior insulation dramatically reduces your home’s energy bills.
How does new siding coupled with insulation reduce energy bills?
Well, the insulation will block the transfer of energy between the interior and exterior of your home. Siding helps protect the insulation and your home from the elements. Siding can also block the rays of the sun. This can create less heat transfer to your home. Siding and insulating, when working together, make it so you need less energy to keep your home at a comfortable temperature. That translates to savings on your energy bill.
How does new siding help insulate and reduce costs?
The insulation and siding work together to block the thermal bridge. The thermal bridge refers to the transfer of energy, usually in the form of heat, back and forth between the interior of your home and the air outside. On sunny days, the new siding can block the heat from the sun’s rays from reaching your home’s interior.
What is the best type of siding to help me save energy?
The best siding for insulation purposes is stucco or vinyl. Both have foam backing and make them solid and energy efficient. Stucco siding also has advanced over the years. It now comes in a material that locks in warm air inside in the winter and cool air in the summer.
What is the worst type of siding to help me save energy?
That would have to be fiber cement, stone and aluminum siding. These three types are on the lower end of the cost scale and well, you get what you pay for. They don’t hold insulation well and don’t protect your home from the elements as well as other types of siding.
So, getting your home some new siding and insulation can help you save significantly on your energy bills. However, it matters what type of siding you get. Stucco and vinyl are the best for energy efficiency. However, any new siding, combined with insulation, can have an impact on your home’s energy bills. If you have any further questions, give us a call at 21st Century Painting & Roofing. We’re reachable at 512-219-0342. We’d love to hear from you.