Superior Exterior Systems has experience installing all forms of siding for almost 2 decades including stone and brick.  Materials & labor to install is considerably more expensive than Hardi Plank or cedar siding which is why most people only put it on portions of the front.  Often stone is used to accent 3 feet from the ground or on pillars & columns because of its cost.  Over the years stone has definitely become more popular than brick although both will give strong curb appeal for resale value.  Drystack stone is a style  where mortar isn’t used between the joints or pieces of stone and tends to give a higher end cottage or castle look.  Some say drystack stone has a desert style look but if you drive around the high end areas of West Linn, NW Portland Hills or Lake Oswego, to name a few, you will see much more stone than brick these days, especially on newer homes.   Brick gives a more traditional or conservative look and although still used, products like cultured stone are ordered more over the last decade.  For more info and an indepth picture gallery feel free to log into  http://superiorexteriorsystems.com/ Thanks again for listening.

Superior Exterior Systems finished another siding project in Portland Oregon.   This home had unique challenges in that it had faulty Lp siding, Eifs synthetic stucco and an extremely  steep hillside.   When we meticulously remove Eifs stucco,  it is critical that the styrofoam behind it is immediately contained so winds do not disperse the endless tiny foam beads and pollute the environment.   The steep hillside didn’t make this any easier.  The Lp siding came off as usual with recycling disposal since our siding removal is always green.   This client chose new cedar lap siding which will look good for a long time when properly maintained and doesn’t rot as Lp siding does.  We also did a substantial amount of dry stack style stone to completely renew the front of the home.   Most siding projects take 1 - 2 weeks depending on which variables each individual chooses and if stone or windows are also installed.  This project did end up going 2 days over schedule but at the end, the customer was pleased and even gave us a tip.  That was funny.  We also installed decorative window trim per customers instructions to give more detail since the home will probably be sold in a few years.  Pictures have been loaded on http://www.superiorexteriorsystems.com/ so feel free to log in and see them.  As always,  Superior Exterior Systems exists to help and inform homeowners when you need new siding, Eifs stucco replacement, Lp removal, roofing, decking, windows, stone or brick.  You’ll be glad you met with us and  will definitely be more informed for a wise decision whatever you choose when the time is right for you. Thanks again for your time and visiting our website.

Over the years,  Hardie Plank fiber cement siding has definitely captured the name recognition for siding your home especially if you are one of the unlucky homeowners in which the builder installed the infamous Lp siding.  Years ago I  was honored to be chosen to tour the local Hardie Plank factory just a few hours north of us near the Tacoma area.  Superior Exterior Systems was able to see first hand the extensive process of creating fiber cement siding and has actually used that knowledge in our unique installation process.  It is fascinating to say the least.  Creating Hardie Plank from scratch is something that can easily be taken for granted because there are so many steps that go into it’s meticulous process.  It would be almost impossible to tour the factory now in that they are very protective over their manufacturing steps.  It originally starts in a wet soupy mix that looks like thick gravy and then ends up in highly compressed stiff layers with a primer sealant on it.  The constant rain here in the portland vancouver area causes our own set of challenges and no primer will ever be enough in itself.  Always use high end paint and make sure it is applied very well and back rolled on.    Hardie plank is not everyones choice so another fiber cement  siding is call  Certanteed Weatherboards.  I have also been to that factory since it is made in southern oregon.  Cedar and vinyl are a few other choices if you don’t prefer a cement based product.  It’s not a good idea to use stucco in our climate which is also called Eifs or Dryvit and has an artificial foam behind it. I could go on and on but if you would like more info or want to see pictures on existing homes visit us at http://www.superiorexteriorsystems.com/ Thanks for reading and good luck in your search for which siding is right for you.

Superior Exterior Systems will again be at the Portland Memorial Coliseum home show  coming up this March with  samples of roofs, siding, windows  & decking.  Stop by the booth and let us know what you think. One way we keep our operating costs down is to not go too expensive on the booth size since all overhead is eventually passed on to the consumers.  The bigger the booth, the more you the consumers pay to that company. The home show will be next month on March 11,12 & 13th.  Friday will be less crowded than the weekend.  Or if you don’t want to hassle the crowds or finding parking and just want easy access information,  fell free to visit our website and see many different  pictures with design ideas, visuals and  technical information on how we can meet your needs. Just  click on    http://superiorexteriorsystems.com/

Over the years codes and siding installation techniques on homes in the portland & southern washington areas have changed.  The biggest places for leaks are generally around windows and some technical measures can be taken to lower the possibility of rain getting in. First thing to know is that every vinyl window has “weep holes” at the bottom of the window frame.  These weep holes MUST be blown out periodically  to make sure bugs or debris have not blocked water drainage and evacuation. If the window has a center mullion this is even MORE important. Its easy. Just make sure to do it. You can use any can of compressed air like what is used to clean computer keyboards. When Superior Exterior Systems installs Hardi Plank, cedar or vinyl siding, we always overlap the house wrap to the point of overkill. Think of your house wrap as a raincoat. If the wall is over 9 feet tall and needs multiple pieces start from the bottom moving horizontally then upward so the  layers above overlap the lower section.   Just think always run the overlap facing down so that rain can drip out and away instead of in towards the subwall.  A few years ago, we were chosen to redo an entire condo complex in which another company overlapped the house wrap upside down. They basically started installing the wrap at the top and then over lapped as they went down.  Rain had been getting in for a long time and the homeowners were furious when they found out.  Also, flash the nail flange on each window - run a wide strip of rubberized water membrane flashing across the bottom past the edges of the window - then down the sides overlapping the bottom - then across the top overlapping the sides.  It is also good on new construction or if installing new windows to use the membrane style rubberized flashing as a gasket inside and around the entire window itself.  Superior Exterior Systems  also runs flashing under corners for extra protection since that is where gaps exist in the plywood although house wrap should also run consistently around corners.  I could go on because there is no way I could explain every method but these are a few that will help reduce the possibility of a leak.  This should give you the idea. When wind blows the rain hard in Gresham and Troutdale this can save your home from costly structural rot repair. Obviously caulk around the finished product but remember no caulking will last forever and needs to be redone AS OFTEN AS NEEDED!  If that means after 1 year then do it.  This is very important:  remember MANY leaks are NOT caused by the siding or flashing or lack of flashing but may actually be the double faced tape holding the actual glass pack (the 2 layers of glass) which can be pulled out by a professional and re-sealed.  This has absolutely NOTHING to do with the siding but with the window. I have had this happen on my own personal home a few years ago.  The glass pack seal failing was the cause of a few  window leaks. I definitely caught it before it did any structural damage but then had to repaint my interior widow trim high gloss white  to match the rest.  For more technical information feel free to visit  http://superiorexteriorsystems.com/ Thanks for your interest and I sincerely hope this helps.

Over all the years, I’ve noticed that Lp siding in Gresham & Troutdale seem to have more problems mainly due to the excessive strong winds constantly driving the rain into places it generally wouldn’t go.  Normally rain would simply drip off the bottom horizontal “drip edge” of lap siding.  We just finished another home in Gresham Oregon where the sheathing underneath should have been perfectly dry.  It wasn’t.  The home owner didn’t know that every time it rained hard and was windy, they’re siding wasn’t protecting the sheathing and studs underneath.  There was structural rot and alot of it since the home was built 16 years ago.  I must admit, at first I was a bit puzzled. How could rain get THIS far up under the siding and not dry out?  The answer is that it was getting in often and that’s the problem.  The house wrap under the siding was the black tar paper which I never recommend since it isn’t waterproof enough for our climate.  It was used by “old school” builders because it was so cheap during the building boom in the 80’s & 90’s.  Here’s the BIG question. If you live in Gresham or Troutdale, how do you know if the subwall & studs under your Lp or Omniwood siding is getting wet?  The problem is we simply don’t.  Painting wont protect IF the wind is driving the water up underneath through small openings like butt joints. To become dry rot it has to be getting in often.  It won’t rot  if it only gets in a few times. The best thing is to simply look REALLY closely all around your siding but you need to do this more than once while it is windy. When Lp siding or Omniwood was installed back in those days, nobody was installing flashing between the butt joints. It just wasn’t thought of yet.  If your original caulking is cracking, that could be a clear sign of potential water underneath. We have used  high end moisture meters for years that can tell us exactly how much moisture content is UNDER the siding and can inspect for free.  For more info or a free estimate log into http://superiorexteriorsystems.com/ . Thanks for looking.

With 19 years of experience I often get asked which roof should I choose?  It really depends on your budget and goals. Are you selling? Don’t order anything too high end. If you aren’t selling and like original colors we are able to special order colors that aren’t too crazy but much more unique than your average grey or brown roofs. There are also colors like green or blue which are extremely strong and may be an eye soar OR you may get tired of it after a few years. This  is the reason why alot of people go more conservative with the colors they choose. Dimensional shake is ALWAYS better than simple 3 tab and only costs a bit more as you increment up in thickness and length of warranty. The labor is where the bigger expense is. For example:  is the old roof being torn of and disposed?  Also,  a 40 or 50 year roof wont necessarily last 40 years but has more density in the product so it will last longer than a 30 year. Are you SURE you’re going to stay a long time? When choosing a new roof always take into consideration how many trees are close to it as this will definitely affect the longevity. Ask yourself how will the color you choose look when its wet since it will be wet most of the year from the rain. This is REALLY important.  For example, my roof is a really dark grey but looks very black when its wet which is most of the time. On a previous home I built myself I put a high density 40 year dimensional shake roof on thinking I would never sell. Yep, it’s for sale. But a 40 year doesn’t cost much more than a 30 year material wise so I’m good with that. You also want to go outside and look at all the other colors in your area. Don’t out up green or blue if nobody else has. The design team at Superior Exterior Systems is here to answer any of your questions. For more info and lots of roof pictures log into http://superiorexteriorsystems.com/ or call (503) 285-0875 in portland oregon  or (360) 687-8937 in Vancouver washington and thanks again for listening.

We all know in the portland vancouver area that selling a home in this economy is tough but many of us have found out the hard way  selling one that still has Lp siding is even harder. With all the “short sales” & people losing their homes because they are upside down on the mortgage there are way too many other homes for sale which is your competition when you are selling. If you still have LP siding, that will definitely  become an objection to any buyer. Generally you will get better pricing  if you replace your Lp siding during November and December  since most siding contractors simply want to keep cash flow going. Many sellers dont believe how much mold can be under their lap siding but many buyers are not going to take that chance with all the excessive rain we get. It makes sense to me  as a consumer that if I am selling my home and hire a siding contractor myself I can control the pricing rather than letting an over zealous buyer, who usually feels they are entitled to alot of extras, pick all the details.  In other words, the seller is financially better off if they choose the details. Mold grows in wet climates which is why there are more problems with  Lp  siding in the portland vancouver area. Do you remember the old aluminum windows and how badly they sweat and because of the moisture get moldy?  Picture that happening under the Lp siding that you are selling or buying.  That is what buyers are concerned about. Often times buyers have seen their neighbors siding replaced and walked over and have seen the mold & dry rot underneath.  These are not scare tactics. As a specialty siding contractor with 19 years experience in the portland & vancouver area, mod & sub wall rot is what  we see  when we replace siding or stucco.  Superior Exterior Systems installs all brands including Hardie Plank, Certanteed Weatherboards,  cedar & vinyl  siding. I fully understand nobody wants to hear about mold or rot but it is reality because of the endless rain.  Just take a close look at your roof. We often replace roofs that people just didn’t take care of over the years.  It’s hard enough to sell in this economy and equally hard in the fall and winter months simply because there are less buyers looking. It makes sense that sellers should always eliminate potential buyer objections up front so that good realtors can do their job and make everybody happy with the sale of your home. I am currently selling my home and have bought or sold many with realtors over the years. Its tough selling right now! Each seller must make the best decision for themselves on how to eliminate what the buyers don’t want so they can get their home sold and move on. We are currently removing Eifs stucco from the front of a home in West Linn Oregon per the advice of the customers realtor.  The experienced realtor saw the advantage of removing the buyers objection before it can come up. For pics of  homes that had mold, Lp & Eifs stucco or to learn more feel free to visit   http://superiorexteriorsystems.com/ Thanks for listening and good luck if you are selling. We need it.

Many siding contractors simply use bleach and water when dealing with the Lp siding problem or EIFS stucco in the portland vancouver metro area.  Although that may help with some of the mold or fungus, quite simply this just isn’t enough.  Superior Exterior Systems has been using a special industrial strength fungicide for almost 19 years with great success in that we have had ZERO callbacks and that mold has never grown back.  Often times the subwall behind the house wrap of horizontal Lp siding can have traces of  mold spores growing on them so they must be killed even though the actual siding is removed.  Because mold grows in wet dark areas we have always felt a strong conviction that all the mold remidiation is done professionally and thoroughly.  Although this sounds a bit corny, the product we have used for the past 2 decades is found in the salt mines of California and then shipped to us.  Becasue it is so close to the northwest it doesn’t cost much to get it here.  It is then thoroughly mixed and applied on all outside walls successfully killing any mold spores on the subwall or panel siding.  This should always be thoroughly completed before installing any new siding including Hardie Plank, Certanteed Weatherboards, vinyl, stone or replacing Eifs stucco.  For more information on this problem  and to see detailed pictures log into   www.superiorexteriorsystems.com or call  (503) 285-0875 or  (360) 687-8936  for a free no obligation inspection of your siding.  We service the entire Portland Oregon and Vancouver metro area along with the outskirt cities.We hope this helps & thanks for listening.