Many realtors, buyers and sellers  call us to inspect homes with Lp siding or EIFS stucco when they are for sale.  Although clearly not all homes have problems many sellers are in denial until they list their homes and don’t get a decent offer within 5-6 months.  Without question our lousy economy doesn’t help this problem.  Lower priced homes will always sell quicker than higher end homes.  Buyers hire us because they simply don’t want to purchase a problem and want independent objective advice which is understandable.  Many companies charge for every inspection.  Superior Exterior Systems doesn’t and never will.  We just want the opportunity to earn your business if that time comes.  It surprises me that so many realtors still don’t know how to identify Lp siding and many don’t know that if there is Lp on the front, it probably is also on the back 3 sides even though it is the panel Lp siding style.  Panel Lp siding is also clearly identifiable.  Todays home buyers are more picky than ever simply because there is so much inventory for sale everywhere.  If they like your area, but not your siding, they will simply keep looking until they find a home where the problem siding has already been replaced.  Most buyers negotiate with the seller on price if they make an offer at all to cover the full cost of unfixed siding.  Seems logical to have it inspected,  get price quotes and then decide IF that is the best route for the seller to take.  Sometimes it is and sometimes it isn’t.  For a free inspection or to verify if you do indeed have Lp siding or EIFS stucco call (503) 285-0875 or (360) 687-8936 or simply log into http://superiorexteriorsystems.com/. Thanks again for listening.

As the owner of Superior Exterior Systems, I have had homeowners in the portland-vancouver metro tell me many times that they got bids where the company gave them a low price up front and then charged them considerably more when little things came up.  Be careful accepting a bid that is just too good to be true.  Think about it.  Will the owner of a siding company pay to put siding on your home if a salesman underbid it.  Believe it or not, I actually paid $1123.00 once when an eager new salesman I eventually fired DID charge too little where I paid to finish the home.  Rather than lose integrity and probably get a bunch of legal problems, I decided to simply finish siding the house.  It was painful but I did.  I don’t use salesman anymore for this reason.  Generally the best siding contractor will be  priced in the middle.  Prices that are not too high and not too low.  If it’s too low, the siding company is probably leaving out critical prep work details or more likely WILL come back and charge you more for anything they can.  Maybe they aren’t licensed or bonded or insured.   Insurance is really expensive these days. If it’s too high they probably have too much overhead or salesman that get bonuses when the profits are high.   To be fair if the customer changes details or structural rot is found underneath, it is obviously reasonable to get charged more.   So if the price sounds just too good to be true, it probably is.  In life all of us get what we pay for.  Unfortunately in this economy some siding salesman will say whatever they can to “get” your business.  Don’t learn the hard way with a ridiculously low bid.  Superior Exterior Systems doesn’t want to  ”get” your business. We want to earn it.  For more info call (503)285-0875 or (360)687-8936 or simply log into  http://www.superiorexteriorsystems.com/ and we’ll be glad to answer any questions and maybe earn your business.  Thanks again for listening.

I was talking today with a person who recently inherited a home in the Raleigh Hills area of Portland. Unfortunately it has Eifs stucco and she asked me some very pertinent questions that I thought would be useful to you if you are stuck with the Eifs problem.  She asked, Can I just pass on a discounted price to the potential buyers instead of the hassle of replacing it?   The main problem with selling when you have the Eifs siding is threefold.   1. If the buyers or realtors have any info on Eifs,  most will look to other homes for sale down the street because of the large risk and question mark as to how much mold may be under it.  They are generally asking themselves will I be buying a money pit in this economy?  Most people will buy with the path of path least resistance in mind.  They have enough headache with simply  moving all their accumulated “stuff”.  Ask yourself - what would I do & what would my spouse do?  Although some people by nature are risk takers,  as I am being a business owner, most would not take that chance with such a large investment. Choosing a home and moving is already emotionally draining enough.  Oftentimes the pain of divorce is a major factor too.   2. The next question is - If you finally find someone who is a risk taker will the bank loan go thru since the bank would then be taking the risk and Eifs MUST be disclosed with the lending laws?  Banks want stability and security especially in this oppressed market. Loans are hard enough to get with lending nightmare of the last couple years. 3. Will realtors show my house if they think their deals wont go thru?  Will they bypass us for others in the area knowing they have to disclose to the bank it has Eifs?  Will my house sit in this economy?   In summary: You can try to list it with Eifs and see if you get any offers but be prepared for the worst. Better to be prepared than not.  For pics and a lot of information specifically on Eifs log into http://www.superiorexteriorsystems.com/ or simply call (503) 285-0875 or (360)687-8936.  This is what we do all day, all week and all year. Thanks for listening.

Over the years Superior Exterior Systems has seen an increase with stucco problems when a home has Eifs in the portland and vancouver areas. Without question there is considerably more Eifs synthetic stucco in portland but still some in the vancouver washington out lying areas.  Eifs stands for Exterior Insulation Finish System. The problem is wherever there are openings like windows or doors and rain gets behind it  thru wind or simple constant dripping,  it doesn’t get out.  It doesn’t evaporate  since there isn’t any airspace between the styrofoam under the Eifs and the subwall so the moisture begins to soak into the wood subwall.  When the rain gets in these openings or cracks it penetrates the building envelope and gets behind the Styrofoam under the thin stucco style layer on the surface.  Here is a BIG difference between Eifs stucco and Lp siding.  Lp generally shows some moisture deterioration on the surface but Eifs doesn’t show deterioration on the surface at all  because of the thin stucco style layer.   Over the years, Superior Exterior Systems has worked on homes that were only 6 years old with considerable rot underneath and almost every home has had some wood rot or mold in portions of the house.  The homeowners were POSITIVE there wouldn’t be problems simply because Eifs homes generally aren’t very old.  Usually under 10 years old.  Remember, this will NEVER be under the whole home but only in the areas water is getting past the top layer of stucco.  The good news is many builders installed Eifs only on the front of the home to give a high end look.  For pics and more information on Eifs feel free to visit   http://superiorexteriorsystems.com/ or simply call (503)285-0875 or (360)687-8936.  Thanks for checking in.

I may be a bit picky here but as I get on siding companies websites and look at their photo galleries, many if not most of them look like the generic pictures manufactures  like Hardi Plank & Certanteed Weatherboards have offered for me to use on my website.  No way could I use generic pictures of siding, roofing, windows, stone or any other products that my carpenters didn’t do the actual work.  Why?  Doesn’t it make more sense for potential customers to see projects the siding company has  truly completed when it’s in their website gallery.  Maybe consumers can’t tell this but I usually can.  Now as I think of this, some of my pics have blue skies which isn’t very common these days here in the northwest.  But my workers have completed the siding on them.  For picture of homes we have fixed log into http://www.superiorexteriorsystems.com/.   A friend says  I’m being too picky so please chime in on if you feel pictures in a siding contractors gallery should be homes their carpenters have actually done?  Thanks again for looking and sorry if I’m splitting hairs.

Superior Exterior Systems has recently created a new video and loaded it on our website. It loads automatically on the home page and has lots of detailed pictures of residential homes that are actually in progress and completed.  This new video show projects with Lp siding, Eifs stucco being removed and is extremely informational.  We would love your opinion, good or bad.  Please visit   http://superiorexteriorsystems.com/ Thanks for watching.

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.