by Gwen O’Neill
Have you ever thought about how great it would be if you never had to paint your home’s exterior again? If you rely on painting contractors to do that job for you, you already know how much money you spend every few years. Especially in coastal climates, paint jobs don’t hold up very well unless you pay for more expensive protective paints.

Even when naturally weather-resistant woods such as redwood or cedar are used, the siding on a home gets a lot of wear and tear from wind, rain and the frequent marine layer on the coast. Ants and termites are a constant problem in our area, so wood siding requires periodic treatment. Wood siding is fairly biodegradable but often the paints and stains used on the wood are not.

Fortunately, there are many choices for siding in the marketplace today. The Siding Company located in Half Moon Bay has a wide range of low-maintenance choices.

For example, the James Hardie product line uses an exclusive fiber-cement-specific paint formulation with baked-on color that provides consistent coverage. This product line has a 50-year warranty for the siding and a 15-year warranty for the paint finish. This is one of the preferred products used by The Siding Company.

Owner Bryan Bodas said, “We can often apply the new siding over existing wood siding. It really can be a huge savings over time when you consider the low maintenance and long life of these great new products.”

While siding is an important element when considering the beauty of a home, it can also directly impact the property value. Bill Cook from ReMax Dolphin Real Estate said, “These new products require little or no maintenance and the property owner will know the siding will last a lifetime. In general, a home with this kind of siding may expect to get as much as 10 percent more value for the home.”

Ara Croce, also from ReMax Dolphin Real Estate, believes the new siding will only sometimes increase the value of the home, but she is equally enthusiastic about it. “The cement siding is great for Coastside homes!” she said. The primary advantage she saw is “a savings of money for the home owner, as once this type of siding is installed there is less maintenance and repair necessary.”

The Siding Company is located in Half Moon Bay and they can be reached at 650-726-6100.