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EMA Gets 100% Recommendation Rate From James Hardie

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EMA Construction is the only Elite Preferred James Hardie contractor in Ohio to receive a 100% recommendation rate.  James Hardie provides a list of all their Ohio contractors.  In Ohio, there are eight Elite Preferred contractors.  Elite Preferred is defined by James Hardie’s website as a contractor who, “In addition to consistently demonstrating the highest standards in quality and customer satisfaction, Elite Preferred contractors specialize in the installation of a wide range of James Hardie product profiles and design.”

EMA Construction’s profile on James Hardie’s website displays 48 surveys that demonstrate the 100% recommendation rate.  EMA has earned a 100% for “Likely to Recommend,” 100% for “Communication,” 98% for “Professional & Organized,” and 98% for “Clean & Safe.”  Here are some of the comments that were shared,

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What Is the Best Season to Replace Siding?

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Is it too late in 2021 to start your new siding project?  Many homeowners carefully plan their big decisions like replacing their home’s siding.  If you live in a state with four seasons, you may think you’ve missed your opportunity to replace your siding this year.  But this begs the question, which season is the best for working on your house’s exterior?

Hot summer weather might seem like the ideal time, but extremely warm temperatures can have negative effects on the installation of vinyl siding.  Then again, there are other reasons not to install vinyl regardless of the season.  See our article 6 Compelling Reasons NOT To Use Vinyl Siding.  If you’re looking at cedar siding or James Hardie siding, then summer can be a great time to schedule an installation.  The only downside for summer installation with other siding materials is that contractors tend to get a lot of calls in the summer and can be very busy.  It might be hard to find someone to do the work in the summer or it may cost more because of the increased demand. [Read more…]

Is James Hardie Siding Good for All Seasons?

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Cincinnati is one of many U.S. cities that has four distinct seasons.  Summer temperatures can routinely be in the 90s with lots of humidity, while winter can get into single digits and even below zero with the wind chill.  When you’re building or renovating your home in a city with four seasons you need to be sure that your building materials can handle the extreme low and high ends of the temperature spectrum.

Can James Hardie Siding Handle the Summer Heat?

The short answer is yes.  Some people are concerned that siding will melt, warp, or otherwise suffer damage when in direct sunlight and high temperatures.  James Hardie is not affected by even extreme heat. Fiber-cement will hold up even in the case of a fire.  Whereas wood siding will burn and vinyl siding will melt.  In fact, some fire insurance companies offer a discount to customers with James Hardie siding.

Other summer weather like tornadoes, thunderstorms, and hail also concern homeowners.  But James Hardie is one of the most durable siding options and offers advantages over vinyl siding in each of these scenarios. [Read more…]

Cedar Siding Before and After in Lebanon, Ohio

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EMA Construction recently completed a job for Citygate Church in Lebanon, Ohio.  This church building is primarily painted brick and it had some stone in the door entryway and over the front entrance.  We replaced the stone with new cedar siding and the results speak for themselves.

Here you can see the before and after of the main entrance, in which stone was replaced with a beautiful cedar design.

Before

After

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How NOT to install James Hardie Siding

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Anyone who is researching siding for their home knows that James Hardie can make a beautiful addition to your home and has great return-on-investment.  However, that is only true if it is properly installed.  Not only will it ruin your investment, but James Hardie warranties are also only valid when it is installation follows James Hardie specifications.  Sometimes a lower bid for installation isn’t as good of a deal as it appears.  In this article, we’ll show you some signs of a poor installation job and how you can avoid them.

The siding was not caulked where it meets the trim.

Picture of James Hardie Siding that was incorrectly installed. This image shoes where the siding is not caulked near the trim. [Read more…]

Cedar Siding vs Vinyl Siding

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Many of the pros and cons for cedar and vinyl siding are documented in other entries in this blog.  In this case, we’re going to walk through the pros and cons of cedar siding vs vinyl siding.  We’ll compare sustainability, appearance, cost, home value/return on investment, and the x factors.

Sustainability

Cedar siding is often heralded as one of the most environmentally-friendly siding materials whereas vinyl siding is not regarded as environmentally friendly in its production or application.

Appearance

Anytime appearance is compared there is a great deal of subjectivity.  There is little dispute that cedar siding has an attractive look on almost any home.  Vinyl siding is one of the cheapest materials for siding and even when it applied well it still gives the impression of being an economic choice.  While premium vinyl siding can mimic other materials, there is generally no hiding that it is vinyl.  There is no accounting for personal taste, but for a consistently better appearance [Read more…]

6 Compelling Reasons NOT To Use Vinyl Siding

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Vinyl siding remains a popular choice for many homeowners and home builders.  The main appeal seems to be its low price, but in this article, we’ll give you six good reasons not to use vinyl siding.

1) Vinyl Fades

Vinyl is among the thinnest siding materials. Because of this, its color fades faster than other siding material. Some sources suggest in as little as five years it can fade significantly from its original color.

2) Vinyl Warps

Whether it is direct exposure to sunlight, a reflection, or a fire, vinyl has a greater capacity to warp and melt when compared to other siding materials. [Read more…]

5 Mistakes to Avoid When Painting Cedar Siding

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Cedar siding is one of the most beautiful treatments available for the exterior of your home, which is why it is important to avoid common mistakes that could ruin your investment and your home’s appearance. EMA does not recommend painting cedar siding under normal conditions, but if you choose to paint it here are five mistakes to avoid:

1. Don’t Wait Too Long

The ideal time to paint your cedar siding is within two weeks of installation.  Waiting more than 12 weeks could create problems with adhesion.  Research has shown that after just 12 weeks of exposure to sunlight, cedar siding loses as much as half of its ability to hold a coating of primer or paint.[1]

2. Don’t Try to Do it with One Coat

Painting in two distinct phases (prime then paint) is the only proven way to get a lasting quality paint job.  Most testing on the effectiveness of painting cedar has been conducted on the two-stage painting process and has shown it to be the best method. 

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6 Frequently Asked Questions about Fiber Cement Siding

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1. What is fiber cement siding?

Fiber cement siding is popular on homes because it is sturdy, long-lasting, and requires little maintenance from the owner. It is made of cement, sand, and wood pulp.  It is designed to be fireproof, insect proof, and weatherproof.  It is usually given wood grain patterns so it gives a natural look. It comes in a variety of colors  semi-rigid material that is durable enough to provide protection while retaining natural flexibility. 

2. Is fiber cement siding expensive?

This is a complicated question since it depends what you compare it to. Fiber cement is more expensive than vinyl siding but requires less maintenance and lasts longer. If you were to compare the two for the cost over a lifetime the cost of investment becomes a lot closer. Fiber cement siding is generally less expensive than cedar siding and with less maintenance. [Read more…]

Cedar Siding: Paint, Stain, or leave it alone?

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Whether you’re installing new cedar siding or buying a house with existing cedar siding, you may be asking yourself, “should I paint or stain my cedar siding?”  EMA does not recommend painting cedar siding in most circumstances. To help you understand why, we’ll explore each option.

 

Painting Cedar Siding

A fresh coat of paint can work wonders for your home.  You can drastically change the appearance of your house with a few layers of paint, which can bring your house back to life or  get it ready to sell.  Many people choose to paint cedar siding when they inherit siding that has already been painted, because it is difficult to restore a non-painted look.  If you decide to paint or repaint your cedar siding, we recommend that it be handled by professionals to ensure that best practices are followed. [Read more…]