“Having had problems in my life with termites, I’m not eager to have that experience again,” Dwayne said. Along with his wife Carrie, Dwayne is having a home built in the Halifax area. “What I want to know is what type of exterior resists insect damage best.”
In New England, there are a number of pests that can damage the structure of your home. These include termites and carpenter ants. Both types of insect literally consume your home, both for food and to have a place to nest and raise their young. Obviously this type of horrifying scenario is not something you want to encourage.
Brick exteriors do a fantastic job of keeping insects away, as do stone and stucco facades. However these exteriors are fairly expensive, and if you’re working within a limited budget, that may not be how you want to spend your money.
Next on this list, in terms of cost, are wooden clapboard siding and vinyl siding. Wooden clapboard siding requires a high degree of maintenance, including ongoing vigilance to ensure that wood eating insects don’t make a meal out of it. Vinyl siding, on the other hand, doesn’t interest termites or carpenter ants. Additionally, when installed properly by an Halifax siding and window contractor, vinyl siding can play a critical role by helping to protect the wooden structure of the home from insects and the elements.
Wooden shingle siding, which is priced comparably to vinyl siding and wooden clapboard siding, presents much the same issues. When the shingles are cedar, as most are, there’s a natural insect repellant property in the wood. This is often enhanced in the factory with additional chemical treatments to keep the bugs at bay.
In addition to insect resistance, vinyl siding has the added advantages of being durable and long lasting for a relatively affordable price. Vinyl siding also resists mold and mildew growth. This is why many Halifax homes have vinyl siding installed.