The demand for prefinished siding has grown steadily since its introduction decades ago. However, it has gained momentum specifically within the past few years and is expected to rise even more within the next five—and for good reason. By eliminating the painting phase from the construction process, prefinished siding offers a multitude of advantages for both professionals and homeowners.
We count down the top five benefits of using prefinished siding for your next project:
Prefinished siding offers significant time and labor savings. Because it is delivered to the jobsite ready for installation, the sheer number of man hours dedicated to real-time painting (not to mention the time spent waiting for it to dry in between coats) is erased from the process altogether. A prefinished option also eliminates common onsite application flaws like dripping, splattering, over spraying and streaking. Finally, it can reduce jobsite waste by removing materials associated with painting.
Not all houses are created equal when it comes to ideal exterior painting conditions (AKA one-story homes situated on wide, flat lots). Homes are nestled among heavily treed areas, steep hillsides, crowded neighborhoods and more, which creates challenges to safely, efficiently execute paint jobs. With prefinished siding, there’s no need to account for these headaches—whether it’s the number of trips up and down the scaffold or avoiding over spraying.
Look for a prefinished siding option that boosts workability even more. For example, the new LP® SmartSide® ExpertFinish® Trim & Siding features a proprietary ExpertFinish® Lap that removes the need for most seam caulking, joint molds or pan flashing at butt joints to complete jobs faster.
Because the finishing process takes place in a factory-controlled environment (and not susceptible to finicky weather conditions that can cause irregularities), prefinished siding offers unmatched quality control for color consistency. During the painting process, products are coated at optimal temperatures and humidity levels for even finishes. When painting on the jobsite, you’re exposed to the elements (such as wind, debris and dust) that can make it nearly impossible to achieve a flawless finish.
As a general rule of thumb, it’s optimal to perform exterior paint jobs between 50 and 85 degrees. If temperatures soar too high, paint can dry too quickly and interfere with a smooth, even application. If temperatures dip too low, paint can be too thick to spread evenly or affect proper adhesion—potentially leading to cracking, peeling, bubbling and more. Additionally, high humidity (beyond the ideal range of 40 to 70 percent) can introduce moisture that impacts how paint dries and adheres. With a prefinished option, you’re removing the painting risks associated with potential unexpected weather and delays.
Prefinished options are available in countless combinations of colors, textures and styles to meet unique homeowner preferences. Specifically, LP SmartSide ExpertFinish Trim & Siding features 16 versatile colors, multiple product offerings (lap, panel and trim) and different textures (cedar-grain or smooth). In addition to meeting aesthetic needs, prefinished siding can provide enhanced durability for less maintenance over time. LP SmartSide ExpertFinish Trim & Siding is manufactured with an innovative technology that’s backed by an industry-leading 5/15/50 year limited warranty.
Ready to skip the painting process and let LP do it for you? Give the all-new LP SmartSide ExpertFinish Trim & Siding a try. Click here for more information.
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