Building Materials Anti Theft Camera – Used at Construction Sites

Are Stolen Materials Being Installed On Your Home?

By Greg Kapitan:
For some time since 1999 have been telling Houston area homeowners to be on the look out should they receive a very low bid on siding or roofing jobs. Why? Because, I realized that in in some cases siding and/or roofing contractors in the Houston Texas market who, in order to save on the cost of building materials, were using recycled and/or stolen building materials such as siding planks, roofing shingles and tar paper.

The Houston Chronicle reports about construction theft with their story that is very informative for both business and homeowners alike. As reported online and in the press, the local Houston Police Department are actually making arrests of several of those involved.  Homeless people were hired and paid with cash or drugs to hijack materials from job sites and later companies would  “fence the stolen material“, from Wikipedia – A fence knowingly buys stolen property for resale, these are the middleman, working between thieves and the eventual buyers of the stolen building materials, who are aware that the building materials are indeed stolen. With these stolen (hijacked) materials, it is likely that the warranty will not be honored by the manufacturer. Theft of building materials such as siding or roofing products is something that has been going on for some time.

This idea of hijacking product is nothing new to the construction world, as roofing and siding contractors and sub-contractors are familiar with or may have been involved in construction theft for many years. The violators had just been getting away with it for a long time, it was overdue and about time they got caught red-handed and stopped in their tracks!

Who is Stealing the Building Materials?

A good portion of this problem stems from subcontractors (crews that many of the larger, well-known companies around town, hire to perform the labor portion of the siding and or roofing jobs) who may be working for a company on a siding or roofing project, then having building materials left over at the end of the project, they take the unused product from the job. The crew was then sliding the product into their trailer or truck and driving off with it. These are new siding planks, trim, roles of tar paper, roofing shingles, boxes of pneumatic nails and accessories that are still in their packages and have never been used that were delivered and intended for use on the project.

Roofing materials just sitting on a jobsite just waiting for someone to take them after the crews take ther tools home

What Are The Crews Doing With This Material?

After hijacking the product, the crews would then either sell the unused materials back to the reseller yard (fence) or low bid their own side jobs and use these left over materials. There are several smaller reseller (fencing) yards around Houston who were willing to buy the unused siding or roofing materials from the crews as a discounted price. This arrangement would allow the crew to simply pull up to the the reseller yard, slide the siding planks or unload the roofing shingles from back of their trailers right into the helping hands of the reseller lumber yards then getting paid cash for the building materials.

As you can imagine, this is a win-win for both the crew, who brings this material in and gets paid, as well as the lumber yard, who gets product not only delivered directly to their door but pays a discounted price for materials that were charged to a siding or roofing company job completed by the crew.

What Are The Reseller Yards (fencing) Paying The Crews?

When the subcontractor crews delivered in the unused material to the resellers (fencing) yard, then the reseller yard would count up the quantity of the product (whether it is siding planks or roofing shingles). For example, let’s say that a crew brought in siding planks like James Hardie Siding and or the LP SmartSide Siding, these usually retail for approximately $10 a plank. The reseller yard gives the crew (that acquired them for free) $5 for each plank, then the yard resells it back to the public who purchases the material at a discounted price of $7.50 each. The same deal with roofing shingles such as the GAF Timberline Shingles, a crew might, for example, bring in 10 bundles of unused shingles that retail for $30 per bundle, the reseller yard would then pay the crew $15 per bundle at $10 per bundle for a total of $150, which I would call, “free money” to the crew and darn right underhanded!

The reseller yard, once again, turns around and sells this unused material to the public for $22.50 per bundle, a discounted price instead of the regular retail price of $30 per bundle that is typically charged. Again, another win-win for both as far as money savings goes for the crew and yard. However; this is an illegal fence practice of construction theft that both the crew and reseller yards are participating in and are literally banking on.

A brief overview:
> Siding Company pays $10 per siding plank (from a retail supplier lumber yard) and hires a crew to install the material
> The dishonest crew takes the extra siding from job they worked on without permission, at no cost to them
> The crew gets paid from a reseller yard at $5 per plank
> The reseller yard re-sells the stolen siding planks at a discounted price to the public for $7.50 ea.

Note: 90% of these transactions are completed as a cash transactions

HPD Police Car

What is the Condition of the Re-sold Material and is There any Warranty?

Is short, most of the resold material is in fair to good condition however; the material may not be in as good of condition as it were just delivered by a legitimate supplier like ABC Supply and or West End Roofing Supply. When building materials such as siding and roofing have been resold, shifted around and compromised, there is NO Warranty and it Void on these compromised products. This is another aspect that most Houston area homeowners are not aware of. Let me explain why, when the siding or roofing material is delivered directly from retail lumber yards it is in great condition, banded together and has not been shuffled around as well as verifiable tickets and/or receipts for the product purchased from the original supplier, this is not secondhand product.

When being moved around, the integrity of the products can be compromised.  Like Hardie siding can end up with chipped ends and roofing shingles can be easily torn thus compromising the quality of the products. This happens when the crews load the extra material in and out of their trailers and it is often shuffled around with the trash. The moving around and hauling can cause the chipped ends and slightly torn roofing shingles that are then resold, possibly damaged, to the public at a discounted price.

How it Can Play Out on Your Job..

Now I will provide you with a scenario of how this can play out on siding or roofing jobs in the state of Texas. When the crew shows up on job like a siding job, the materials are all bundled together by the retail lumber yard who attaches a packing or delivery ticket. The siding company had the supplier deliver 10 squares of siding to the home for installation. The crew then meets with the supervisor of the siding company and goes over the job. Once the supervisor has left the job, the crew gets to work. The crew starts installing the siding material on the home and in the midst of the project, may slip a few planks onto their trailer upside down placing the trash on top to disguise it as trash, or they may, at the end of the job remove the leftover material without the knowledge of the siding contractor, placing it on top of the trash and covering it with a tarp as if it were trash.

Untrusting crew guy taking money

How Crews are Getting Paid, Part of the Problem!

You see, many siding companies pay their siding crews based the amount of siding installed on a job rather than paying them on the total amount ordered. So, if a crew gets paid $225 per square and 10 squares were delivered they get paid $225 for 10 squares totaling $2,250. However; most siding companies want to cut as much cost as possible to maximize profit, so they pay the crews based on the actual amount installed vs the amount dropped and then ask the crew leave any extra material for pickup by the supplier to receive a credit.

If there are 2 squares of siding material left over out of the 10 that was delivered, the siding company will only pay the crew for 8 squares of siding which would save the company 2 squares at $225 totaling a $450 in addition to the credit they will get from the lumber yard on the returned product.

When companies choose to pay their crews based on how much they install, the crew may choose to claim that all of the siding delivered was installed in order to get paid better. I have found that this method leaves room for dishonesty on the part of the crew. I have heard of them slipping a few planks into their trailed before they start the job, which can provide the crew with the opportunity to claim that the job needed more siding to complete when they run out of siding before the end of the job (totally even more squares). The crew simply tells the siding company they need more material (within believable reason) thus the crew ends up making more money on the job and as well as having extra material they can sell at a discount to the re-seller yard, so I have found this not to be good practice.

I have found a better method is to pay the crews based on the total amount of material dropped not just by the total amount of material installed. The crews are less wasteful and more honest going this route.

Education of Homeowners is the Key About a Low Bid (estimate)

Having been in the home improvement business for nearly 30 years and being aware of this happening over and over again, it is my intention to educate homeowners into having some insight on why their bid may be so low from some contractors vs others and can be a red flag.  If this is the case, it very well could be because the material was acquired at a lower price from a reseller yard provided by a crew that hijacked it from someone else’s home project.

How To Know New Materials Are Being Used on Your Home?

What can a homeowner do to ensure that ONLY NEW, Fully-Warrantied Material will be installed on their home? I am surprised at the number of Home Exterior Companies in TX are using used or leftover material from jobs, recycling and reusing them on homeowner’s homes in order to save money.  be sure to select a company who uses supplies from reputable suppliers who will deliver your siding or roofing product directly to your home like we at Texas Home Exteriors does and we’ll install ONLY NEW, full warrantied materials on your home.

The materials for your project will be delivered straight to your door directly from ABC Supply or West End Roofing. We only use reputable suppliers who are some of the Largest and deliver new products such as: Simonton, replacement windows, NT Window, GAF Roofing, LP SmartSide, HardiePlank and KayCan Vinyl Siding Product Suppliers in Texas and America!

ABC Supply Delivering New Siding and Roofing Material

I hope that you have found this post must helpful in making an informed and educated decision. Please follow my, Kapitan The Siding Man Blog which is full of great content to help provide you with information and insight into many home improvement decisions.

Greg Kapitan, “Kapitan The Siding Man”

Free Estimate with New Material

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Home Building, Remodeling and Design Professionals in the United States and Around the World

Texas Home Exteriors Best of Houzz 2015

HOUSTON TEXAS, USA, January 19, 2015 – TEXAS HOME EXTERIORS INC of HOUSTON TEXAS has been awarded “Best Of Houzz” for Customer Satisfaction by Houzz, the leading platform for home remodeling and design. The “Siding, Roofing and Window Contractor” was chosen by the more than 25 million monthly unique users that com- prise the Houzz community from among more than 500,000 active home building, remodeling and design industry professionals.

The Best Of Houzz Award is given in two categories:

Design and Customer Satisfaction. Design award winners’ work was the most popular among the more than 25 million monthly users on Houzz, known as “Houzzers.” Customer Satisfaction honors are determined by a variety of factors, including the number and quality of client reviews a professional received in 2014. Winners will receive a “Best Of Houzz 2015” badge on their profiles, helping Houzz users around the world who discover and love a professional’s work to learn even more about that business’ popularity and satisfaction rating among their peers in the Houzz community.

Texas Home Exteriors is honored to receive this award and recognition from our customers and the Houzz community for two years running.

“Houzz provides homeowners with a 360 degree view of home building, remodeling and design industry professionals, empowering them to engage the right people and products for their project,” said Liza Hausman, vice president of industry marketing for Houzz. “We’re delighted to recognize TEXAS HOME EXTERIORS INC. among our “Best Of” professionals as judged by our community of homeowners and design enthu- siasts who are actively remodeling and decorating their homes.”

Follow TEXAS HOME EXTERIORS INC. on Houzz http://www.houzz.com/pro/greg-kapitan/texas-home-exteriors

About Texas Home Exteriors Inc.

​Texas Home Exteriors and our owner Greg Kapitan “Kapitan The Siding Man” comes to you with over 30 years combined experience in the construction trade. Our expertise in the areas of Home Improvement and Energy-Efficiency has been demonstrated on numerous completed jobs and happy customers over the years throughout the greater Houston, Spring, The Woodlands, Livingston metro areas of Texas. Texas Home Exteriors specializes in HardiPlank Siding, LP SmartSide Siding, Vinyl Replacement Windows, Pergolas, Patio Covers and Roofing Options including Metal Roofs. Our products and services are the most Energy Efficient and innovative in the business. Our sales reps are experienced and have integrity, our crews are experienced professionals who have all been hand-picked by Greg Kapitan himself, to ensure superior workmanship and customer satisfaction. We will give FREE Estimates and offer Texas EZ Pay 100% Financing at 1% monthly payments.

About Houzz

Houzz is the leading platform for home remodeling and design, providing people with everything they need to improve their homes from start to finish – online or from a mobile device. From decorating a room to building a custom home, Houzz connects millions of homeowners, home design enthusiasts and home improvement professionals across the country and around the world. With the largest residential design database in the world and a vibrant community powered by social tools, Houzz is the easiest way for people to find inspiration, get advice, buy products and hire the professionals they need to help turn their ideas into reality. Headquartered in Palo Alto, CA, Houzz also has international offices in London, Berlin and Sydney. For more information, visit www.houzz.com

If you would like this kind of service, please fill out the form below for a free estimate  from Texas Home Exteriors

“From Inside the Office I Can Hear Cheers”

Justin Kapitan (top) with his new bride Jessica AND Jonathan Kapitan (below) with wife Britt & new born son Grayden

Tuesday, February 17th, after a long Valentine’s Day weekend spent with my love Shelly (wife), friends and family, we were both were recovering from a very busy Monday (Feb 16).

Here is why – my oldest son Jonathan Kapitan and his wife Britt were having a baby boy (about a week early) while my youngest son Justin Kapitan was getting married to his long time love Jessica.

Needless to say it was a Monday to remember. I thought it would be fun to some personal photos as I want to share this joy of this experience with the entire world.

While reflecting on the goings-ons of Monday,  I could hear my wife Shelly from the other office cheering with some of our friends as they are reading an email that they just received from Angie’s List that read,”Texas Home Exteriors, You are now in Accepted status for the Super Service Award.” I know that this was due to the fact that that we have great reviews on their site.

Wow! This for all of us at Houston’s own Texas Home Exteriors was like icing on the cake! We do want homeowners to be more than happy when we are finished working on their home for Siding, Replacement Windows and Roofing Services for their Houston Texas area home. Below is from the Angie’s List press release that needless to say, we are very proud of.

Here is what the Press Release from Angie’s List says:

Texas Home Exteriors, Inc. Earns Esteemed 2014 Angie’s List Super Service Award reflects company’s consistently high level of customer service Texas Home Exteriors has earned the service industry’s coveted Angie’s List Super Service Award, reflecting an exemplary year of service provided to members of the local services marketplace and consumer reviews site in 2014.

Angie’s List Super Service Award 2014 winners have met strict eligibility requirements, which include an “A” rating in overall grade, recent grade, and review period grade; the company must be in good standing with Angie’s List, pass a background check and abide by Angie’s List operational guidelines. Service company ratings are updated daily on Angie’s List. Companies are graded on an A through F scale in areas ranging from price to professionalism to punctuality.

Angie’s List helps facilitate happy transactions between nearly 3 million consumers nationwide and its collection of highly-rated service providers in 720 categories of service, ranging from home improvement to health care. Built on a foundation of authentic reviews of local service, Angie’s List connects consumers directly to its online marketplace of services from member-reviewed providers, and offers unique tools and support designed to improve the local service experience for both consumers and service professionals.

Texas Home Exteriors and our owner Greg Kapitan “Kapitan The Siding Man comes to you with over 30 years combined experience in the construction trade. Our expertise in the areas of Home Improvement and Energy-Efficiency has been demonstrated on numerous completed jobs and happy customers over the years throughout the greater Houston, Spring, The Woodlands, Livingston metro areas of Texas. Texas Home Exteriors specializes in HardiPlank Siding, LP SmartSide Siding, Vinyl Replacement Windows, Pergolas, Patio Covers and Roofing Options including Metal Roofs. Our products and services are the most Energy Efficient and innovative in the home exterior business.

FREE Estimate & Superior Service from Texas Home Exteriors

If you would like this kind of home improvement service for Siding Windows or Roofing for your Houston TX metro area home contact Texas Home Exteriors in the form below and we will get right back to you ASAP! You can call us at: 281.919.699 or email me at: Greg@TexasHomeExteriors.com

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James Hardie fiber cement Siding is resistant to fires from a side wall entrance perspective.

Best Siding For Fire Resistance

James Hardie Siding (HardiePlank siding) made from fiber cement is a great option for the Houston Texas metro area for a fire resistance siding to use on the outside of your home. Concrete Center shows that Fiber cement is fire resistant due to the fact that it is a siding product that is concrete based and has incredible resistance to igniting. The fiber cement siding manufactured by James Hardie is recommended across the country for any are prone to fire and homeowners that want extreme fire resistance to the side walls of their home.

Berkeley College Siding Study

The University of California Berkeley College Berkeley Fire Center has done an incredible study on fires and the resistance of a siding product to fire delay or stop fire completely from entering a siding wall of any structure. As we, Texas Home Exteriors, are out in the field bidding siding jobs for TX homeowners, we are often asked the question: “what siding option do you recommend as the best fire resistant siding?”

I find myself instantly answering with the same response for some time now that is, “James Hardie, HardiePlank Siding” is the best for Fire Resistance.   Fiber cement siding, like Hardie, has great resistance to fire due to the cement like properties of the siding products.

Southeast Texas Metro Area

As many Houstonians know, here it southeast Texas it can get stifling hot in the summer months and can even linger around for what seems like months with no end. We also experience times of drought to the point that our Texas lakes water levels drop due to what the US Geological Survey calls water cycle evaporation. This affects the local usage for drinking and irrigation. Sometimes this can present a problem for many homes close to any wooded area of Texas lakes because they are often built entirely of siding, containing very little brick putting the homes at higher risk of fire damage.  The siding on what I call “Texas lake homes” often consist of wood and many of these were built on a budget as second homes away from the city.

Texas A & M and the City of Houston

The City Of Houston Texas Fire Department HFD as well as all others across our country supports and recommends the use of fiber cement siding to hinder fire invasion into a home’s exterior. Texas A & M Forest Service is a statewide leadership and professional assistance for the state’s forest, tree, and related natural resources trees and flammability issue. The Texas Interagency Coordination Center live fire activity feed is there so that anyone that have an internet connection can see where active fires are in Texas.

Loblolly Pine Trees are common in East Texas which presents the possibility of rapidly moving fire dangers and the height of these trees make it nearly impossible to extinguish the flames.  Here is the Link to review the fire rating of James Hardie wall assemblies.   No building material guarantees a fireproof home, but there are some preventative measures Texas homeowners can take to better prepare for the possibility of fires, like installing a non-combustible home exterior siding product like James Hardie Siding (Hardie Plank) that are more resistant to fire.

Trees and Flammability Issues

Here in southeast Texas we have the tall and beautiful  what Wikipedia calls LobLolly Pinus Taeda trees that grow up to 93-110 feet or more in height. Fire danger is a great threat to Texas homeowners in our area thus some insurance companies will allow further discounts for homes with fire resistant siding like HardiPlank siding installed in place of existing wood siding. Check with your local Texas insurance company and explain to them that you plan to replace your wood siding and inform them of which Hardie fire resistant siding you intend on installing. I have heard in the past how local TX homeowners have received reductions on their insurance as a direct result of installing fiber cement siding from James Hardie in Houston.

Hardie Siding Will Not Burn

You can clearly see in the image above, the fire resistance of fiber cement siding by James Hardie Siding (HardiePlank, Hardy Board). Hardie Siding provides a resistant barrier on the exterior of your home from a side wall entrance perspective.

HardiePlank siding will not burn or catch fire, as you can be seen in the photo, a lit torch aimed at the fiber cement siding manufactured by James Hardie Products.

The Hardie Siding will NOT easily burn and clearly protects the flammable wood studs behind your Houston TX home. This provides a great peace of mind for any homeowner in the Houston southeast metro area of Texas or anywhere in the country that may be at risk of experiencing a wildfire.

James Hardie warranties their siding for a full 30 years. This provides many years of increased fire safety for any homeowner whose home is close to surrounding large trees and would like this extra protection for their home and loved ones.

I hope that you have found this post informative and will pass it along or share it with those you believe may benefit from this fire resistant siding information. If you have a home or are building a home and are not considering brick, consider fiber cement fire resistant Hardie Siding and if you are in the Houston metro area, call me personally at Texas Home Exteriors 281-919-6999. Be sure to follow the Kapitan The Siding Man blog to see future posts about home exteriors and more.

Greg Kapitan
“Kapitan The Siding Man”

Free Hardie Siding Estimate

Greg Kapitan (the siding man) of Texas Home Exteriors

With my many years of construction background and building homes, I, along with many other home builders and remodelers, know the value of building a strong home. Here in the southeast Houston Texas metro area we have a good amount of strong winds and with Houston being so close to the coast, we are even more vulnerable to hurricanes.

Wind Racking Force on Homes

There are two forces a homeowner or anyone living in wind-prone areas of the USA should be aware and informed about. The first being “uplift force” and the other is “racking force” created from shear wind blowing directly at the home or structure.

The US Department of Agriculture

The Forest Products Laboratory (FPL) is the national research laboratory of the United States Forest Service.  The FPL is part of USDA) US Department of Agriculture) and they conduct extensive testing and research on timber and building studies. They have published a study where plywood (or osb) was added to the outside walls of the studs of a structure. The FPL (Forest Products Laboratory) study noted that they documented at least a 300% gain in stiffness and success in stopping any racking force from excessive wind force.

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is a science-based federal agency within the Department of Commerce with regulatory, operational, and information service responsibilities and having a presence in every state of the country and territories. The NOAA has also conducted a study on ground level based shear wind or wind shear and noted the forces and pressure.  When the NOAA was asked, “what is wind shear”?, they answered, “a change in horizontal wind speed and/or direction with height. Also known as a microburst, wind shears are a short-lived, ground-based, small-scale event and associated with thunderstorms”. Yep, that would be one aspect of weather experienced here in Texas!

Racking Force due to Wind Shear

The reason we are discussing Racking Force to a home due to Shear Wind in this siding post is because it is an important concern many homeowners should be aware of and considering when evaluating their home for high winds.

Right around the year 1999 here in Houston Texas many homeowners were being pitched and marketed to move away from vinyl siding and installing, in its place, fiber cement siding.  The installation of this fiber cement (like HardiePlank) siding product often meant removing the old wood siding, stripping off the OSB or  plywood sheathing down to the studs and installing the new fiber cement product. In the photo below, you can clearly see how builders across the country will often build diagonal, “let-in”, bracing (per the green arrows in the photo) into a home to help combat the racking force caused by shear wind.

Single Wall Construction – Non Wind Areas

Single wall construction is the method of installing the siding directly to the studs without any sheathing like OSB or plywood being attached first. Single wall construction with fiber cement siding is perfectly fine for non-wind/non-coastal areas of the country (as can be seen displayed in the photo below). However; for high wind areas, more than diagonal “let-in” bracing is needed as per Texas Department of Insurance TDI TDI Wind department hence, double wall construction with OSB or plywood sheathing is required to be installed before siding for added strength.

Let In bracing “diagonal bracing” a home helps combat the racking force caused by shear winds in Houston TX

Double Wall Construction – Wind Prone Areas

The best practice of using the diagonal bracing will help stop any home from racking (tilting) when strong winds are blowing against the home. Builders will often install OSB or plywood over the outside of the walls by nailing them to the exposed studs as can be seen on the left side of the diagram below (labeled “Wind Areas/ Houston Double Wall Construction”). Once the OSB or plywood is installed, the builders will then install the siding over this plywood layer. By having this base layer, consisting of some type of OSB plywood, a product like  LP Oriented Strand Board (OSB) or sheathing, attached to the the studs of any outside wall, will give the home increased strength and shear wind resistance to combat racking force. This method is called “double wall construction“.

Fiber Cement Hardie is Not Alone for Single Wall Construction

Coming from my many years of experience from using and my knowledge of fiber cement, I have found the product to have very little material structural strength and it can break quite easily. The product offers little structural support (if any) to the outside of a home and it can, in fact, be a liability. Don’t believe me, but try taking a hammer and moderately hitting the Fiber Cement siding to demonstrate for yourself how easily it breaks and crumbles to the ground. I was in shock back in 1999, in Houston Texas ,as I observed (even participated in) siding contractors removing lap wood siding and T-111 vertical siding, later realizing this ultimately affected the structural value which had been an asset to the home. This product was then replaced with the installation of fiber cement without installing any OSB or plywood under it offering nearly no structural value to the home and taking away the stability it was providing.

Movement of the home can cause cracking of the fiber cement siding.

The image on the right is of a home I had received a call on which was a “call back” from a homeowner on an installation by another siding contractor. The contractor had removed the old wood siding and had not install any OSB or plywood under the newly installed Fiber Cement.

As you can see, the result was that the home moved causing cracking of the fiber cement product and allowing water intrusion along with other problems for the homeowner.

This Houston TX homeowner will continue to have movement problems until all of the fiber cement siding has been removed and some sort of structural grade of sheathing is installed like OSB or plywood to help prevent the movement.

Keep in mind that this homeowner paid over 14k for a siding job that was done incorrectly and the contractor did not do them any favors. In Texas, homeowners often experience movement in their homes, this is yet another reason to install OSB or plywood sheathing prior to the fiber cement siding. Using this method of installing double wall construction will add more stability to Houston TX homes.

The best way to build strength into the exterior of the walls is with double wall construction.

How to Install for Double Wall Construction

The diagram on the right displays how to correctly install the layers (sheathing like OSB or plywood – double wall construction) prior to installing the fiber cement siding. This process of installation will help increase any home’s structural value for both shear force, racking force wind and any settling movement by providing increased strength to the exterior walls of the home.

Keep in mind the importance of this layer and understand id is a much better re-siding approach for homeowners especially when removing old structural grade siding and installing fiber cement siding in its place to provide stability.

LP SmartSide Siding Best for Single Wall Construction

Double wall construction is the best way to build strength onto any outside wall for homes in coastal areas that are being sided with fiber cement siding products. Another options is LP SmartSide which is wood based and is a product that provides lot of, what wood works calls, structural value, something the fiber cement siding product does not provide.

One might want to keep in mind, that by not choosing to side your home with single wall construction, a propelled airborne object could quite easily penetrate right through the fiber cement siding, the insulation and sheet-rock, entering your home living space.

When building a home (or if you are re-siding your home and it has no OSB or plywood under the siding and was constructed using single wall construction), I recommend using the LP SmartSide Siding due to its proven brute strength. When you  make this choice, you will rest assured that the SmartSide siding product is a great asset adding integrity to your home’s exterior walls helping to keep those that you love safer inside your home. Additionally, with the SmartSide siding product, it is NOT necessary to install OSB or plywood sheathing under the the LP SmartSide product, it is NOT needed! Racking force from shear wind becomes much less of an issue due to the increased strength of the exterior walls with the LP SmartSide Siding which actually takes the place of OSB (or plywood) providing great structural value and it looks great too.

The must-see video below explains clearly what this means for your home. Fiber cement siding, is a great siding option. And please insist, if you are having the fiber cement product installed, that your siding contractor install double wall construction with OSB or plywood first for the what Wikipedia calls structural integrity of the building.

The moral of the story is:
Fiber Cement Siding Installed on Single Wall Construction = a Liability.
LP SmartSide Siding Installed on Single Wall Construction = an Asset.

~Greg Kapitan (Kapitan the Siding Man)

Featured Video: Demonstration of LP SmartSide vs Fiber Cement Durability

Free Estimate Hardie or SmartSide

Texas Home Exclusive Windows Built by Simonton Windows Winner of JD Power Award four times

A Texas Replacement Window First

Texas has its first window named after the great state of Texas, private labeled by Amcraft and and manufactured by Simonton Windows JD Power Award winner four years straight. This is a first for Texas and we here at Texas Home Exteriors located in Houston TX are excited to offer the first window named for our great state.

Two energy efficient vinyl replacement versions are offered to the greater Houston, The Woodlands – Spring TX metro area. The Texas Home Exclusive and the Texas Home Exclusive Plus.

Both energy efficient replacement windows come with a lifetime warranty covering the entire window and includes the following coverage from the manufacturer:

• Lifetime Vinyl
• Lifetime Window Seal Failure
• Lifetime Window Hardware
• Lifetime Glass Breakage

Just think how great it is for homeowners to have beautiful energy efficient vinyl windows that are named for our wonderful state of Texas. Make your selection with confidence knowing our windows are manufactured by a JD Power award winning manufacturer such as Simonton Windows. This is a nice insurance bonus for Texas homeowners. With our Energy Star rated windows, TX homeowners will realize the benefit of energy savings on their utility bills month after month, year after year.

          Texas Home Exclusive Window        Texas Home Exclusive Plus Window
              2 panes glass, low-E, 3/4″ IGU             3 panes glass, safety glass, low-E, 1″ IGU

Texas Home Exclusive Windows with low-E, Argon Gas filled Double and Triple Pane Windows

How do Energy Efficient Vinyl Replacement Windows Work?

Here at Texas Home Exteriors we are often asked questions about windows such as, “how do energy efficient windows work?” and “how much savings will I realize on my utility bills?” Several components of the window work separately for each of the following scenarios but together as a whole to make your Houston TX home more energy efficient.

Low-E Reflective Glass for Energy Efficient Windows

Low-E Glass – “Reflective”

When it comes to the sun hitting your window,  our windows include Low-E coating which reflects the suns UV rays back out, stopping the UV heat from entering your home. In most cases, it will block out 80-90% without making your windows too dark. After our vinyl energy efficient replacement windows are installed, you will notice that you can now get closer to your window with the summer sun blazing in and feel 80-90% less of the sun’s UV heat getting through and warming your skin. This will translate into summer utility bill savings due to the the sun’s hot rays not being allowed to enter your home so no need for the A/C to work as hard.

Argon Gas – “Invisible Insulation”

The climate controlled environment in your home that we call heat or air conditioning is constantly trying to escape. Your single pane windows have the lowest what is known in the building industry R-Value/U-Factor = “resistance” for temperature to travel through any material from one side to another.  Argon Gas is heavier than air and is placed and sealed in-between the two window panes of glass making it more difficult for any temperature to travel from one side to another and increasing the window energy efficiency. Other Words what I call invisible insulation that will increase the R-Value/U-Factor of your windows.

What is the Difference Between U-Factor and R-Value?

U-factor is used to measure the insulation value of windows, R-value is used for insulation in most other parts of the building (walls, floors, roofs). True that they are related, different test criteria are used in calculating the two values so they cannot be directly converted. Take R-value and U-factor, divide 1 by the U-factor number, E.g.: a 0.25 U-factor will equal a 1/0.25 = 4 R-Value.

Energy Star Rated Windows

What makes these windows great is not only do they carry our beautiful state’s name TEXAS but they are manufactured by Simonton and at an affordable price compared to competitors windows such as Anderson and Pella windows.

Free Replacement Window Estimate

Texas Home Exteriors Houston TX receives Best of Houzz 2014 Customer Satisfaction Award

Feb 4 2014

Annual Survey and Analysis of 16 Million Monthly Users Reveals Top-Rated Building, Remodeling and Design Professionals THE WOODLANDS, HOUSTON, TEXAS, February 4, 2014 – Texas Home Exteriors of The Woodlands, Houston Texas has been awarded “Best Of Houzz” by Houzz, the leading platform for home remodeling and design.

“The Siding Roofing and Window Contractor” was chosen by the more than 16 million monthly users that comprise the Houzz community. The Best Of Houzz award is given in two categories: Customer Satisfaction and Design. Customer Satisfaction honors are determined by a variety of factors, including the number and quality of client reviews a professional received in 2013. Design award winners’ work was the most popular among the more than 16 million monthly users on Houzz, known as “Houzzers,” who saved more than 230 million professional images of home interiors and exteriors to their personal ideabooks via the Houzz site, iPad/iPhone app and Android app.

Winners will receive a “Best Of Houzz 2014” badge on their profiles, showing the Houzz community their commitment to excellence. These badges help homeowners identify popular and top-rated home professionals in every metro area on Houzz.   Texas Home Exteriors is honored to receive this award and recognition from the Houzz community.About Houzz “Houzz provides homeowners with the most comprehensive view of home building, remodeling and design professionals, empowering them to find and hire the right professional to execute their vision,” said Liza Hausman, vice president of community for Houzz.

“We’re delighted to recognize Texas Home Exteriors among our “Best Of” professionals for customer satisfaction as judged by our community of homeowners and design enthusiasts who are actively remodeling and decorating their homes.” With Houzz, homeowners can identify not only the top-rated professionals like Texas Home Exteriors, but also those whose work matches their own aspirations for their home. Homeowners can also evaluate professionals by contacting them directly on the Houzz platform, asking questions about their work and reviewing their responses to questions from others in the Houzz community.

Learn more about Texas Home Exteriors on there website at https://www.texashomeexteriors.com and be sure to follow them on Houzz http://www.houzz.com/pro/greg-kapitan/texas-home-exteriorsAbout Texas Home Exteriors Texas Home Exteriors and our owner Greg Kapitan “Kapitan The Siding Man” comes to you with over 30 years combined experience in the construction trade. Our expertise in the areas of Home Improvement and Energy-Efficiency has been demonstrated on numerous completed jobs and happy customers over the years throughout the greater Houston, Spring, The Woodlands metro areas of Texas.

Greg & Shelly, Owners of Texas Home Exteriors Houston, The Woodlands TX

Texas Home Exteriors specializes in HardiPlank Siding, LP Smartside Siding, Vinyl Replacement Windows, Pergolas, Patio Covers and Roofing Shingle Options. Our products and services are the most Energy Efficient and innovative in the business.  Our crews are experienced professionals who have all been hand-picked by Greg Kapitan himself, to ensure superior workmanship and customer satisfaction.” Houzz is the leading platform for home remodeling and design, providing people with everything they need to improve their homes from start to finish – online or from a mobile device.

From decorating a room to building a custom home, Houzz connects millions of homeowners, home design enthusiasts and home improvement professionals across the country and around the world. With the largest residential design database in the world and a vibrant community powered by social tools, Houzz is the easiest way for people to get the design inspiration, project advice, product information and professional reviews they need to help turn ideas into reality. For more information, visit www.houzz.com

I get asked this question often working Texas Home Exteriors, “Greg, which is better, Fiber Cement/HardiePlank Siding or LP SmartSide Siding for my Houston TX home?” As we move beyond 2014 into 2015,  I have already found myself being asked this question more and more. I respond with information based on my research – experience installing the two building products, as well as discussion with other home exterior professionals.

The information in this article is based on many years of my experience in the Houston Texas metro area, and as the owner of Texas Home Exteriors. In this post I will cite information from some of the most credible resources I know of on the internet presenting their accumulative input including Google Books (James Hardie), Wikipedia (James Hardie) and Wikipedia LP (Louisiana Pacific SmartSide). These are sites and resources that you can and SHOULD check as well to learn more and research what people just like you and me are saying around the country and the world.

Below I present for you the good, the bad and the ugly so as a Houston Southeast Texas homeowner, you can make an informed and intelligent decision. I encourage you to click on the links as well and doing some of your own research. After reading this Hardie vs. SmartSide Siding article, please take a moment to voice your opinion or share additional information below the estimate form.

Here are our findings

Both Fiber Cement (Hardie) and LP SmartSide Siding are outstanding and high quality building products. They both exhibit excellent qualities in their performance and longevity as excellent siding product choices for your home’s exterior. Keep in mind that each has great qualities as well as some not-so-great qualities. I will point this out based on my many years of experience in home exteriors here in the Houston southeast Texas area in using both products, (fiber cement – LP SmartSide Siding) as well as research I have done on the products and their overall performance.

Supporting evidence GOOGLE search 

When being asked about one siding product vs another, one might share their opinion from their experience, of course this is OK. However, I will also provide examples of what other home exterior professionals are saying from around the country.

Fiber_Cement_Siding_Defects – Inspectapedia …. read more

Problems with Fiber Cement Siding installations – Structuretech1 Forums….. read more

Fiber Cement Problems – Inspectors Journals Forums….. read more

Smart Side Siding JLC Online Forums…. read more

LP SmartSide Siding vs Fiber Cement – Hot Spot Outdoors Forum….(read more)

Fiber Cement/HardiePlank- 15 Trim 30 Yr Siding Warranty

Click – 30 YR Warranty

As you can see from exploring the links above, there have been some issues reported from around the country. Fiber cement has become more and more popular since the late 1990s in re-siding as well as in new construction throughout North America.

The reported issues range from cracking and flaking paint to installation problems as well as other issues with the fiber cement siding product. The siding most often used siding product in America is fiber cement. Many of the problems with this product have stemmed from the improper installation of the fiber cement product. However, there are also some issues to be aware of that actually stem from fiber cement product failure itself.

 LP SmartSide Siding – 50 Year Trim 50 Year Siding Warranty

Click – 50 YR Warranty

LP SmartSide has also been around since 1997, I have done extensive research via the internet and have not found nearly as many, or for that matter, any issues reported with this product at all, no reported problems, even LP SmartSide reports there have been no claims on product failure of the the LP SmartSide Engineered Wood Siding Products in the past 14 years it has been being installed on homes.

In all fairness, I will share that there was an issue I came across regarding Louisiana Pacific (LP) and their OLD Product, called “LP Inner Seal“ which has since been discontinued. This was a pre-1997 SmartSide product that failed, recalled and any claims paid responsively and quickly- very impressive on the part of Louisiana Pacific. In my opinion, this product should not have been used on homes in areas of the country that receive a lot of precipitation, thus the failures. (Note, that the “Inner-Seal” siding did very well in other areas of the country that are more arid and the product continues to stand up well in those climates to this day).

Louisiana Pacific SmartSide Wikipedia info

LP SmartSide:  (LP) “Two years after the first suit, LP had settled all related disputes. LP re-engineered the product, now marketed as LP®SmartSide® and since 1997 has sold approximately 3 billion square feet of SmartSide siding with no warranty claims for fungal decay.” This was reported on Wikipedia in 2014 of this product that has been around since 1997.

Fiber Cement (Hardie) Wikipedia info

Fiber Cement: per Wikipedia, “Fiber cement siding (or “fibre cement cladding” in the UK and Australasia) is a building material used to cover the exterior of a building in both commercial and domestic applications. Fiber cement is a composite material Fiber cement is a composite made of sand, cement and cellulose fibers. Read more about Fiber Cement by clicking on the link at the top of this article which will take you to Wiki and Build Direct FAQs.

The Silica Dust Issue – New York Times 

Both the Fiber Cement (hardie plank) and LP SmartSide siding products will produce dust plumes when cutting the product. LP SmartSide siding is wood based and makes less dust as opposed to the Fiber Cement that contains Silica. Having said that, the Silica is a much finer dust and gets airborne and tends to make billowing clouds of fine dust that can be dangerous for workers to install if respirators are not used. Here is a recent article from the New York Times about silica dust exposure that you should be aware of on this issue.

Crumble a Plank Anyone?

Click Image- Read The Rest Of The Story

You have to see this to believe what is happening. After Hardie Siding (fiber cement) has been up for a while, homeowners have been reporting on how that their lawnmowers wheels had bumped the lower run of the siding and broken off edges with some mild unintended impacts.

If you click on that (broken off edges) link above, you will clearly see photos of what homeowners across the country are reporting as well as the phone calls that we are receiving on the issue here at our Texas Home Exteriors office.

You will also see how SmartSide Siding is much more resistant to the same impact of objects such as lawnmowers, baseballs and the everyday accidental impacts that most homeowners experience.

Benefits Fiber Cement/HardiePlank Siding Products

Fiber Cement has the upper hand by far in the category of Fire Resistance so if you are looking for a siding product that specifically is more Resistant to fires, Fiber Cement is the better choice. Fiber cement is one of the most resistant materials there is for your exterior.  If installed properly, it is also insect-proof, because it offers no food source to insects.  It is fire-resistant, moisture-resistant, and is not prone to warping or cracking, thanks to the cellulose fibers which boost its dimensional stability.  And, manufacturers offer a variety of pre-painted colors to choose from.

Disadvantages of Fiber Cement Siding Products

Fiber Cement is much heavier than other siding types and requires two or more workers to install a single plank increasing labor costs. Fiber cement siding can also be difficult to work with, as workers cut the material it creates silica dust plumes that can be harmful if breathed in.

Benefits of LP SmartSide Siding – What the crews are saying about installation

• Length – With Longer planks” 16’ foot vs 12’ allowing workers to cover more with one plank and less joints to finish.
• Lighter – The product is 39% lighter on average, the material does not break when being carried or moved. 
• Damage – Hammer marks do not show up as easily due to its increased impact resistance.
• Cutting – No special saw blades or equipment is needed (no need for $100 special blades, regular carbide wood saw blades work just fine).
• Nailing – No nail gun pressure issues or need to lower presser due to overdriven nails. 
• Dust- Much less dust than the fiber cement product, silica plume issues gone.
• Strength – Installation of this product increases wall strength and structure so walls remain straight for the lifetime of the product.
• Installers prefer working with the product due to the reasons listed above. As a matter of fact, once an installer uses this product they do not want to go back to using the fiber cement.

Disadvantages of LP SmartSide Siding

SmartSide siding is constructed of wood base fibers, leaving it vulnerable to fire from combustion and or through the melting of the resin add-ons when exposed to high heat. If fire resistance is a concern I would consider the James Hardie (hardiplank) siding over the LP SmartSide siding. You should take a moment to read this article about James Hardie Siding and it’s superior resistance to fire.

Louisiana Pacific and NASDAQ Stock Jump

Just as resent as May 18th of 2015 the stock for Louisiana Pacific (LP) LPX has seen an 52 week all time high is stock increase due to consumer interest and sales increase in the LP SmartSide Siding Product. This has been exciting news for some time as contractors are liking having a choice to present to homeowners besides fiber cement.

Conclusion

Greg Kapitan (the siding man) Texas Home Exteriors

Well there you have it, the good, the bad and the ugly. Both the Hardiplank and LP SmartSide Siding products will serve your home will and keep your love ones protected from the weather for many years to come.

While there are differences and benefits to both siding products, we have noticed a shift in homeowners moving towards the LP Smart Siding due to the many benefits over Fiber Cement (Hardie).

What you have read above is from an article I wrote. You can find more information on our website Texas Home Exteriors – Houston TX about home siding options and you can also learn more about silica dust and it’s affects.

I hope that you have found this informative article most helpful in making a siding choice for your home exterior. Should you have any questions my email address is, greg@texashomeexteriors.com or if you would like a Free Estimate from Texas Home Exteriors call, 281.919.6999 anytime.

Most sincerely,

Greg Kapitan (the siding man)

PS – I look forward to hearing from you in the comments section below.

Free SmartSide or HardiPlank Estimate:

Southeast Houston TX homeowners often remove their old siding and install James Hardie Siding. This is a great decision for the longevity that fiber cement offers. Although often overlooked by most siding contractors, is what can be done before the new HardiPlank Siding is installed to improve the energy efficiency of the home. By adding a reflective energy efficient vapor barrier such as Dupont Tyvek ThermaWrap, this will help in utility bills with it’s added increased R and reflective values. Below I explain and provide some suggestions.

Your Texas home exterior walls can account for 40-70% of the solar heat gain and/or loss of your home. This varies depending on many factors such as the amount of sun exposure to walls, shade and the type of building materials your home was built with. Often I notice a job sign of a contractor doing a siding job and I see no roles of the Tyvek product delivered to the jobsite. When the siding is removed and there is no extra insulation existing with any level of R-Value such as Home Wrap being installed on the home, this is the perfect opportunity to install the Tyvek product while the siding is off and being replaced.

The Perfect Time to Install

Something to think about, when you have your old siding removed, this is the best time to improve the energy efficiency of your Texas home, don’t you say? I would think that the immediate answer would be yes! When you have your old siding removed, this is absolutely the perfect time to install Dupont Tyvek ThermaWrap. What this product will do for your Texas home is to push the unwanted HEAT Back Out of your home in the Texas Summertime and push the HEAT back INTO your home (prevent it from escaping) in the Texas wintertime. This in turn will save you money year round and reduce your Texas utility bills every month by having your Heat/AC unit run less now that your home is more energy efficient because the Tyvek ThermaWrap is stopping much of the heat gain/loss!

Energy Efficiency Performance under Your Hardie Siding 

Tyvek ThermaWrap is a low emissivity (Low-E), metallized weather barrier that will actually increase the effective and total R-value of any wall systems, to help improve energy efficiency in our Texas homes. DuPont Tyvek ThermaWrap is made with a metallized, low-emission (low-e) surface that reflects solar radiation away from our Houston Texas metro area homes. Cold weather in Texas, this will help stop radiant heat transfer and loss from within the home. In the summer weather, Tyvek ThermaWrap do the opposite by reflecting warm air back out and away from our Texas homes, to help improve air-conditioning (A/C) efficiency. In all of our Texas seasons, that can help make our homes much more comfortable, more energy efficient, and less costly to operate. No more Hot and Cold rooms and the home has more of an even temperature.

R-2 Plus Helping Block Air Infiltration and Exfiltration

ThermaWrap has the ability to help increase the effective R-Value of a wall, Tyvek ThermaWrap is also an excellent vapor permeable air and water barrier, like all Tyvek materials. The low-e surface changes the dynamics of radiant heat flow across the entire wall system.

Nearly two-thirds of the total heat lost or gained is through our Texas homes occurs through radiant heat flow. Tyvek ThermaWrap addresses this by helping to dramatically improve the effective R-value (resistance Value) of the wall system. This is highly effective at reducing heat gain when the weather turns hot here in Southeast Texas for over 6 months. Tyvek ThermaWrap is ideal for our Southeast Texas weather.

Reduce Texas Energy Bills – How It Works

Radiant Heat

Radiant Heat flow occurs when heat is transferred from a warmer object to a cooler one by electromagnetic waves and natural heat flow. These waves do not need to pass through air and they do not require any contact between the two materials. They simply cross empty space in exactly the same way as the heat of the sun, which
can be felt on cold days. Tyvek ThermaWrap incorporates a low-e, metallic surface that changes the radiant heat flow dynamics of the entire wall system. In winter, it reflects and or pushes radiant heat back into the wall system. Texas summer time,
ThermaWrap reflects the outside solar radiation away from the wall system, to reduce unwanted heat gain into our Texas homes in southeast TX. The total overall effect is an overall total increase in the effective R-value to the entire wall system.

When installed, Tyvek ThermaWrap adds an effective R-value (thermal resistance) equal to R-2 (R- Value). In Texas homes this can help reduce energy usage and costs for heating and cooling systems, year-round. This is a huge plus for southeast Texas Homeowners in the Houston, Spring The Woodlands metro area.

Free Tyvek Estimate Form

Missing roof kick-out flashing

Roofing Components

I cannot stress enough to homeowners the importance of kick-out flashing and how often it is overlooked.  Kick-out flashing is a small piece of metal flashing that diverts the water away from an intersection where a side wall and roof line meet.

Missing Kick-out Flashing

The photo to the right showcases missing kick-out flashing on the roof. Note how there is no flashing where the roofing shingles meet the sidewall.  The lack of flashing allows mold to grow and the wood siding to begin rotting. This is a common problem here in Houston and southeast Texas.

Corrected Kick-out Flashing

Kick-out flashing installation

After the rotted wood is replaced, the kick-out flashing needs to be installed under the roofing shingles.

Here in Houston Texas we receive nearly 4′ of rain per year. This correctly installed flashing will ensure that no water gets behind the siding and roofing shingles to cause mold and rot issues.

Kick-out Flashing Example  

Completed Roofing kick-out flashing job

This is a Stucco Siding job with correctly installed kick-out flashing.

This photo showcases how to stop water from entering under roofing shingles and siding long after the crews are gone.

As with any roofing shingle replacement job done by a reputable contractor, the correct components are the key. When a roof is being replaced, often a company will not replace some essential components/flashings to save money.

If you are receiving roofing replacements bids or estimates, look for a list of components such as, pipe jacks, valley flashings, drip edge, sidewall flashings and ridge vents.

All of these should be replaced when changing your roof to insure no leakage for many years to come. That way when it is raining hard in the middle of the evening you can rest assure that any leaks will be non existent!

I truly hope that you have found this article most helpful and informative when it comes to proper re-roofing installation techniques. Greg Kapitan of Texas Home Exteriors.

Visit my website to learn more TexasHomeExteriors.com

email me directly at Greg@TexasHomeExteriors.Com

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