About Siding

David Spangenburg asked:


As I said in an earlier chapter, vinyl does not come in a wide range of colors. Like that Procol Harum song “Whiter Shade of Pale“, it is usually limited to white, pale shades of grey or tan. This is because the titanium oxide pigment (a component of vinyl which prevents colors from yellowing or fading) makes it difficult to create darker colors.

Darker colors also absorb the sun’s rays so they don’t hold up as well. Likewise vinyl is graffiti proof so you just can’t “Paint it Black”. Why the pop music euphemisms? Just trying to brighten up this chapter because one of the few limitations of vinyl is it’s not very colorful.

Throughout the years, I have occasionally seen manufacturers come out with darker colors but they never did well and were dropped in time. I can’t tell you how many times I was asked if we carried black or green. If you come across these darker colors, be very careful with your decision.

It is a scientific fact that dark colored vinyl fades and deteriorates faster than light color vinyl so a more complex formula is necessary to protect and preserve them. So far, these attempts have not succeeded.

There was an exception to this in 2004. Someone came out with what they called “wood grain“. Originally produced in China, it looked great with real wood grains running through it. The line started out darker but again there were too many problems, such as warping, so they lightened up the color formula hoping to alleviate these complications and have been fairly successful.

A couple of years later, domestic manufacturers came out with their versions. “Wood Grain” is a beautiful alternative to wood, I love the look. If you do too, just be aware that some are better then others. Use care before you purchase and research them thoroughly.

When a company sells a tan, it can range from a beige (coffee with extra cream) to almond. The almond actually looks white unless you view it up against a piece of actual white vinyl. It’s important to understand shade differences as you may need more fencing in the future and it can be hard to match, unless you are buying from the same company as the original purchase.

This is a good time to examine “fading”. Commercial grade vinyl is engineered to maintain it’s true color for a lifetime. In reality, if you have tan, grey or wood grained fencing, over the years there will be a very slight and gradual fading. So slight and gradual you will not even notice.

However, if you put a piece of the original tan in your closet, took it out 10 years later and held it up to the rest of your fence you’d see a minimal fading of the color. I will say that the public continues to demand a broader color spectrum in vinyl fencing and due to this demand, the industry continues to experiment with it’s color formulas.

However, until someone comes up with a darker vinyl that can stand up to the intensity of our friendly old sun, vinyl fencing will continue to have a very limited palette. We are all hoping, that someday, vinyl‘s “…True Colors will come shining through.”

Excerpt from the Vinyl Fence Buyers Guide, Copyright 2008, Michael Goldman & David Spangenburg



Direct Vent Gas Fireplace

Kayli asked:


me and my cousin we playing lacrosse on her brick chimney and it accidently hit the side of her house, a small piece of the vinyl siding was pressed into the house. its broken and we don’t know what to do. were going to tell our aunt when she gets here in a little while but otherwise we don’t know what to do. its not a big piece and theres styrafoam underneath the siding. we need help ASAP!!! thanks!

Home Heat Pump Reviews

topper asked:


I’m trying to find somewhere on the web I can order a book that tells me how to vinyl side my house. Anyone know of a place where I can get one? I have a good idea how to do it but would like a book for reference. Well maybe not that good of an idea. Thanks

Hands On CPR

skunkaperecords asked:


We want to remove our old crusty wood siding (which only makes up a quarter of our outside walls) and the rest is stucco. We would like to have the “stacked stone” look instead.

How do I install this stacked stone as siding? We don’t really want to go with the fake stuff but instead would rather have the real stone. I have all the time in the world right now to do the job but I don’t know where to begin and I can’t seem to find any resources on the internet.

If anyone can help please let me know where to start. Thanks!

Adult Cpr Instructions

Robert Benson asked:


As we continue to see the sales of CDs fall, it is obvious that the distribution channels of music are changing. But there is no disputing that digital downloads are the new “norm” for many people to acquire their music, be it one ninety-nine cent download or an entire album. As I ponder these changes, I still think that the vinyl record, as prehistoric as it is, is gaining popularity as well as making new fans and believers that this is the best audio format that can be heard.

As a vinyl lover, I am pretty set in my ways; no one has to convince me of the staying power and musical greatness of the vinyl record. So I was thrilled when I had a chance to interview a young man who shares the same views as I do.

I had the distinct pleasure of speaking with a nineteen-year old vinyl lover from Campbell River, British Columbia, Canada named Steve Robertson; who was gracious enough to share his thoughts and views about this old, yet treasured format. What follows is a short discussion with Steve as he shared his passion and love for vinyl records.

I asked Steve what drew him to vinyl, why does he prefer this audio format?

“Vinyl just sounds so much better; it has a unique sound that can’t be duplicated. There is a feeling of satisfaction when actually holding a physical product. And the cover art, not only from the past, but from new artists, is another reason I prefer vinyl records over any other format. I also get a sense of satisfaction in knowing that when I buy an artist’s work on vinyl, that I am supporting the musicians who release it, it just isn’t another free download,” explained Steve.

I asked Steve how long he has listened to vinyl and about what format his friends prefer.

“I have been into vinyl for several years now and vinyl is huge in British Columbia and most of my friends prefer it as well. We both like the clear sound and experience you get when playing a record. And we are interested in DJ-ing, so it fits right in. Last year I purchased a pair of Stanton turntables that have certainly helped me in my DJ-ing efforts and I plan on upgrading very soon to take it to the next level. I love the control that I have playing the music that people want to hear. The goal of a DJ is to take two different songs and blend them together in a smooth seamless way without the crowd knowing. Taking elements of one record and blending them into the other, you can then skillfully mix out the first song until it is just the new track playing. It’s like creating a new song and new music in a way. You make sure to keep up a steady stream, a continuous flow of ups and downs, it’s like telling a story, you want to keep people intrigued and interested in the music,” said Steve.

“I really think that vinyl is coming back, it sure is in our area. If my friends and I had to pick, records would be our choice and the best option to hear our music. But, they are harder to acquire, our nearest vinyl shop is an hour and a half away, so we buy most of our vinyl online.”

I asked Steve about his vinyl record collection and wanted to hear more details about his passion for D J-ing.

“To the first part of your question, I would say that I have over three hundred records, mostly classic rock like Zeppelin or Heart. But I have about seventy-five records that would fall into the electronic dance genre. That is mostly what I play when I DJ because that is what the crowd I play for wants to hear. When you’re mixing records, the control you have over the sound and the way you can manipulate the music is just like playing an instrument. You can blend and put effects on the music using your mixer or you can do some hands on scratching and add your own unique sound to it. As far as scratching goes, it’s a whole new level of DJ’ing because, in a way you are creating a sound that has never been heard before, it’s almost like live production,” explained Steve.

It was certainly refreshing to listen to Steve speak about his love for vinyl records. His enthusiasm for the format was clearly evident and especially welcome to me, a vinyl purist. And we both agreed that whatever musical genre it is that you enjoy, it certainly sounds the best emanating from a vinyl record. And that is a perspective that will help the vinyl record survive, if not thrive.

I want to personally thank Steve for his cooperation and candor in regards to our discussion about vinyl records. It is nice to hear someone from a different generation, not only passionate about the music that he listens to, but about the audio format that he chooses to listen to his music.



How To Administer Cpr

Jim Stapert asked:


There are millions of homes that have white vinyl windows and people feel as though they are stuck with the white color on these units. This can make updating the color schemes on your home very difficult, because you think you have to plan around keeping your white windows. These white windows can, in fact, be coated with proper high-tech coatings that do change their color and do stick to the vinyl. Of course there are vinyl window colors other than white, and they can be coated and changed also.

Product selection is the biggest factor when coating vinyl windows. There are a lot of paint-type products on the market. Many of these paint products will just sit on the surface and not bond to the vinyl. It is important to understand a product prior to using it. There are a lot of claims made by companies that they just can’t stand behind.

So what should you look for in a vinyl coating? The product must penetrate into the surface of the vinyl and bond to the PVC-U substrate. If the product is lying on top of the vinyl, it will not stay there no matter what claims are made. The product must be UV resistant and heat reflective. You do not want the sun to break down the coating as this will result in peeling, chipping and fading. If it is not heat reflective then it will fade and look old much before it’s time. Look for a product that has been in service for many years and has a proven track record.

For the best results, vinyl coatings must be sprayed on. This allows for proper bonding and a professional appearance. The spraying process is not difficult and can readily be accomplished by the do-it-yourselfer.

So remember, you are not stuck with those white vinyl windows. Just make sure you choose a product that is proven to last.



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