Tips, news, and insights from Suburban Construction
485 posts total
A practical exterior turnover checklist for Quad Cities landlords, covering gutters, siding, windows, doors, drainage, and the entry path before a new tenant moves in.
Read More →A practical guide for Quad Cities rental owners: which exterior repairs and upgrades protect the property, improve tenant experience, and make sense for the budget.
Read More →For a home you plan to keep, choose exterior improvements that protect it, make daily life more comfortable, reduce upkeep, and remain easy to use as your needs change. Here is how to think through gutters, siding, windows, and doors in the Quad Cities.
Read More →Planning to sell within five years? Focus on exterior repairs that protect the home, visible updates that fit its condition, and improvements you can enjoy before moving. Use local estimates instead of assuming any project will pay for itself.
Read More →New to homeownership in the Quad Cities? Start with water problems and exterior maintenance, then prioritize failing windows, doors, or siding before choosing cosmetic upgrades.
Read More →A good siding warranty should protect both the siding product and the installation. Homeowners should look for manufacturer coverage for qualifying material defects, understand fade, hail, transfer, labor, and exclusion provisions, and also require a written contractor workmanship warranty for installation-related problems. Gentek's vinyl siding warranty demonstrates why the details matter, while Vinyl Siding Institute installation guidance reinforces that proper installation is essential to siding performance. JR Girskis, President and Owner of Suburban Construction, encourages homeowners to compare the actual written warranty—not simply the word “lifetime.”
Read More →Vinyl siding can buckle, warp, or look wavy when normal expansion and contraction are restricted, the panels are fastened too tightly, proper clearances are missing, the wall underneath is uneven, or the siding is exposed to concentrated heat. The Vinyl Siding Institute (VSI) specifically instructs installers to allow vinyl siding to move as temperatures change. JR Girskis, President and Owner of Suburban Construction, has emphasized this installation principle in Suburban's homeowner education: vinyl siding is designed to move, and proper installation needs to accommodate that movement.
Read More →Yes. Small amounts of water can get behind vinyl siding, especially during wind-driven rain, because vinyl siding is designed to shed water rather than create a completely watertight wall. The protection comes from the complete exterior system behind the panels: housewrap or another water-resistive barrier, properly integrated flashing, sound sheathing, and correct installation around windows, doors, rooflines, and penetrations. Darin Wilson, Vice President and Co-Owner of Suburban Construction, recommends tracing the path of the water instead of assuming the siding panel itself is the source.
Read More →Vinyl and steel siding can both be strong choices for Iowa and Illinois homes, but they solve different homeowner priorities. Vinyl typically offers greater color and profile flexibility at a more accessible project cost, while steel provides exceptional rigidity, dimensional stability, impact resistance, and a premium finished appearance. Darin Wilson, Vice President and Co-Owner of Suburban Construction, emphasizes looking beyond the material name and comparing the complete siding system, installation, maintenance expectations, warranty, budget, and goals for the home.
Read More →Yes, new siding can sometimes be installed over old siding, but that does not mean it is the best approach. Removing the existing siding allows the contractor to inspect sheathing, find hidden moisture or rot, correct wall problems, install a proper water-resistive barrier, and prepare a flatter surface for the new siding. JR Girskis, President and Owner of Suburban Construction, generally favors doing the preparation work that allows the new siding system to start with a sound wall underneath it.
Read More →New siding can increase a home's value by improving curb appeal, reducing visible maintenance concerns, protecting the exterior wall system, and giving future buyers greater confidence in the condition of the home. The actual return depends on the condition of the existing siding, product selected, installation quality, exterior design, neighborhood, and local real estate market. For Quad Cities homeowners, siding should be viewed as both a visual improvement and a long-term exterior investment.
Read More →Replacing siding before selling your house can make sense when the existing exterior is badly faded, damaged, loose, outdated, difficult to repair, or showing signs of deferred maintenance. But homeowners should not automatically replace serviceable siding simply because they plan to sell. The better decision depends on condition, curb appeal, repair costs, hidden moisture issues, neighborhood expectations, and how much the improvement could strengthen a buyer’s first impression.
Read More →Ready to start your home improvement project?
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