Many homeowners look for a siding material that’s durable, accessible, and requires no maintenance. When we dive into the history of residential siding, we see how far our options have come. From handmade bricks to flimsy aluminum, siding has certainly transformed from a simpler time. Continue reading our blog and check out the history of residential siding and which options are best.

The Beginning of Stone and Wood Exteriors

Modern stone siding began to make its appearance in the late 1800s. As this trend caught on, it paved a path towards technological advances and the utilization of thin stone veneer. This trend took hold of the period because of its durability and accessibility.

About 100 years later, wood exteriors became popular in the early 1900s. Although wood has been used for hundreds of years with early settlers, builders turned towards wood exteriors again because of the availability of trees near the building location.

Stone and Wood Exteriors Today

Stone and wood exteriors are not as popular today because of the maintenance and regulations surrounding these materials. Homeowners tend to run into issues with building codes because of the stone weight and thickness. Wood also comes with issues such as pests, cracks in the material, and being targeted by woodpeckers.

The Beginning of Vinyl and Aluminum Exteriors

By the end of World War II, aluminum had become a popular residential exterior option because of the affordable pricing. Although this wasn’t a durable choice, many flocked towards this option because of the cost.

Following aluminum siding, came the vinyl craze. As the price of wood went up, homeowners grew tired of the high cost, continuous maintenance, and pest control requirements. Quickly, vinyl siding replaced both wood and aluminum exteriors.

Vinyl and Aluminum Exteriors Today

Vinyl and aluminum siding are still common choices today, but come with a few cons. Aluminum siding tends to dent and scratch easily, fade over time, and create annoying sounds. As the hot sun beats down on aluminum siding, you may hear a “pinging” sound as the metal expands.

Vinyl siding may be a popular and cost-effective siding choice, but it also may bring issues down the road. Vinyl siding is known to dent easily, fade in the sun, and cause issues when repairing. Many times, whole planks need to be replaced. Vinyl siding is also not recommended if you plan to sell your home, as it lowers the home’s value.

The Beginning of Seamless Steel Exteriors

Steel siding became commercially available in the 1940s. At first, homeowners were unimpressed by the metallic roof-like appearance, but as design and aesthetic became important to clients, manufacturers got to work on improvements. Soon, manufacturers began incorporating an embossed coating on the metal to vary the colors and designs available.

Seamless Steel Exteriors Today

Steel siding is a great low-maintenance siding choice. Our steel panels are cut to the exact length of the building, eliminating any seams. Removing seams from the outside of your building lowers energy bills, protects against moisture, and requires little to no maintenance. Steel siding is the most durable material option out on the market today and comes in many styles and sizes. While the upfront cost is higher, it’s a great investment. Steel siding can last for more than 50 years if it is taken care of.

If you are ready to upgrade your home to seamless siding, rest easy knowing we are your top Twin Cities contractor for home exteriors needs. Contact us today for a free estimate!

Most homeowners consider replacing their windows to repair damage from a fallen tree or a stray baseball. But new glass could reduce energy consumption and enhance the beauty of your home. We’ve outlined four reasons why you should look into purchasing new windows and who you should trust to install them.

Money

Windows let in sunlight and can be a source of heat, but drafts will cause your heating system or air conditioning to work harder and your energy bills to spike. Many older homes were built with single-paned windows. Today’s standard windows are made of double- or even triple-paned glass, which will insulate your home.

According to the US Department of Energy, windows are responsible for 20 to 30 percent of lost heating and cooling energy. You could save money with energy-efficient windows installed with airtight quality.

Beauty

Windows are a focal point; if they are deteriorating, your house will look worn, too. Curb appeal sells houses. If you plan to put your home on the market, new windows may raise the resale value. If nothing else, it’ll be an attractive upgrade you can enjoy inside and out.

Design is a driving factor when choosing new windows. There are many styles to consider, such as bay and bow, double-hung, sliding, garden, awning, and casement windows. Each offer their own unique look that will pair with your home’s personality.

Well-Being

The right amount of quality windows can brighten up a space and improve your moods, productivity, and overall wellness. Windows are an important element of home security. Energy-efficient windows can reduce ambient noise if you live on a busy street, making it easier to focus and enjoy peace and quiet.

According to an article by Healthline, natural light boosts vitamin D, improves sleep, and helps with seasonal depression, a real struggle in Minnesota. So how do you increase the natural light in your home? Upgrade your windows or add more. With energy-efficient, attractive windows, you’ll be less tempted to draw the curtains to cover deteriorating frames, retain heat in the winter, or block out the sun in the summer.

Functionality

Leaking or inefficient windows are a detriment to your home and your health. Are your windows damaged? If you notice any of these signs in, on, or around the windows, it may be an indication you need to replace them:

• Warped frames
• Fogging glass
• Condensation build-up
• Rotting wood
• Water stains
• Sticking sashes

You could try applying weatherstripping or storm windows for moisture control, but those are temporary solutions that won’t fix the root of the issue. If your windows don’t work properly, a replacement could improve ventilation and make your life easier.

Options

So what’s the solution? Your Twin Cities window contractor Spotless & Seamless Exteriors (SSE) offers top-quality products like Ply Gem Windows. These maintenance-free vinyl windows offer improved beauty, function, security, weather resistance, and noise control and are backed by a limited lifetime transferable warranty.

Who Should You Hire?

You’ll want to make sure to hire an established contractor with good rapport with other industry professionals and their customers. You can always check their Better Business Bureau or Angie’s List ratings to see what others have to say about their services.

At Spotless & Seamless Exteriors, we are committed to our trade, offering quality products, free estimates, and efficient installation. The SSE installation team has worked on countless existing and new construction homes. As a Maple Grove siding contractor, we are able to handle all of your exterior renovations. Whether you’re looking for a complete makeover or a simple door replacement, we’ve got you—and your home—covered.

Contact us for more information.

Spotless & Seamless Exteriors is a proud contractor of United States Seamless®, a steel siding brand known for its unmatched quality, timeless beauty, and dependable warranties. We took a trip out to Klauer Manufacturing, a building product manufacturer in Dubuque, Iowa, to give you a glimpse of how our premium metal siding is made. View our highlight video and read on to learn more about seamless steel siding.

At Klauer Manufacturing, United States Seamless® siding is produced through a unique 10-step thermo bonding, coil-coating process. Beginning with a galvanized steel core, the siding is covered in the following layers:

• Pretreatment
• Nylon fibers
• Corrosion-Inhibitive Primer – applied to the solid steel core for corrosion protection.
• Water Resistant Backer – applied to the back for added corrosion protection.
• DuPont™ Teflon® Surface Protector
• Cool Paint Technology™ Infrared Reflective Pigments
• Ceramic Hybrid Coating Primary Color

Ceramic pigmentation provides long-term, high UV radiation color and gloss retention, formulated with cool roof technology that meets ENERGY STAR solar reflectance requirements. Ceramic hybrid coatings are made of a unique proprietary resin system that withstands acid rain and corrosive environments. This manufacturing process ensures a consistent color application, color retention, and long-lasting finish.

Easy to clean and nearly maintenance-free, U.S. Seamless steel is known for its resistance to harsh weather, fading, and chalking. United States Seamless® products are also beneficial to the environment. Steel is one of the most recyclable building materials in the world. With ENERGY STAR compliant finishes, United States Seamless® siding will reflect solar and thermal radiation to keep your home cool in the summer. Steel siding wraps around your home with no seams for airtight insulation and protection during the winter months.

Available in multiple colors and siding profiles, United States Seamless® siding coordinates with their accessories, including

• Soffit and fascia boards
• Rain carrying systems
• Siding, window, and door accents
• Blocks, vents, and gables

As a United States Seamless® certified installer and professional siding contractor, Spotless & Seamless Exteriors can help you decide the best fit for your home. Using heated trailers with roll-forming equipment and cutting tools, we custom-fit siding right outside your home or business. This ensures a flawless finish that will beautify your home and stand the test of time.  We are a Minneapolis siding contractor offering many seamless siding styles, including Platinum, Mountain Cedar, and the Northwoods Collection.

At Spotless & Seamless Exteriors, we are committed to quality products and detailed workmanship. We earned the Angie’s List Super Service Award (SSA) just this last year, honoring our exceptional service ratings and reviews. As your Twin Cities siding contractor, we take pride in every step of our process, from integrity-driven consultations to careful cleanup. We’ll leave your property looking better than it was when we started.

Contact us today.

We all know that we shouldn’t judge a book by its cover. But most of us judge a home by its curb appeal—the attractiveness of a home’s exterior, as viewed from the street. Even though the outside of a home doesn’t sum up what’s on the inside, the material you choose to cover your home can affect the HVAC system and the safety of your interior walls from the elements. The right siding for your home can enhance its curb appeal, save you money, and shorten your ever-growing list of home maintenance chores. Learn why we recommend seamless steel siding.

The purpose of siding

At the very least, the exterior of a home—the siding—should protect its occupants, foundational structure, and ventilation systems from the elements. There are numerous factors you should consider when choosing exterior materials:

• Water resistance
• Ease of installation
• Energy efficiency
• Aesthetics
• Versatility
• Durability

Different types of siding

Homeowners can choose from a variety of siding materials, the most common being vinyl, brick, stone, stucco, fiber cement, wood, and stainless steel. Each varies in cost, durability, style, energy efficiency, and required maintenance.

Vinyl – By far the most widely-used exterior of modern homes, vinyl siding is made in panels or shingles, resulting in visible seams. The siding can melt in fires, be pulled off by the wind, or crack in cold temperatures.

Brick – Environmentally friendly and noncombustible, brick siding is the most expensive of the home cladding materials. Mortar may need to be replaced to seal out moisture, and because brick is porous, it can crumble without proper water drainage.

Stone – Unlike brick, stone is non-porous, making it moisture resistant. Stone is a completely natural, virtually indestructible material, but stone cladding is expensive to install. If improperly applied, the mortar can crack.

Stucco – Made of Portland cement, sand, lime, and water, stucco can be shaped and textured to cover curves in architecture and completely seal corners. Stucco application requires multiple layers and can crack if the foundation shifts.

Fiber cement – Made with cement, sand, and cellulose fibers, fiber cement looks like wood but lasts longer and requires less maintenance. Fiber cement can be difficult and expensive to install.

Wood – Wood presents a variety of style options, including logs, panels, or bevel siding made from pine, spruce, fir, cedar, or redwood. Wood can crack, split, warp, rot in excessive moisture, and burn quickly in the event of a fire. If painted, the color will fade or peel over time.

Seamless Steel Siding

Steel siding is an ultra-durable option, ideal for protection against snow, sleet, frost, rain, and wind. Spotless & Seamless steel siding is applied to the home without ugly seams, maintains its look indefinitely, and can be painted or recycled. It doesn’t absorb moisture or feed insects. Steel siding can be expensive, but unlike aluminum, steel retains its color and does not dent easily. Some textures resemble wood.

The best siding will protect your home from the extreme cold of winter, summer humidity, and unpredictable storms. At Spotless & Seamless Exteriors, your local steel siding contractor, we believe you can guard your home against the elements, save money on maintenance in the long run, and add to its curb appeal. That’s why we specialize in installing seamless steel siding for Minnesota homeowners to enjoy for years to come. View some of our metal siding projects.

Contact your Maple Grove siding contractor today to learn more.

Spotless & Seamless Exteriors, a Maple Grove siding contractor, is the exclusive Twin Cities provider of United States Seamless^® Steel Siding products.

What is Seamless Steel Siding?

Maintenance-free seamless steel siding is the most durable exterior siding product available today. Made from multiple layers of finish adhered to a galvanized steel core, the weather-resistant siding delivers a consistent color application and the texture and grain of wood.

The siding is manufactured on-site, custom-fit to the exact length of your home. This eliminates unsightly seams and splices for a smooth, beautiful look. Unlike vinyl siding, steel is non-toxic, fire-resistant, and can be recycled.

Spotless & Seamless Exteriors offers a wide variety of color and profile choices for an exterior that best suits your personal style, including these exclusive U.S. Seamless collections:

• Platinum Collection – An inspiring color palette to fit any style.
• Mountain Cedar Collection – The look of real stained cedar in seamless steel.
• Northwoods Collection – A rustic log cabin look without the time-consuming up-keep of real wood.

Why Choose Seamless Steel Siding?

There are many benefits to choosing seamless steel siding, whether you are remodeling or building a new home, including:

• Various color and style choices for siding, accent siding, soffit, fascia, and trim accessories.
• Stain-resistant, maintenance-free finish.
• Exclusive finish technology that protects against excessive fading and chalking and improves your home’s energy efficiency.
• Limited lifetime warranty against fading and chalking.
• The beautiful look of wood with the strength of steel, year after year.
• Added home value.

Why Choose Spotless & Seamless Exteriors?

Spotless & Seamless Exteriors is your local siding contractor. We live and work in the Twin Cities, and we understand the needs of homeowners in the area. Whether you are building a new home, have recently experienced storm or hail damage and need repair, or it’s time to refresh the look and feel of your home’s exterior, count on the steel siding experts of Spotless & Seamless Exteriors. We have the knowledge and experience to help with any of your home exterior remodeling needs, from seamless steel siding and gutters to roofing, windows, and doors.

Combine the beauty of genuine wood with the durability and convenience of maintenance-free seamless steel siding. Contact Minnesota siding contractor Spotless & Seamless Exteriors to learn more.

For the best in residential exterior remodeling, look to Twin Cities siding contractor Spotless & Seamless Exteriors. Not only are we experts in seamless steel siding, we provide a full range of exterior remodeling services, including roofing, windows and doors, gutters, and more. When the time comes to replace your worn or high-maintenance siding, as well as improve the appearance and value of your home, contact Spotless & Seamless Exteriors.

Spotless & Seamless Exteriors, a Maple Grove siding contractor serving the entire Twin Cities metro area, recently remodeled a home in North St. Paul, Minnesota.

North St. Paul Exterior Remodel

The home was a favorite for woodpeckers because of its cedar siding. This created many holes – as well as many issues and hard work for the homeowners. The siding professionals at Spotless & Seamless Exteriors installed new U.S. Seamless steel siding in the popular Traditional 6 ½-inch lap in Northwood, with Canyon Red accent color for the corners and trim.

So, what does this mean for these North St. Paul Homeowners? No more painting or staining. No more filling woodpecker holes with foam. And finally, no more worries or hard work, thanks to our Lifetime labor and material warranty, which includes fading, chalking, or peeling.

All this, plus a beautiful home – the look of wood without the work! Consequently, the homeowners couldn’t be more pleased with their new seamless steel siding from Minnesota siding contractor Spotless & Seamless Exteriors.

SSE is proud to be the Twin Cities area’s exclusive provider of United States Seamless® Steel Siding products, known for their timeless beauty, superior strength, and proven performance. The benefits of steel siding from Spotless & Seamless Exteriors include:

• Custom-fit siding manufactured on-site to any length.
• Smooth, beautiful look free from any splices or unsightly seams.
• Galvanized steel core and multiple layers for strength and performance.
• Look and texture of wood with consistent color and the best no-fade warranty in the industry.

Contact Minnesota siding contractor Spotless & Seamless Exteriors to learn more about maintenance-free seamless steel siding.

Spotless & Seamless Exteriors, a Maple Grove siding contractor, is known throughout the Twin Cities Metro area for our expertise in exterior residential remodeling. We can refresh the look and feel of any style home with seamless steel siding, updated windows, new roofing, and much more. A remodel will improve curb appeal and increase the value of your home.

Twin Cities siding contractor Spotless & Seamless Exteriors recently remodeled a lake home in Dayton, Minnesota.

Exterior Remodel Before & After

 

 

SSE built a front porch with new footings, cedar, and stone.

 

SSE, a window contractor in Dayton, added new windows on both the front and lake sides of the home. The upper level stucco was removed along with the cedar siding on the rest of the house, and the rotten sheathing was repaired. SSE installed new U.S. Seamless steel siding on both the house and the garage, as well as Boulder Creek cultured stone on the upper front of the house, inside the new front porch, and on the entire façade of the garage. A breezeway now connects the house and the detached garage.

 

For window replacement and seamless steel siding in Dayton, MN, call Spotless & Seamless Exteriors. SSE is the top Dayton window replacement contractor and Dayton siding contractor.

Contact Spotless & Seamless Exteriors today to discuss how we can help refresh the look of your home.

Minnesota seamless steel siding contractor Spotless & Seamless Exteriors recently received three 2016 US Seamless Awards at the United States Seamless 24th Annual Conference, held in Fargo, North Dakota in February of 2017.

International Design Award

The International Design Award recognizes the best photo entry based on appearance, as well as use of U.S. Seamless products. The award-winning home, pictured below, is located in Rogers, Minnesota. Maple Grove siding contractor Spotless & Seamless Exteriors has received the U.S. Seamless International Design Award three years in a row.

 

 

Sales Growth Award and Five-Star Customer Service Award

The Twin Cities siding professionals of SSE received two other awards, the Sales Growth Award in addition to the Five-Star Customer Service Award. U.S. Seamless presents the Sales Growth Award to the franchisee with the highest percentage of sales growth of their products in 2016.

 

The Five-Star Customer Service Award recognizes franchises that provide exceptional customer service as well as achieve a performance rating of Excellent.

SSE is proud to be the Twin Cities’ exclusive provider of U.S. Seamless products. U.S. Seamless is the #1 choice in long-lasting, American-made seamless steel siding. Through franchised dealer and Midwest siding company Spotless & Seamless Exteriors, U.S. Seamless provides seamless steel siding, gutters, steel roofing, and home improvement products. SSE offers homeowners a wide selection of siding profiles and colors in addition to accessories for a smooth, beautiful look without unsightly seams.

For the best in seamless siding in Minneapolis/St. Paul and the surrounding area, contact your Twin Cities seamless siding professionals at Spotless & Seamless Exteriors.