MINNEAPOLIS - Considering replacing the siding on your home? Whether your siding looks old and tired or has been damaged from high winds, moisture or hail, a growing number of homeowners across the U.S. and Canada are turning to pultruded-fiberglass siding, a new, highly durable and sustainable alternative to traditional siding materials such as fiber cement, vinyl and wood.

Developed by APEX Siding System, pultruded-fiberglass siding and trim with Ultrex® represents a new class of siding and trim which is tougher than fiber cement, but exudes the beauty of natural wood. This new category of siding has been specially designed to withstand extreme conditions, and to offer busy homeowners a low maintenance solution to maintaining the exteriors of their homes. For these reasons, APEX Siding was recently honored by Professional Remodeler and Professional Builder magazines as among the top 101 New Products of 2012 (August 2012 issue).

With an expected life of 50 years or more, APEX siding and trim offers incredible, lasting beauty as well as being environmentally friendly. Available in ten rich and enduring colors, in two widths, 4-inch and 7-inch, and in either a smooth or wood grain finish, APEX siding and trim can be used in a variety of architectural styles. Manufactured with an acrylic finish that is four times thicker than paint applied to fiber cement or wood, APEX siding and trim resists chipping, splintering, fading and warping.

APEX Siding System is made with Ultrex® pultruded fiberglass, a patented proprietary material pioneered by Marvin® that has been a key component in the award-winning Integrity® and Infinity® lines of windows and doors for more than 20 years.

Charlie and Patti Jung, residents of Villa Hills, Ky., a suburb of Cincinnati, are among the many homeowners who have turned to APEX Siding System to replace the siding on their 28-year-old home. The Jungs originally looked at foam-backed vinyl to replace the medium density fiberboard (MDF) siding on their home, but were steered to APEX by their contractor based on the looks and performance qualities of this new fiberglass siding alternative.

"We love our APEX siding. It looks just like real wood," said Charlie Jung. "And, I will not have to paint my siding anymore, unlike my last siding, which I had to paint three times."

Innovative System

APEX siding features a color-coordinated siding system that includes an interlock design, offering secure placement and tight seams (no visible nail holes or caulking). Because APEX siding comes in 16-foot lengths in comparison to 12-foot lengths for fiber cement siding, there are 35 percent fewer seams. With precise installation, APEX siding and trim gives homes a distinct finish that radiates quality and craftsmanship.

Extreme Weather

APEX pultruded-fiberglass siding can withstand extreme temperatures ranging from 30 degrees below zero to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. It resists warping on a 100-degree day unlike vinyl siding. And, unlike fiber cement, it will not be damaged by freezing or thawing moisture.

Helps Keep your Home Dry

Other types of siding are more prone to absorbing or trapping moisture behind the siding, which can lead to moisture problems like rot and mold. On the other hand, APEX siding and trim, made with Ultrex pultruded fiberglass, inherently repels water and moisture. Featuring an innovative continuous natural drainage plane, factory-applied clips hold the APEX siding away from the weather barrier to create an evaporation and drainage plane where air is free to circulate. Should moisture or condensation develop behind the siding, the weather barrier, in combination with APEX Siding's moisture prevention design, allows moisture to drain harmlessly away, while air continues to freely circulate.

Green Alternative

Made with naturally occurring sand, APEX siding and trim is an environmentally friendly siding. Because of its durability, homeowners will enjoy a long-lasting siding product that will continue to stay true and look great. And with its lasting, rich colors, homeowners will not have to worry about painting and caulking, either. Supported by an ISO 9001-2008 certification, APEX Siding System is dedicated to refining its manufacturing processes to make it's siding and trim products even more sustainable and environmentally friendly.

"APEX siding and trim, made with Ultrex pultruded fiberglass, is a siding for homeowners who want the best looking, most durable and lowest maintenance siding for their home," added John Gardner, director of sales and marketing for APEX Siding System. "It's in a new category of its own and it outperforms all other types of siding."

Source: APEX Siding System