Craneboard Insulated Vinyl Siding in the Bay Area

Foam-backed vinyl stiffens every panel, so walls read straighter and hold up better to knocks than standard vinyl. Craneboard's line now continues as CertainTeed CedarBoards.

Insulated vinyl sidingNow CertainTeed CedarBoardsLarkspur, Marin County(415) 619-5167

If you asked for Craneboard by name, you're after insulated vinyl. That's a vinyl face bonded to a rigid foam backer. The Craneboard line has been consolidated under CertainTeed CedarBoards, and that's the insulated vinyl we install for Bay Area homeowners who want this kind of siding.

Want to know whether insulated vinyl suits your house and your parcel? Request an estimate.

Call (415) 619-5167

What insulated vinyl (Craneboard, now CedarBoards) actually gives you

Standard vinyl is a thin, hollow panel that hangs on the wall. It's light, low-maintenance and budget-friendly. Because it's hollow, though, it follows every dip and bow in the wall behind it. It can also flex or dent if you hit it with a ladder, a soccer ball or a lawn-mower stone. Insulated vinyl like CedarBoards fills that hollow space with a contoured foam backer. The result is a stiffer panel. It bridges minor irregularities in the sheathing, lies flatter, and keeps its lap lines straighter across a long wall.

That rigidity is the main reason homeowners choose insulated vinyl over standard vinyl. There are secondary benefits too. The foam adds some resistance to impact, and it adds a modest energy benefit by putting a continuous layer outside the sheathing. We describe that energy benefit carefully. Insulated vinyl is not a substitute for proper wall insulation or air sealing. Any energy gain depends on the rest of the wall assembly, so we don't promise specific savings.

On older Bay Area homes, flatness often matters more than energy. On many 1950s–60s tract homes, the walls have settled or shifted over the decades. Seismic movement can add small racks and bows that you only notice once the old siding comes off. Standard vinyl would telegraph those flaws. A foam-backed panel softens them visually. It doesn't fix real framing or sheathing problems, and those still get repaired before the siding goes on.

Insulated vs. standard vinyl, side by side

Consideration	Insulated vinyl (CedarBoards)	Standard vinyl
Panel stiffness	Foam backer makes panels rigid and flat	Hollow panel, more flexible
Appearance on uneven walls	Bridges minor waves for straighter lap lines	Tends to follow wall irregularities
Impact resistance	Better support behind the face resists denting	Adequate for many homes; can dent or crack on hard impact
Energy contribution	Some added benefit from continuous foam layer	Minimal on its own
Upfront cost	Higher material cost	Lower upfront cost, a sound choice for budget-conscious projects
Maintenance	Low: periodic washing, no painting	Low: periodic washing, no painting
Detailing at trim and openings	Thicker profile needs trim and accessories sized for it	Standard accessories

Is insulated vinyl worth it for your house?

When does the upgrade clearly pay off?

It pays off on long, uninterrupted walls, older homes with wavy sheathing, and houses where kids, pets or yard equipment put the siding at risk. In those cases, the straighter look and added impact resistance are visible every day.

When is standard vinyl the smarter choice?

Standard vinyl makes sense if your walls are already flat, the budget is tight, or the siding covers a detached garage or a less visible elevation. Many homes do perfectly well with it. We'll tell you plainly if the extra cost isn't buying you much.

Should I consider fiber cement or engineered wood instead?

Possibly. Fiber cement is noncombustible and takes paint well, which can matter on fire-hazard parcels. Engineered wood offers a real-wood look, lighter weight and good impact resistance. Insulated vinyl's strengths are low maintenance with no repainting, and a flat, consistent finish. We walk through all three honestly.

Does my location in the Bay Area change the answer?

It can. Near the coast, vinyl doesn't rot or need repainting in salt air and marine-layer moisture, though the wall behind it still needs good drainage. Inland, strong sun and heat affect color choice. On parcels in a mapped fire hazard severity zone, Chapter 7A may limit which exterior wall coverings are allowed, and we confirm that with the building department before recommending vinyl.

What drives the cost of an insulated vinyl project

Wall area and complexity: gables, bump-outs, dormers and many corners add labor and trim.
What comes off: removing wood, old vinyl, or siding layered over earlier siding changes tear-off and disposal effort.
Condition of the sheathing, WRB and flashing once exposed. Repairs are scoped only after we can see them.
Windows and doors: the number of openings and the flashing and trim detailing each one needs.
Profile, color and accessory package, including trim sized for the thicker foam-backed panel.
Access and site conditions: hillside lots, tight side yards and multi-story walls that need staging.

Our insulated vinyl installation process

Consultation and scope. We walk the house, check for fire-hazard zoning and permit needs with the AHJ, and write a clear scope with the profile, trim and flashing details spelled out.
Tear-off. Old siding comes off to expose the sheathing, the water-resistive barrier and the existing flashing. We take care around landscaping and neighbors.
Inspect the substrate. A common finding when older siding comes off is torn or brittle building paper, missing head flashing over windows, and soft sheathing below leaky openings. We document what we find before going further.
Repairs. We replace damaged sheathing and correct flashing problems. You approve any change from the original scope before we start that work.
WRB and flashing detailing. New WRB is lapped shingle-style. Window and door flashing is integrated with it so water drains out, not in. We also add kickout flashing where roofs meet walls.
Panel installation to CertainTeed spec. Panels hang from a level starter strip, and fasteners are centered in the slots and not driven tight so the vinyl can expand and contract. Expansion gaps are left at channels and corners.
Final walkthrough. We review every elevation with you, check trim and sealant joints, and haul away debris.

Why homeowners choose Bay Area Siding Company

Vinyl is not a watertight skin. The layers behind it do the real weather work, so we build the wall assembly correctly first and hang the siding second.

Assembly-first installs

Sheathing, WRB and flashing are inspected and corrected before any panel goes up.

Honest product guidance

If standard vinyl, fiber cement or engineered wood suits your house better, we'll say so and explain why.

Marin-based, Bay Area-wide

We're based in Larkspur and serve homeowners across the Bay Area, with a direct line at (415) 619-5167.

Other services we offer

Comparing options or planning a larger exterior project? Start here.

CertainTeed siding installation Vinyl siding options Full siding replacement See our projects

Craneboard and Insulated Vinyl FAQ

Can I still get Craneboard siding?

The Craneboard insulated vinyl line has been consolidated under CertainTeed CedarBoards. If you want Craneboard-style insulated vinyl, CedarBoards is what we install today.

Will insulated vinyl lower my energy bills?

It can contribute a modest benefit because the foam adds a continuous layer outside the sheathing. Results depend on your existing insulation, air sealing and windows, so we don't promise specific savings.

Can I use vinyl siding in a Bay Area fire hazard zone?

It depends on your parcel. Chapter 7A of the California Building Code applies to specific exterior assemblies and openings in designated fire hazard severity zones, which you can look up on Cal Fire's maps. We confirm current requirements with your local building department at permit time. If vinyl isn't a good fit, we'll recommend alternatives.

Does vinyl hold up near the coast and in hot inland areas?

Vinyl won't rot or need repainting in salt air or marine-layer fog, which is a real advantage near the coast. In hot, sunny areas, color choice matters. Heat sources such as grills close to the wall, or concentrated reflected sunlight from some windows, can distort vinyl, so we flag those spots during the consultation.

Is a permit required for siding replacement?

Requirements vary by city and county, and by the scope of work. We confirm with the AHJ what's needed for your project before work begins.

Ready to see how insulated vinyl would look and perform on your home? Schedule a consultation.

Call (415) 619-5167