Siding can make a significant impact on the overall look, feel, comfort, and value of your home. So, when it comes to choosing the right siding type, getting into the nitty-gritty may keep you awake at night.
Vinyl siding is a fan favorite among homeowners, but just like with anything else, you must weigh the pros and cons. When it comes to keeping your home beautiful, optimized, and valuable, is vinyl siding right for you?
The Pros of Vinyl Siding:
Given today’s manufacturing and installation standards, vinyl siding has undergone dramatic improvements since the late 1950s. Vinyl siding panels generally arrive fully painted, with the color infused into the product itself, so it will not flake or chip off.
Also, vinyl siding is versatile, as it is readily available in an array of styles, textures, and colors – or it can be painted to suit your home’s unique style!
With annual cleanings at least once a year for a period of eight to ten years, you can keep your home’s vinyl siding looking good as new for as long as possible!
Benefits of vinyl siding:
- Is an affordable home siding option
- Comes in an array of colors, styles, and textures
- Color-infused composition assures no cracking, chipping, or flaking
- Can be painted if your desired color isn’t available
- Resists pests, insects, and staining
- Is nearly maintenance-free
The Cons of Vinyl Siding:
If vinyl siding seems like the solution for you, then it is important to be aware of its pitfalls.
For one thing, vinyl siding dents easier than most materials. Even in heavier gauges, a baseball, hail, or power washing could all cause damage, which would then need to be repaired or replaced. Vinyl siding repair or replacement is also very time consuming – given its interlocking pattern, it is very difficult to remove.
Unfortunately, cold and hot temperatures are also a vinyl killer. Once your siding is damaged or cracked, water will seep behind the vinyl, causing incalculable harm to your home’s framing. In extreme cases, vinyl siding could even melt in areas with high temperatures!
Downsides of vinyl siding:
- Can be easily damaged, dented, or cracked
- Hard to repair or replace
- Easily damaged in harsh weather and temperature fluctuations
- Does little to help with home-efficiency
- May not efficiently protect the home
Is vinyl siding right for you?
When it comes to deciding something as important as home siding, all these factors must be weighed against other siding types.
Contact your local siding contractor to learn more!
