If you’re ready to give the exterior of your home a facelift, a great option to consider is to install vinyl siding. Archway offers vinyl siding as part of our exterior remodeling services, but we don’t talk about it very often – until now!
Vinyl siding was introduced in the 1950’s as a substitute for aluminum siding, and has been gaining popularity over the last decade or so as a cost-effective way to cover and protect a home’s exterior. The average cost of vinyl siding is $2-7 per square foot installed, which is about 11% less than cedar siding and 26% less than aluminum siding. In addition to cost-effectiveness, vinyl siding also takes less time to install than other siding materials. Due to its growing popularity, more than a third of the exterior cladding of homes in the US and Canada is now made of vinyl.
Features of Vinyl Siding
Low Maintenance
A great feature of vinyl siding, which adds to its popularity, is that it is very low-maintenance. Higher-grade vinyl siding from manufacturers like Owen’s Corning or Alside does not need to be painted because it retains color for years and years. It also doesn’t show scratches because the pigmentation permeates all the way through the siding instead of just sitting at the surface. Although of these features make vinyl siding a low-maintenance option, don’t mistake “low-maintenance” for “no-maintenance” because the siding should be thoroughly washed off at least once a year.
Aesthetically Pleasing
Vinyl siding is very versatile in its appearance. It can mimic other, more expensive materials like cedar, redwood, clapboard, etc. and is available in many types of textures, finishes and colors.
Weather Resistant
Vinyl does not absorb water, so it protects against rot and decay and can withstand extreme weather (including winds up to 110 mph), however if it is exposed to very extreme cold, there is a chance the siding could become brittle and crack.
Good Return on Investment
A good vinyl siding installation should last about 50 years, making it a great return on investment because it pays for itself over time. Also, because it takes a long time to show wear and tear, your home will still look great if/when you decide to sell it. This gives you one less thing you have to worry about cost-wise when putting your home on the market.
Vinyl Siding Tips
Before you decide to install vinyl siding on your home, here are a few things you should know first.
- Vinyl siding comes with a warranty, but make sure you read the fine print so you understand what exactly it covers and for how long. Warranties can sometimes be a little confusing or misleading if you do not read it carefully.
- To increase energy efficiency, additional insulation may be needed because vinyl siding is only a superficial treatment – don’t count on the siding alone to dramatically lower your energy bills, although it will help to slightly reduce those costs over time.
- The thickness/gauge of the vinyl is the key to the cost and durability of the siding, so the thicker the vinyl the longer it lasts, but the more expensive it is.
- To install vinyl siding, you’ll need a professional installer to remove the old siding and install insulation board before the vinyl is put in place. Vinyl siding will expand and contract, so it should hang loosely on the wall sheathing. Look for the siding panels to fit snugly against each other with a quarter-inch gap at both ends.
To learn more about the vinyl siding Archway offers, or any of our other exterior remodeling services, please call us today or fill out a contact form. We hope to help you beautify the exterior of your home!