Vinyl siding is a very popular building material indeed. Widely used in residential and commercial construction, vinyl siding comes in a wide variety of colors, shapes, and styles, ensuring you get the siding you want for your project. Vinyl is also a very affordable material as well as long lasting. After all the saying goes” if it’s vinyl, it’s final”. But is it the right choice for your home? Use this guide to vinyl siding and choose for yourself whether vinyl is right for you.
The Pros
Vinyl siding has many benefits and advantages over other siding materials. Here is a brief list of the pros of vinyl siding:
· Long Lasting- Superior longevity makes vinyl one of the most popular siding choices. Some manufacturers even have lifetime warranties on their products. · Quick Installation- Vinyl siding is quick and easy to install. Many homeowners choose vinyl because it is so easy to DIY. With basic hand tools and the right instructions, anyone can install vinyl siding. · Variety of Colors- There are hundreds-if not thousands of color options available from the many different manufacturers. · Variety of Styles- From ship lap to scallops and everything in between, vinyl styles borrow from conventional wood siding materials as well as creating some of their own. · Affordable- If you’re looking for an affordable siding, then vinyl is definitely the cheapest. Even if you’re planning on hiring a siding contractor to do the work for you, it can still be an affordable project.
The Cons
While vinyl siding definitely has its advantages, it does had certain downfalls that can make it undesirable for some. Here’s a list of some of the cons of vinyl siding:
· UV Fade- When vinyl is constantly exposed to direct sunlight, it can become brittle. If an impact from a baseball or Frisbee hits a spot with heavy UV damage, it can shatter like glass. Bright colors tend to fade in direct sunlight as well. · Architectural Details- Because siding is well known as a cheap material, it is often an undesirable siding product when renovating on the higher end of the architectural scale. · Warping- In extreme heat, vinyl begins to break down and reform back to a liquid state. This can cause dropping and sagging where hot noon day sun hits the surface of the vinyl. · Toxic Manufacturing Process- Vinyl siding production has been linked to several forms of rare cancers. While these precautions have now been addressed and were only a danger to those who work with the materials, it none the less causes concerns in the building industry.
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