Vinyl siding is a type of siding product that is created from plastic and used on the very outermost layer of a home’s walls.  Siding protects your home from the weather as well as keeping insects and other pests out so you must give careful consideration to the type of siding you will use.  Vinyl siding has been a popular choice in recent years for several reasons but it also has it’s disadvantages.  You will need to compare both to know if vinyl siding is the right choice for your home.

The biggest advantage of vinyl siding for most homeowners is that it doesn’t need the maintenance that many other types of siding need.  The color is an intrinic part of the finished product so it will never need to be painted.  It also is fairly inexpensive when compared to custom painting every few years or even brick facades.   While brick is a great option for very long term, most people can’t afford the extensive upfront costs when comparing brick vs. vinyl siding.

A few things to be aware of about vinyl is that vinyl siding will fade with time from the effects of the sun and weather but this takes a long time and doesn’t affect the protection the siding offers.  Sometimes over the course of many years, the siding will get a chalky substance on it.  The best thing to do in this situation is to wash it down with a soft bristle brush and some vinyl siding cleaner.  This can really help extend the life of your vinyl siding over the years.  Some products claim that you can just spray the soap on and hose it off…but I’ve found that this just usually leaves streaks and dirty areas.   Also if your siding is on a side of your home that gets little sunlight…but lots of moisture, you may have problems with mildew and mildew removal.   If you’re going to clean your vinyl siding, do it right.  Get a ladder, some planking, soft bristle brushes and sponges and spend time on it.  You’ll be rewarded if you take the proper time upfront.

One other caution about siding is that in very cold weather, vinyl siding can become quite brittle.  It snaps and cracks very easily when its really cold, so avoid running into it with a snowblower, car, or the kids sleds.    If you do happen to snap off a chunk of the siding, you may be best advised to wait until Spring or Summer to replace it.  That way you’ll get a better fit for the new piece as the vinyl will be at a proper temperature and able to take its correct shape and flexibility.

For those who are eco conscious, vinyl siding takes less energy to produce and manufacture than some other forms of siding however it is not very recyclable.  Only scraps or leftover unused product can be recycled at this point in time.  Another disadvantage to vinyl siding is the fact that it will release toxins when burned so if in the unlikely event of a house fire, the poisonous fumes could make a fatality or serious injury more apt to occur.

I’ve found that there are many local contractors in most areas that can accomodate vinyl siding installations.  However, I’ve found that generally the ones that specialize in only doing siding and windows usually do the best job.  This is because they work with many different manufacturers of siding and know how to work with each different type and style correctly.    A great way to find a reliable contractor is to ask your friends and family about who they have used for their siding upgrades or  perhaps using an online contractor search like Angie’s List.

You can also do more research to learn more about additional advantages and disadvantages of vinyl siding, by doing a more extensive search online.  Home sites, construction websites and siding manufacturer sites will have a lot of detailed information for you including vinyl siding costs and other pricing per square feet estimates based on style and quality.

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