When it comes to siding, vinyl is among the most popular materials. But just because vinyl siding shields so many homes and businesses doesn’t mean it’s the right choice for your property. There are some local companies that have the siding experts but to make that call, you need to know about the good and the bad of vinyl siding, which we’ll discuss here.

Advantages of Vinyl Siding

Vinyl has become a common choice for building exteriors for several reasons. Let’s start with the pros of vinyl siding.

1. Cost Efficient

Compared to other similar siding choices like fiber-cement and aluminum, vinyl siding is the cheapest. Though prices will vary depending on the manufacturer and installation process, you can expect vinyl siding to cost between $3.50 and $7 per square foot — fiber-cement siding is about double that price. If you want the most bang for your buck, you can’t go wrong with vinyl siding.

2. Well-insulated and Durable

Just because vinyl siding is relatively cheap doesn’t mean it’s flimsy. On the contrary, vinyl siding is quite durable, withstanding the forces of moisture, wind, extreme temperatures, sunlight, and more. As a result, properly-installed and well-maintained vinyl siding does a good job of protecting a building’s exterior surfaces while keeping its interior well-insulated.

3. Easy to Paint and Can be Customized

Vinyl siding is also versatile when it comes to style options. For one thing, this material doesn’t need to be painted at all, instead coming in a variety of colors right out of the box. That said, if you wish to restore or change the color of your vinyl siding via residential exterior painting, this material is highly receptive to paint. With vinyl siding, you can easily outfit your home or business with any color scheme of your choosing.

4. Low-Maintenance

Lastly, you don’t need to invest huge amounts of time or energy taking care of your vinyl siding. Maintenance matters for any building exterior, of course, but the slick surface and durable construction of vinyl siding makes it easy to clean via power washing and/or scrubbing. Likewise, most siding repair jobs are easily performed, involving some simply crack-filling, paint touch-ups, and individual board replacements.

Disadvantages of Vinyl Siding

Despite all its benefits, vinyl siding has its share of setbacks, too. Here are the cons of vinyl siding.

1. Moisture Can Accumulate Beneath Boards

While vinyl surfaces are resistant to moisture, the shape of vinyl siding boards (along with its layered installation) can trap water between the boards and insulative layers. This lingering moisture can make its way inside the property, encourage the growth of mold and mildew, and cause structural damage.

2. Not the Most Environmentally-Friendly Choice

If you worry about your home’s or business’ carbon footprint, you might resist vinyl siding based on its method of manufacture. To synthesize the polyvinyl chloride (PVC) necessary for the creation of vinyl siding boards, manufacturers emit high levels of nitrogen oxide, dioxin, sulfur dioxide, and more — gasses and chemicals that contribute to climate change and/or pollute the air.

3. Vinyl May De-value Your House

Despite all the good vinyl siding can do for your home or business, its presence can actually lower your property’s demand and market value, especially if the siding covers or eliminates certain desirable architectural features. Potential buyers might simply not like the look of vinyl siding, while others might view it as an inferior siding choice compared to masonry, aluminum, fiber-cement, etc.

4. Professional Installation is Needed

While the installation of vinyl siding is relatively simple compared to certain other options, it requires careful planning and execution to ensure the best results and longest lifespan. Even something as minor as nails being driven too hard or too lightly can lead to warping, improper insulation, and a host of other problems. Whether you’re investing in brand new vinyl siding or seeking siding replacement, you must do your homework when hiring contractors to tackle this project.

<!-