Is Vinyl Siding Any Good
(6 Votes)
Article Center - Siding Articles
Thursday, 30 August 2007 07:43

Vinyl siding is the most effective way to protect your home from the elements, as well as, save on energy costs. Satisfaction comes from knowing you will never have to paint again! Years of testing and experience have proved the superiority of vinyl siding over wood; aluminum, and steel siding. Unlike these materials, vinyl will not scratch, dent, rust or rot!

Why Vinyl Siding? Vinyl is now the number one of choice for nearly all homeowners. Builders, Realtors, Investors all say that vinyl siding is the smart choice. There are two simple reasons. Vinyl lasts longer than nearly every other material, endures against sun, wind, rain and hail, and it never has to be painted.

There are many different siding profiles to create different exterior looks. You can select traditional clapboard style, the beveled look of a dutchlap panel, or the old-fashioned charm of a beaded panel. Your home can have an exterior that is slick and modern or one that is rustic and comfortable.

Important Things to Know About Vinyl Siding

Panel Thickness - Gauge is the thickness of the panel. The higher the gauge (or panel thickness), the better the panel. Thicker panels offer greater impact and weather resistance. Thicker panels also are more rigid so they will hang straighter and flatter against the wall for a more attractive finish to your home.

Wood Grain - Vinyl siding is molded with different wood grains to offer different exterior looks. Smooth grains tend to work well with homes with more traditional designs, but also work well with contemporary architectural styles. More pronounced grains tend to give homes a more rustic appearance.

By the Square - Vinyl siding is sold by the "square". Each square of siding covers 100 square feet, and shipping cartons from the manufacturer contain two squares. You can estimate how many squares you will need for your house - determine the square footage of each side of your home and divide by 100.

Don't subtract windows and doorways from the measurements. Add 10 percent to account for cutting and waste.

Style, Performance and Value

You can select the right siding for your home by considering the architectural style, the environmental conditions such as wind, hail, and your budget.

Design and Style

However, the full benefits of vinyl siding come only to those who choose a superior company that uses the highest quality products. Make sure to choose a company that guarantees results on workmanship and the effectiveness of the vinyl siding they use.

Vinyl siding, when properly manufactured and expertly installed, should provide insulation in a few important ways:

  • First, it should create structural integrity. Vinyl siding can be thought of as a protective shell for your home. In this way, it should be as seamless and durable as possible.
  • Second, vinyl siding should increase R-value. R-value refers to thermal resistance, and is one way of measuring the insulating capacity of any given material.
  • Third, vinyl siding should allow moisture to escape. By permitting the walls to "breathe," the problems associated with mildew and rot can be effectively averted.
  • Finally, vinyl siding should prevent air infiltration. In this way, the many unwanted elements carried by the air-such as noise or pollution-can be significantly reduced.

Not all vinyl sidings are created equally. Neither are the guarantees from the companies that install them! Most vinyl siding you will find today is made from recycled material. It can usually be recognized by its light bluish color on the back-side.

Vinyl siding produced by inferior companies is usually hollow-backed, with flat foam or drop-in contoured foam underlayments. Such options provide no structural integrity, and are either too thin to provide adequate insulation, or trap in moisture entirely.

Often such products are poorly installed. When improperly nailed, even the highest quality vinyl siding will lose its protective and insulating features. Such problems will only become worse over time and eventually resulting in a total loss of your investment!



Comments
Add New Search
Mike Hall  - Very Good Siding Info     |69.40.50.xxx |2008-09-27 17:26:41
This is a great article about the quality of vinyl siding and how it has changed
into a desired product of home owners.
Write comment
Name:
Email:
 
Website:
Title:
UBBCode:
[b] [i] [u] [url] [quote] [code] [img] 
 
 
:D:):(:0:shock::confused:8):lol::x:P:oops::cry::evil::twisted::roll::wink::!::?::idea::arrow:
 
Please input the anti-spam code that you can read in the image.

3.26 Copyright (C) 2008 Compojoom.com / Copyright (C) 2007 Alain Georgette / Copyright (C) 2006 Frantisek Hliva. All rights reserved."

 

Contact Us Today!

Feel free to contact us by phone during business hours or email 24/7. You can also visit our showroom at the location below.

Chapman Windows and Doors
882 S. Matlack St - Unit G
West Chester, Pennsylvania 19382
Phone: 610-431-8980
Toll Free: 1-866-452-4914
M-F 8-5 Sat. 9-5 Sun. 11-3 or by appt.


Take A Closer Look At Our Work

Take a closer look at some of the jobs we've done in your area by browsing our interactive job map. You can view various projects throughout our service area to get ideas for your own home and view the craftsmanship of our installers.

Learn more...

Backed By A Lifetime Warranty

To get the most out of your investment, you need more than just good parts and quality installation, you need a company that provides a warranty that protects that investment. That's why we provide a lifetime warranty, even on our workmanship. Learn more...

Window Contractors