Siding is an extremely popular type of exterior wall finishing. Due to its strong association with American architecture, homeowners from all over the country continue to opt for this solution. What remains debatable, however, is choosing the right material that is a good compromise between price, aesthetics and durability. One of the most popular solutions is vinyl siding, which in exchange for a relatively low price offers a high level of durability, aesthetics and allows for effective personalization of the home exterior. PVC siding, however, is UV-sensitive, cracks and changes color, which can be a major drawback for many homeowners. As we write this article, we will try to explain to you whether vinyl siding is a good choice in 2024, and point out some alternatives that offer better performance.
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What Exactly is Vinyl Siding?
Vinyl siding, also known as PVC siding, began to spread in the latter half of the 1950s. With its lower production costs and low roll, vinyl proved to be a better alternative to aluminum. Waterproof and not susceptible to pests, PVC also displaced wood siding.
As a material, the vinyl used for siding is a relatively simple polymer. Polyvinyl chloride, also known as PVC, is the third most widely produced variety of plastic in the world, and has gained immense popularity due to its low price, high ductility and the ease with which the material can be adapted to the sometimes very diverse requirements of users.
Pros of Vinyl Siding
Affordability
One of the undeniable advantages of vinyl siding is its price. Even premium brands like Certainteed cost from $4.5 to $11 per sqft. For large homes as well as clients with smaller budgets, choosing PVC siding can generate several thousand dollars in savings. Comparing vinyl to the popular fiber cement siding, which costs on average usually between $12 and $18 per sqft, for an average sized home of 2,000 sqft, you will spend about $8,100 to as much as $16,200 less.
You can learn more about differences between vinyl and fiber siding here.
Minimal Maintenance
It is also worth mentioning that vinyl siding has extremely low maintenance requirements. Unlike cedar shakes or shingles, there is no need for impregnation. Painting is also not necessary, as PVC is colored at the production stage of the polymer itself through the use of admixtures.
The cleaning process for vinyl siding is also extremely easy, just use a soft-bristled brush and a detergent, such as dish washing liquid.
Versatility in Styles and Colors
The range of vinyl siding is extremely wide, with different colors, board widths and styles available. Thanks to the creativity of manufacturers, virtually every homeowner will be able to match their home’s appearance without much difficulty, while not spending too much.
Cons of Vinyl Siding
Durability Issues
Vinyl siding is susceptible to weather-related damage. In cold climates, it can become brittle and crack, while extreme heat can cause it to warp or melt – melting point of PVC ranges from 210 °F to 500 °F, however, already at about 100 °F, the vinyl starts to become slightly more malleable than usual.
In addition, vinyl siding undergoes accelerated degradation when exposed to intense UV radiation, which is inevitable in sunny areas. As a result, both the structure of the material is weakened, increasing the risk of cracks, and the color becomes less attractive – the white becomes yellowish, while other colors fade.
Aesthetic Concerns
While vinyl siding offers various styles, it often lacks the premium look that modern homeowners desire. This is especially evident after a few years, when the vinyl loses its original color or gets dirty. PVC siding is not considered a premium product, and we fear that it will always be treated that way again.
Environmental Impact
It is worth mentioning that the production of vinyl siding involves the emission of a large amount of CO2 and other environmentally harmful gases. In addition, PVC siding is not biodegradable and can be deadly in the event of a fire. If you are an environmentally conscious homeowner, this material is definitely not for you.
What Vinyl Siding Brands are Worth Their Price?
CertainTeed Siding
Some time ago, we published an article on our blog entitled Is CertainTeed Siding Good?, so this time, we will try to discuss the brand’s products as briefly as possible.
The range of vinyl siding manufactured by CertainTeed is very diverse – models with wide as well as narrow boards and in many colors are available. In addition, you can also opt for a selection of insulated PVC siding.
Thanks to the foam backing, CertainTeed PVC siding is not only more durable than competing products, but it also offers noticeably better insulation performance. Unfortunately, the refined manufacturing technology translates into higher purchase costs – typically, you’ll pay between $6 and $11 per sqft of CertainTeed siding.
Ply Gem Siding
Ply Gem is a manufacturer of vinyl siding sold under a number of brand names, such as Mastic, Variform and Alcoa. As a result, the company’s range of PVC siding is extremely wide, making it easy for customers to choose a solution that matches their desired architectural style.
An additional advantage of wall cladding from Ply Gem is its environmental friendliness – the company’s products consist of up to 80% recycled material. In addition, siding with an extremely high degree of wood reproduction is also available in this wide range of products. We should also add that Ply Gem offers its products in 15 colors, which overwhelmingly allows you to choose the perfect shade that will blend well with your roof, gutters and windows.
Unfortunately, the use of recycled materials does not translate into a low price – vinyl siding from Ply Gem costs from $6 to as much as $20 per square foot. However, high installation costs do not discourage homeowners, which is why many people choose the brand’s products.
Norandex
Norandex is a vinyl siding brand with an offering aimed primarily at those with more limited budgets, who are able to make subtle concessions on the ground of quality while saving many thousands of dollars. Despite the very attractive price, however, Norandex is not disappointing – they are simply not a premium product, but rather a medium range solution.
For such a low price, ranging from only $1.5 to $5 per sqaure foot, Norandex offers truly satisfactory quality combined with a wide range of available colors, materials and designs. As a result, its products are an excellent compromise between a number of important factors and we are happy to recommend them to our customers. Confirmation of the guarantee can also be found in the lifetime warranty, which also covers some hail damage.
Expert Opinion on Vinyl Siding
It’s worth being aware that in 2024, vinyl siding is no longer as popular as it was just a few years ago. Due to its susceptibility to UV degradation, PVC is not a good choice if you are looking for a solid solution for many years. Additionally, vinyl siding usually doesn’t look very realistic, and you don’t have to be an expert to instantly judge the material used for wall cladding on this particular house.
Certainly, you won’t find a better siding material if your budget is severely limited or you don’t care about long-term durability. However, if you can afford to spend a little more, like premium products or live in an extremely sunny area (Texas, New Mexico, Florida), it’s worth opting for other technologies, such as fiber cement siding, stucco or even engineered wood.
In That Case, Maybe I should Choose Fiber Cement Siding?
For the past 10 years or so, we have seen a growing interest in James Hardie siding installation Glenview service. Because of its much higher resistance to cracking, UV radiation and more durable colors, fiber cement siding has become an excellent alternative to vinyl siding.
From an exterior contractor’s point of view, fiber cement siding is a better alternative to PVC and wood siding in every way. After all, for just a little more money, you get up to three times the lifespan (up to 60 years), more customization options, less environmental impact and exactly the same easy maintenance.
However, it is worth remembering that purchasing fiber cement siding can be significantly more expensive than the vinyl alternative.Typically, the purchase of James Hardie siding, including installation, costs from $12 to as much as $20 per sqft, so this option is about $8,000-$16,000 more expensive than the vinyl siding.
Let’s mark again – vinyl siding in 2024 can still be a worthwhile solution and there are still situations where its purchase is justified.Remember, however, that fiber cement is simply a more refined, more durable and just a little more expensive material, which is why about 85% of all siding installed by the #1 Glenview siding contractor that is A.B. Edward is produced by James Hardie, the most popular fiber cement boards manufacturer.
Conclusion
As you can see, vinyl siding is still an option worth considering in 2024, although you should be aware of both its disadvantages and advantages. PVC is an excellent material for those on a tight budget, but if you can afford to spend a little more, it’s definitely worth considering more expensive, but also more reputable solutions, such as fiber cement siding.
