It is important to use exterior siding that enhances your house’s beauty and withstands the weather.
That’s why many have turned to vinyl siding. This low-maintenance, durable choice sees rising use among homeowners. Unlike wood or aluminum, vinyl siding offers enhanced resilience and design range.
Manufacturers have enhanced the quality over time, bidding goodbye to problems like cracking or fading. This soon caught the eye of homeowners seeking alternatives. By the 80s, vinyl siding had won hearts globally.
Continued upgrades introduced new designs and patterns, upping its market demand. Nowadays, it outdoes its 80s self, offering better insulation and a variety of textures, that’s why it’s a top pick for siding.
You’re likely pondering, ‘Why vinyl siding?’ or curious about its pros and cons. This blog delves into Vinyl siding’s pros and cons so you can make an informed choice when deciding if it is right for your home.
Vinyl siding is one of the most popular exterior siding after wood which is preferred by homeowners.
It is a standard cladding (coating) material that is used by homeowners to protect and enhance the appearance of their home’s exterior.
Vinyl siding is generally made using polyvinyl chloride (PVC) resin. This makes vinyl siding durable, versatile, and relatively low-cost compared to other siding. The best part about vinyl siding is it comes in different colors, textures, and styles, which makes it convenient for homeowners to choose the one that fits their home’s architecture.
Vinyl siding comes in different options that suit different tastes and home styles.
Popular Vinyl siding colors like white, beige, grey, blue, green, and red, as well as darker shades like brown and black, are some of the popular choices that are usually preferred by householders.
The average lifespan of vinyl siding is around 20 to 40 years.
The lifespan of vinyl siding depends on other factors like brand, quality, material, and how frequently you maintain your vinyl siding.
Apart from this, the longevity of vinyl siding can also depend on climatic conditions. Long exposure to UV rays and sunlight can lessen the life of vinyl siding.
So, to increase the life of vinyl siding, it’s better to have someone to inspect and maintain it.
Understanding vinyl siding pros and cons helps you make a well-informed decision about whether it is the right fit for your home or not.
Vinyl siding offers several key advantages that make it a popular choice among homeowners.
Since vinyl siding is made from polyvinyl chloride (PVC), this allows them to be built resistant against water. Hence, they are resistant to moisture and insect infestations. This is very effective in coastal regions, where homes are in constant contact with water and salt.
Vinyl siding can also withstand harsh weather conditions like rain, wind, and hail without causing warping or cracking damage.
The main reason why vinyl siding is difficult to maintain is that it is made from polyvinyl chloride (PVC). This PVC material is very effective against water and salt; thus, it does not deteriorate quickly. It only needs occasional cleaning with soap and water.
Using vinyl siding also saves a lot of cost and time. With just a little effort, your vinyl siding can be kept fresh and new, unlike wood siding, which needs regular coating.
The initial cost of vinyl siding is comparatively low along with its long life makes it more cost-effective and budget-friendly to use. In contrast to wood or stone, vinyl siding is a more budget-friendly option.
Furthermore, there is no need for regular painting or maintenance like wood. In addition, vinyl siding is much easier to install compared to materials like wood or slate.
Vinyl siding offers a variety of options for different tastes and styles. From classic colors like white, beige, blue, and green to darker tones like black or brown. Vinyl siding comes in all colors that complement homeowners’ preferences and architecture. Vinyl siding is also available in textures that could mimic natural materials.
For a more modern and sleek look, install panels vertically. For a classic and traditional look, install panels horizontally.
Vinyl siding comes with insulation support, which helps keep the room temperature at the right temperature according to the weather. This, in turn, can decrease the dependence on heaters and air conditioners, which could lower energy consumption for heating and cooling the home.
Lighter shades of vinyl siding are more effective at keeping off sunlight and vice-versa for darker shades.
Despite its many advantages, vinyl siding also has some notable drawbacks.
If vinyl siding is exposed to constant heat and sunlight, it can lose its color. Strong UV rays can break down color pigments caused by the fading of colors.
While lighter colors can look dull, it is most noticeable in darker shades. Moreover, if vinyl siding is not properly installed, noticeable seams or gaps may develop, which affect its aesthetic appeal. In regions like Rajasthan, vinyl siding would require frequent maintenance and cleaning so that it could preserve its original color.
Making vinyl siding involves a certain chemical (PVC), which is not good for the environment. This chemical released in the air pollutes water and air during manufacturing. Even during the process of disposal, vinyl siding doesn’t break down easily.
Burning it would release chemicals used in marketing. There are also limited methods to recycle vinyl siding; thus, it often ends up in landfills.
If damaged, repairing vinyl siding is limited. This makes it difficult to match the vinyl siding’s current color and texture.
Companies manufacturing vinyl siding naturally have diverse color options; however, certain old or less popular colors are often discontinued. This would make it difficult to match the color of the original product.
The modern version of vinyl siding is made to resist sudden force or impact without any damage or deformation. However, this only depends on the type of siding you purchase. At times, vinyl siding is unable to withstand pressure from hailstones or debris.
It is important to note only modern versions are highly resistant to sudden impact. But if you are using older versions of vinyl siding, then they are more vulnerable to hailstones.
It is very important to install vinyl siding properly; otherwise, it can trap moisture between the gaps and openings between the siding panels. This moisture could also give rise to mold or algae that could cause stains on the siding.
Excessive moisture can also affect the insulation of vinyl siding. As a result, it could also affect the thermal insulation.
Vinyl siding would depend on the quality and type you are going with.
Using higher-quality vinyl siding can often lead to achieving a natural look. Meanwhile, cheaper quality vinyl siding may end up looking more artificial and fake.
The cost of vinyl siding varies from supplier to supplier. It may start from 350 Rs per piece to 1000 Rs per price.
Vinyl siding offers endless benefits, from durability to longevity.
With proper maintenance and care, vinyl siding can generally last for 50 years, more or less. Apart from this, the initial cost and maintenance costs are comparatively low.
However, certain drawbacks need to be considered. For example, the vinyl siding color could fade with time. Material used in making vinyl siding is also considered harmful to the environment. Overall, it all boils down to how you feel about it.
Ultimately, your decision should consider your home’s needs, budget, and climate to determine if vinyl siding is the right choice.
Picking vinyl siding for your house?
It’s important to select a trustworthy manufacturer. CertainTeed India stands out as one of the best manufacturers of vinyl offering high-quality products with superior durability and an extensive selection of colors and styles to match any architectural design. When you go for CertainTeed India, you aren’t just making your home’s outer side stunning, you’re also making it enduring to last for years.
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Saint-Gobain Grindwell Norton Limited Devanahalli Road, Via. Old Madras Road,
Bangalore – 560 049. India.
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Email: certainteed-india@saint-gobain.com
Phone: +91 (80) 4697 8623
24 X 7 contact # +91 98801 71107
Fax: +91 (0) 80 46978646