Maybe you have been thinking about getting some house vinyl siding for a while, or maybe a neighbor is getting some done. Either way, if you are really interested in siding it is important to have all you facts in a row before you make a decision on vinyl.
What Is House Vinyl Siding?
Vinyl siding is a tough and durable second skin for your house that is made up of long strips of polyvinyl chloride resin, or PVC, which is fashioned to look like traditional wood siding as found on the older Victorian homes. It is a plastic exterior protective cover for a house, and can be used for decoration and weatherproofing. House vinyl siding is an alternative to traditional wood siding or other materials such as aluminum or fiber cement siding.
The vinyl siding is made up of 80% PVC and the other 20% is composed of the ingredients that give it its defining qualities such as color, opacity, gloss, impact resistance, flexibility, and durability.
These ingredients include titanium dioxide, calcium carbonate and tin mercaptan or butadiene which protects it from UV light, and balances and stabilizes the acids and lets the production flow easier.
When Did Vinyl Siding First Come About?
House vinyl siding was first introduced on the market in the late 1950s by an independently-owned manufacturing plant in Columbus, Ohio as a replacement for aluminum siding. In the seventies, the process became faster and more economical as well as offering a wider range of colors. Now vinyl is the most commonly used siding product in the United States.
Who Uses House Vinyl Siding?
House vinyl siding now accounts for
about half of all the siding sold, and about 1/3 of the siding used in new homes. Contractors are called out for new houses as well as renovating older homes. Other people who use vinyl siding are do-it-yourself enthusiasts who are renovating their homes as it is relatively easy to use. If you are unsure about qualified contractors and installers in your area, it is helpful to contact the Vinyl Siding Institute.
The Lifespan Of Vinyl Siding
House vinyl sliding can last anything from 25 to 50 years before it needs replacing. Extreme weather conditions do take its toll, but vinyl is generally built to withstand it and can take a great deal of damage without chipping or buckling.
Why Use Vinyl Siding?
Vinyl is usually less expensive to purchase and install than most other siding materials. It is the cheapest siding option around. When you compare quotes for having your house professionally painted and vinyl siding the odds are that the vinyl siding installation quote will be close, if not better. Some house vinyl siding installers also throw in a lot of extras thrown such as gutters and insulation under the siding, which makes it even more cost effective. House vinyl siding is also available in more colors than before and new vinyl siding does not fade as quickly as older vinyl. Now the pigmentation is baked through the substrate instead of applied to the surface, so vinyl won’t show scratches and look better for longer. The color in vinyl siding does retain for quite a couple of decades which is another reason people invest in it. It’s more often cheaper to install, requires less maintenance because it needs no painting, doesn’t warp or twist, is impervious to water and bugs, and can vent moisture.
What Are The Costs Involved?
In general house vinyl siding is a lot cheaper to purchase and install than other types of siding. Vinyl siding costs are on average cost of between $0.45 and $1.90 a square foot, or $7575 to $11575, based on the average 3200 square feet you’d need to cover a 2300-square-foot home. Prices do vary from one installer to the next, so ask for a written quotation and compare.
How Easy Is It To Maintain?
Although many marketers say that house vinyl siding is maintenance free, it is now. It is however very easy to maintain. All you need is a garden hose, a soft-bristled brush, and diluted solutions of vinegar (30%) and water (70%) if you are not using any industrial cleaners. Compared to traditional exterior house paint, the color in your vinyl siding will last much, much longer and you do not need to paint it. To maintain its fresh appearance, vinyl siding should be washed once a year. Any wooden window sashes and trim will still require routine painting, and ladders leaning against the house can scuff or crack the vinyl siding.
House Vinyl Siding Options
Gone are the days where vinyl came in cream, or cream. You now have an array of colors at your disposal as well as well as different trims and thicknesses. Siding can also be applied either vertically or horizontally. Your options range from liquid to stone, and includes insulated siding. House vinyl siding can also be convincingly molded to mimic the look of any other siding type.
Environmental Concerns With House Vinyl Siding
Vinyl is thought to cause cancer in
humans. Although vinyl may be safe while it is on your home, there are scientists who believe that manufacturing and disposing vinyl is hazardous to our health and to the environment. Accidental fires in a house with vinyl siding are more dangerous because vinyl produces toxic fumes when heated. Both acid smoke and carcinogen dioxin are released when vinyl siding burns or melts in a fire which can cause people to die of chemically toxic fumes before the flames actually reach them.
On the other hand, getting house vinyl siding is less energy intensive than aluminum siding and vinyl siding can be recycled. Vinyl siding requires no additional finish resources to complete on-site application which earns it points with the NAHB Model Green Home Building Guidelines. As long as you don’t lick or touch the vinyl siding regularly, you will be safe from any lead poisoning it may possibly cause. And because house vinyl siding is ventilated from the back, it also keeps most of the lead outside your home.