The Ultimate Guide to Vinyl Siding
When remodeling your house, whether to sell or for your own enjoyment, sprucing up the exterior to improve your curb appeal is probably on the top of your list. All homes, from historical masterpieces to newer construction, occasionally need updated siding due to age, sun fading and weather damage.
Due to its low price, vinyl siding is becoming a popular choice for exterior updating, but are there any downsides? Here is some information to help you determine if vinyl siding is the right choice for your project.
Vinyl vs Wood and Aluminum Siding
With wood and aluminum siding options available, you’re probably wondering why vinyl siding is the best options for Rockford homes. Let’s start with wood siding. Wood absorbs moisture to it’s prone to warping and rotting. It also needs to be painted and stained every few years just to keep up its looks. Most importantly, wood siding is extremely expensive.
Aluminum is a little better. It doesn’t warp or rot and isn’t nearly as expensive as wood. That doesn’t mean aluminum is void of any problems. It’s prone to denting and dinging which is a huge problem in Rockford which has its fair stare of hail and heavy winds. Aluminum also absorbs heat which will make your home hot to the touch. That heat will transfer throughout your entire home making it uncomfortable and costing you more money on your energy bills.
Thankfully, vinyl siding doesn’t have any of these problems. It’s low maintenance so it doesn’t need to be painted or stained and will never warp or rot. Also, it’s extremely energy efficient and durable thanks to a foam backing the can be installed beneath the panels.
Another great benefit of vinyl siding is how customizable it is. There are many colors and styles available. Plus, if you like the look of wood but don’t want to deal with any of its problems, you can get wood grain finishes for your vinyl siding. All of the colors are baked into the panels so you’ll never need to worry about the colors fading or becoming washed out over time.
Vinyl siding sounds great but where can you get it for your home? Feldco, of course. We’re Rockford’s best siding company. Get a free quote today and get started on your siding project today.
The Reputation of Vinyl Siding
Vinyl siding is constructed from polyvinyl chloride, or PVC. In the earlier days of PVC, some homeowners definitely turned up their noses at the plastic-like, beige material as the first thing a guest would see at their home.
However, a lot of advances have been made in the industry, and vinyl siding now comes in a wide range of shades, as well as textures such as wood grain and fish scale.
If the material is well-chosen for your type of home and expertly installed by a professional, it can really enhance the look of your home and add value to the neighborhood.
Even if you have a historical home that you’re restoring, It’s a fantastic option. With the many styles and customization options available, your historic home could get a face lift that improve’s its curb appeal.
Durability
Although all forms of siding will eventually deteriorate with age and use, vinyl siding is one of the more durable choices on the market. In fact, if well maintained, it could last a lifetime.
It doesn’t require a lot of maintenance and is made to withstand 110 mph wind. Sunlight won’t damage vinyl either because the colors are baked into the panels. You’ll never have to worry about faded or washed out colors on your home exterior.
One of the best benefits of vinyl is that it doesn’t warp or rot like other siding materials. This is because moisture isn’t absorbed into the panels. That’s important when living in Rockford where it rains, snows and hails frequently.
How Long Does Vinyl Siding Last?
The longevity of a new set of vinyl siding depends on a lot of factors, such as weather, sun fading, and maintenance. Your vinyl siding will last a minimum of 25 years but can last much longer if you keep it clean and maintained.
How to Maintain Vinyl Siding
Also, vinyl siding will hold its color for a lot longer than painted wood. You don’t need to work hard to keep it looking beautiful like you will for wood.
Don’t worry about needing to rent an expensive and cumbersome pressure washer – it’s actually better not to blast it with a high-powered stream. If your siding gets dirty, you can rinse it off with a garden hose.
For grime that requires a little extra assistance, you can try using a soft brush with a standard cleaning solution such as Windex. Or, you could even mix up your own natural cleaning solution with vinegar and water in a plastic spray bottle.
Leave It to the Pros
Although the installation process is relatively straightforward, if you’re not a professional you should hire one for this job. Vinyl siding will look attractive and high-quality when done right.
An expert will know how to make all of the seams, window and door openings and overhangs look professional and unobtrusive. If you don’t know what you’re doing, it’s easy for the siding to buckle after it’s completed, so it might be a good idea to consider looking for a professional in the industry unless you have a lot of experience and know-how.
How to Find a Reputable Installer
If you know someone whose vinyl siding looks amazing on their house, ask them for the number of the installer. You can also search online for a company in your area or crowd source info on social media.
Once you have a few companies to choose from, you should look into their references and view some of their past work to make sure you like the quality. Narrow it down to two or three contenders before you make an appointment for a price estimate.
Don’t automatically go with the cheapest price – take into account their references, professionalism, timeliness and how comfortable you feel with this company working on your home.
Many homeowners have regretted their decision to go with the cheapest bid, only to find that the installer did not show up on time, cut corners and left the job site a mess.
Selecting the Best Quality Material
When shopping for vinyl siding, the first thing you should look for is a designation on the package showing that the product has been tested by the American Society of Testing and Materials.
The ASTM publishes standards for a wide variety of products to ensure that they are safe and of a reasonable quality. You may also want to choose material that has been treated with an anti-weather coating to protect it and help it last longer – typically, titanium oxide.
There are many different websites where you can purchase vinyl siding, as well as all of the big-box home improvement stores where you can see and touch the material in person.
Finally, there may sometimes be opportunities to purchase secondhand from someone who changed their mind about remodeling. If you choose to go this route, be sure to view all of the siding before purchasing to make sure that it’s all clean, intact and the same color and texture.
Vinyl Siding Is Your Best Option
Vinyl siding is easily the best option for your Rockford home. It’s beautiful, durable and energy efficient, way more than other materials.
When you need replacement siding in Rockford Illinois, get a free quote from Feldco – we’re the best siding contractors in the Midwest. We’ve happily served over 350,000 homeowners over the last 40 years.