Benefits of Vinyl Siding

Last revised: 02/01/2016

Due to the large assortment of finishing materials, everyone can be at a loss and not immediately decide which one to choose. The abundance of offers from manufacturers makes you confused. If we talk about modern and innovative materials, then among them an honorable leading place is siding. But, and its diversity is represented in a huge number of models that are made on the basis of different materials. The most common vinyl siding, which is presented in different shapes and colors. Let's figure out how to choose vinyl siding, because each of the manufacturers promises high quality of its products, but you should make sure of this yourself before buying a profitable product.

A few words about siding

Today, manufacturers use innovative technologies and equipment that allow you to process almost any material to the required state. So, for the manufacture of siding using:

In addition, externally, the sheets can imitate a brick, logs or stone. Thanks to this, you can change the facade of the house and give it a completely different look.

Note! Each type of siding has its own characteristics, advantages and disadvantages. Before you go to the store, you need to study all the characteristics.

Features and Benefits of Vinyl Siding

For its manufacture, polyvinyl chloride (PVC) is used. This choice is due to the presence of a high decorative potential in the material, which means that the manufacturer can manufacture siding panels in a large color spectrum and different textures. To give resistance to damage during the manufacturing process, plasticizers are introduced. Distinguish vinyl siding by type of installation:

The list of advantages is quite large, but it is worth highlighting several key characteristics:

Resistance to deformation. Due to the elasticity and plasticity of the upper layer, it is able to withstand the ingress of small stones.
Resistant to environmental influences. Regardless of changes in air temperature, hail, strong wind and high humidity, the coating remains in its original form.
Resistant to mildew and insects. If a tree is almost immediately attacked by insects, then vinyl siding is not afraid of this. It does not accumulate moisture, so moss and other types of vegetation will not appear inside it.
Ease of installation. Siding panels are designed in such a way that one person can cope with their installation without special skills and knowledge. Light weight and compact size provide high speed. To do this, you need the minimum set of tools that is in every home.
Durability. If we talk about high-quality vinyl siding, then its service life can reach 50 years or more.
Range. Innovative technologies allow you to create various decorative facade panels. With their help, you can implement any design idea.
Fire safety. Even at high temperatures, the siding does not burn.
Environmental friendliness. All materials used for the manufacture of vinyl siding are absolutely safe for humans and the environment. During operation, it does not emit any harmful fumes.
Operation and maintenance. After installation, it is enough to wipe the surface of the siding with a damp cloth or rinse off the dust by supplying water from the hose. A big advantage is the lack of the need to paint with paints and varnishes or use other protective equipment. With the formation of drips after rains, you can use any detergent without aggressive components and abrasive particles. Throughout the entire service life, the panels will not change their shade, despite the intensity of sunlight.
Price. If you compare the siding with other finishing materials for the facade, you can immediately notice a big difference in price. Therefore, cladding the building with siding leads to lower costs.

This is an incomplete list of the positive characteristics of vinyl siding, but this is enough to consider it the best among others.

Note! The most common textures are: imitation of a ship board and a block house (log wall).

Domestic and foreign manufacturers

Products that are on the modern market, not only from domestic manufacturers. To find out which siding is better to choose, a little general information regarding each of them will help. So, North America is the birthplace of vinyl siding: its production began in the USA and Canada more than 50 years ago. Despite the fact that today it is produced around the world, these countries are considered the most conscientious. The list of advantages is quite large, but there is one significant drawback - high cost. Since it is affected by transportation costs.

If the choice of material will occur among domestic manufacturers, then it is worth following some advice from specialists. It is advisable to consider siding only in light shades, since it is less susceptible to ultraviolet cure. The same applies to all components. Too dark shades will fade quickly enough due to high temperature indicators. For example, black or dark brown color will not only quickly lose its brightness and saturation, but will also contribute to the heating of the internal structure, which will lead to destruction.

Note! When choosing vinyl siding from manufacturers in North America, you need to pay attention only to the appearance and aesthetics. All other characteristics will correspond to the specified data in the accompanying documentation.

Criteria for choosing vinyl siding

Before proceeding with the search for the desired finishing material, you should familiarize yourself with some features. Each sheet of vinyl siding has an inner and outer surface. The first will be responsible for stiffness: the higher this indicator, the more stable the material will withstand temperatures and mechanical damage. The second provides high stability with external aggressors, therefore, steadily resists burnout, bloating, etc.

Now consider the main criteria:

Through color. Each sheet of vinyl siding should have a uniform color both from the inside and from the outside. Some manufacturers use less pigment to save money when painting the inside, resulting in a lighter shade. The presence of different colors suggests that staining was carried out only superficially after production. Such a model will have a low cost, but at the same time, worse performance.
Thickness. This parameter has standard indicators that are prescribed in the technical documentation. For high-quality vinyl siding, sheet thicknesses of 1–1.2 mm are sufficient. Therefore, you should not consider only thick models, since they can be less durable than thin ones.
Uniformity of thickness. Carefully inspect the side cut - it should be uniform along the entire length - from the nail to the castle part. The same sheet thickness will ensure uniform load distribution over the entire surface.
Holes for mounting. On each sheet in the upper part there should be horizontal oblong holes, which are intended for fasteners. They can be self-tapping screws or nails. These holes should be flush and have smooth edges.
Front surface. In most cases, the top layer of siding has imitation of embossing “under the tree”, but each manufacturer develops its own. In this case, you must be guided by your own taste preferences and conceived style.
Anti-hurricane castle. The upper part of the sheets should end with a small bend (placed above the holes for mounting). This will provide a more reliable fastening, which will increase the strength of the entire structure under wind loads.

Note! Quality siding has the same color on both sides. The front surface of the sheets should not have any defects in the form of cracks, peeling or delamination.

When choosing vinyl siding in the market or in specialized stores, you need to pay attention not only to the material itself, but also to its packaging. Even with a visual inspection, you can determine how high-quality products are inside. The responsible manufacturer packs its products in hard cardboard boxes, which will ensure reliable transportation and storage. Do not forget that you need to learn as much as possible about the option under consideration: study it, ask questions to the seller. Only in this case, you can purchase high-quality vinyl siding for covering the house, which will last for many years.

Manufacturability

Siding is made of PVC with a number of additives. Lightweight, but strong enough, it is convenient in cutting, installation, operation:

lack of load on the foundation and walls. Due to the small mass, vinyl siding does not load bearing structures, for its installation they do not need to be further strengthened,
installation without leveling the base. For fastening of ordinary panels and accessories, an ordinary crate is used. With its help, a plane is formed in which the cladding will be located. The characteristics of the base (walls) do not matter, they do not require preliminary alignment or other preparation,
optimal facade design. When using an ordinary crate, a gap remains between the surface of the walls and cladding. It is used to place insulating materials: insulation, steam and heat insulation, wind protection,
the material does not need to be glued, the walls are not plastered during its installation. Installation is carried out in a "dry" way, which allows it to be carried out in any weather, including at freezing temperatures,
simple preparation for installation. If trimming of panels, profiles or strips is required, it can be done with a conventional hacksaw, it does not require much effort,
double fastening. Panels and accessories are attached to the crate mechanically, with screws. Additionally, they are interconnected using locks at the edges. Due to this, the cladding design becomes one-piece, more reliable, durable, resistant to wind and mechanical loads,
universality. In addition to siding panels, you can buy a number of additional elements: trims, profiles, etc. They are used for finishing corners, joints, openings, any non-standard elements. Due to this, vinyl siding is suitable for facades of various configurations.

Weather resistance

The main component of siding production is PVC. The material is subject to thermal deformations, changes properties during expansion and heating. To compensate for this, in the manufacture of siding panels, plasticizers, modifiers, and other additives are additionally introduced into the composition of the raw material mixture. Their use improves the properties of siding:

withstands thermal stress. The coefficient of linear thermal expansion of siding is reduced. To additionally protect the lining from temperature deformations, a special installation system is used: technological gaps between the lining elements, enlarged mounting holes, loose fixing of the elements with self-tapping screws,
not subject to moisture. PVC does not rust, does not absorb moisture, does not collapse under its action,
UV protected. For coloring, color-resistant pigments are used that do not fade in the sun. UV radiation is evenly distributed over the surface of the panel,
resistant to aggressive chemistry. The salts and other chemicals contained in the air do not change the properties and appearance of the siding panels,
double structure. The technology for the production of vinyl siding involves the formation of two layers of material. The inner layer provides rigidity. It forms geometry. The outer layer is more rigid, resistant to mechanical and other influences. It is resistant to cracking, abrasion, does not fade in the sun.

Appearance

Colour. Vinyl siding can have almost any color. Pastel, light, muted shades are considered more resistant to fading. Saturated, bright, dark colors are more susceptible to sunlight, but they also look attractive for many years.

The form. Vinyl siding imitates different types of wood cladding. For this, panels of various shapes are used (rounded under a block house, beveled under a ship beam, etc.). This geometry further enhances strength. The panels are double, due to which a stiffener runs in the center.

Texturing. The siding surface can be smooth or textured. Textured panels more accurately repeat the appearance of a wood-faced cladding due to the fact that their surface has its own relief. Texturing is performed at a shallow depth so that dust and dirt do not accumulate on the surface. Siding maintenance remains easy - it is enough to periodically wash it with water from a garden hose.

Orientation panels. For exterior decoration, vertical or horizontal siding can be used. This expands the possibilities for the design of the facade: horizontal and vertical panels can be combined with each other or used in combination with other materials.

Warranty period for vinyl siding - from 20 years. According to the experience of Westmet employees, cladding made of such material lasts much longer. At the same time, it is cheaper in comparison with wood trim or other natural materials.

Features of vinyl siding

The construction market offers several types of siding, which differ in color, texture and features. But among a wide variety of vinyl panels are the most popular. Vinyl siding is a strip that has a color fill over its entire surface. The cost of the material is slightly more expensive than other siding options, but it is justified: the material does not need to be painted.

There are two types of siding: single and double. The surface of the material can also be different: smooth and textured. The direction of siding can also be different: horizontal and vertical. This affects the option to mount panels to the surface.

Polyvinyl chloride siding is made with the addition of plasticizers. This makes the product very resistant to mechanical damage and deformation.

Vinyl Siding Feature

The cost of the material will depend on many factors: the technical features of vinyl panels, components. Features of production technology, when the layering of parts of the product at the molecular level, makes the material very high quality.

The thickness of the wall panel can be different: from one millimeter to 1.2 millimeters. For a private house, the use of panels from 1.1 mm is recommended. In this case, the material will last more than a dozen years.

Vinyl siding contains a special marking that characterizes the panels:

the letter S indicates that it is a single panel,
the letter D indicates that the board is double,
the form factor of the three panels is indicated by the letter T.

All numbers that follow the lettering indicate the width of the board. For example, the designation D 4,5 indicates that the panel is double and has a width of four and a half millimeters times two.

As for the length of the product, then each manufacturer makes an arbitrary size. It ranges from two and a half meters to four.

The weight of one standard-sized panel does not exceed two kilograms. This allows easy installation of the product and does not overload the surface.

Scope of use of vinyl siding, popular manufacturers

As already mentioned, vinyl siding is used when facing facades of buildings, walls and foundations most often. When deciding to purchase vinyl panels, it is worth considering the fact that the material has differences in quality for each particular manufacturer. Before purchasing a product, do not be too lazy to study reviews and specifications. Consider the most famous brands:

Royal company provides customers with high-quality materials, the manufacturer gives a half-century warranty on their goods and some of the high cost of panels pays off with a long service life.
The company Mitten is highly popular, has long been in the market, offers quality materials at affordable prices. The company's warranty on vinyl panels is unlimited.
The company "Deck Extrusion" is a joint venture of domestic production and German. The warranty period for vinyl panels is twenty-five years.
The Turkish company "American Siding" offers vinyl panels at an average cost, exists on the market since the beginning of the two thousandth.
The Russian company Nordside offers panels at an affordable cost, with a guarantee of twenty years.
The company "Grandland" produces high-quality materials from polyvinyl chloride. A wide color range is offered at an affordable cost. The manufacturer's warranty is fifty years.
Vytec siding is in demand due to its high quality and interesting color scheme. Gives a fifty-year product warranty.
The American company Georgia-Pacific offers high-quality vinyl siding in a variety of colors. A guarantee is given for the material - fifty years.
The American company Elixir has been offering vinyl panels for a long time. They make panels of the raised form with imitation under natural materials. It has high technical characteristics and are expensive.
The budget option is considered vinyl siding company Gentek. They are famous for their high performance, reasonable price and a wide palette of shades and colors.
Alta Profile products are famous for their good quality, long warranty period of thirty years and a variety of offers.

How to choose a quality vinyl siding

When choosing material, do not chase value. Quality products must have certificates of conformity, be hygienic and fireproof. Invested funds will be able to pay off with a lifetime, while cheap options will require replacement or repair after a short time.

Pay attention to the thickness of the product. If you notice unevenness along the length of the product, do not purchase such material, this indicates a low quality and non-compliance with standards. Coloring should be uniform both on the front and on the wrong side. A lighter shade is allowed in the siding of the budget option. Dark panels cost more than light ones. Check the availability and quality of the anti-hurricane lock. It is necessary to prevent violation of the integrity of the structure under gusts of strong winds.

Experts do not recommend purchasing products of foreign companies that are not well known or are new, without a reputation. Quite often, unscrupulous manufacturers register a manufacturing company abroad, and produce vinyl siding at home, using low-quality material for manufacturing. Often, in this case, the opinion is triggered that foreign production is a guarantee of high product quality.

If the issue of cost is very relevant and you have to purchase inexpensive panels of appropriate quality, give preference to products in bright colors. They less attract the sun, thus have a higher resistance to deformation. But this does not mean that a priori all dark siding of low quality. Reliable manufacturers guarantee product resistance to sunlight.

Thus, when acquiring siding, pay attention to the following parameters:

tensile strength
unit of elasticity
impact indicator
deflection temperature under load,
auto-ignition temperature
fire spread index
the thickness of the material.

The main sizes of vinyl siding and cost

The sizes of vinyl siding may vary from manufacturers. Most often, the following panel sizes are presented:

Width - 205 mm, 232 mm, 255 mm, 305 mm,
Length - 3 m 5 mm, 3 m 66 mm, 3 m 85 cm,
Width - from 1 to 1.2 mm.

The cost depends entirely on the characteristics and manufacturer.

The colors of the panels are represented by a very wide range of shades - at least twenty for each of the popular manufacturers.

Advantages and disadvantages of vinyl siding

Material is increasingly being used in construction. There are supporters and opponents of the use of panels. Analyzing all the strengths of vinyl siding panels, you can highlight the following advantages of using:

the board is lightweight,
the base of the vinyl material is resistant to chemical attack,
the material is environmentally friendly and does not threaten human health,
does not conduct electric current,
withstand loads
the external surface of the siding is easy to clean if necessary,
the material can be used in the temperature range above and below fifty degrees,
panels are very attractive in appearance, imitation of natural materials makes the structure very unusual and original,
if you properly mount the material and care for it, the service life will increase to forty years,
the material has a low cost in comparison with similar materials for lining.

But vinyl siding has not only positive aspects. The main disadvantage of the material is its ability to expand under the influence of high temperatures. The expansion sometimes reaches two to four millimeters, which, if the installation conditions are violated, can lead to deformation of the entire external surface.

Also, the material is unstable to high mechanical loads. Striking the surface may cause a crack.

Variety of Vinyl Siding

In the construction market, vinyl siding is available in two versions, depending on the installation features: vertical and horizontal. Vertical vinyl siding is used to decorate industrial premises and is not often used. The most common use of horizontal panels. They are mounted to decorate and protect the surface of private houses, public organizations. The most popular horizontal vinyl panels are shipboard, block house and herringbone. To create such images, a special laminating film is used that imitates logs, boards and the like.

A special place among the vinyl material is basement siding. This material is several times thicker than the wall. The basement siding is made of pressed polypropylene. The appearance of such a siding most often imitates natural stone. But sometimes it is used not only to finish the foundation, but also to create a facade.

Using vinyl siding for do-it-yourself upholstery is becoming mainstream.

Vinyl siding is increasingly used for home improvement or state-owned enterprises. As we know, demand is the main indicator that the material is reliable, safe and comfortable. The use of vinyl siding allows owners to protect the building from negative natural influences, to decorate the building, making it harmonious and bright.

Features of installing vinyl siding, the necessary tools for vinyl siding

To mount the siding, you need a minimum supply of tools and supplies:

any measuring device, like a tape measure, ruler,
pencil, marker,
knife,
scissors for metal,
jigsaw
hammer drill
hammer,
screwdriver
screwdriver,
protective equipment: respirator and goggles.

Installation can be vertical and horizontal. The second option is used more often. For its implementation, the installation of the crate is necessary. The distance of the wooden strips is thirty - forty centimeters. The hinged option for installing panels allows you to insulate the walls. This is provided in advance and when installing the casing, an inlet for the insulation is given. A prerequisite is waterproofing. It is necessary to glue the seams, joints and cracks very carefully with a film. The wooden part of the lining is treated with solutions against insects and decay.

The main recommendations for installing vinyl siding can be expressed as follows:

small gaps should be left between the panels, which are necessary for ventilation and as a reserve in case of expansion of the material,
the nail caps should protrude a few millimeters above the surface of the panels, and other fastening materials should be recessed,
the panels must be fixed freely, without tension or curvature of the surface.

To get acquainted with the variety of vinyl siding, watch a video review that will help you make a choice and buy the best option:

Pros of Vinyl Siding

Vinyl siding is a versatile material. Its variety simplifies the task during the decoration of buildings. In addition to the excellent flexibility of the material, siding is easy to maintain in good condition.

This material is considered one of the most cost-effective when decorating house facades - the cost of vinyl siding will pleasantly surprise you!

The main advantages of vinyl siding:

Strength.
A service life of at least thirty years with proper care.
Vinyl is not afraid of moisture, therefore it is not subject to corrosion and does not decay.
In the sun, this material practically does not fade, and therefore does not change its color for many years.
A wide variety of color options and patterns.
It is easy to clean it from dirt and maintain it in good condition, as dirt does not adhere well to it.
Light weight allows you to use for finishing shabby and old buildings.
Affordable price.

Vinyl siding will significantly change the appearance of the house.

Everyone can learn how to install vinyl siding. Installation can be carried out without any problems for several hours, even if you did not do it before.

No special equipment is required for its installation. Do not worry about spending a lot of money, since all you need is:

Hammer.
Roulette.
Level.
Cord for marking.
Knife.
Table for cutting or sawing.
Thin blade circular saw.

When installing siding yourself, stock up on material a little more than necessary. There is nothing worse than working on a weekend, the panels are running out, and because of this, you can’t finish the job. The remaining siding can be used to repair damage in the future.

Cons of vinyl siding

There are few disadvantages of this type of siding, but you need to know them:

Despite the fact that this material is waterproof, its improper installation will lead to leakage of water behind the panel. What contributes to the formation of mold and rot.
Before proceeding with the installation of siding, be sure to determine the color, then this will not happen. Because vinyl outdoor siding cannot be repainted like its counterparts from other materials.
Another common drawback is that vinyl panels break easily when bent or hit hard. And considering that the vinyl siding has a lot of colors, then if the panel is damaged, it will be difficult to choose the right color for replacement.
Vinyl siding panels break easily in frost and can deform in hot weather.
90% of houses are sheathed with vinyl siding, so it is not considered a unique material (a very relative disadvantage, but still).

On this, the disadvantages of vinyl siding end, and with them our article. Have a good repair!