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Guide to Vinyl Siding

Welcome to the Vinyl Siding Guide. This guide is meant to give you a solid base of information from which to build your opinion of vinyl siding. Making smart choices for your home improvements requires having the right information to do so. The importance of an informed choice is underscored by the length of time it will affect your home and its equity.

What is Vinyl Siding?

Numerous types of siding and building materials are available to help with the comfort and style of your home. Vinyl siding is made from polyvinyl chloride which serves many applications in the construction industry. The choice of materials allows vinyl siding to perform well in a majority of climates with temperatures in a wide range.

A major benefit of vinyl siding is the production method. The vinyl pieces are colored through the entirety of each piece. A scratch on the surface of a vinyl siding piece is not noticeable because the layers beneath the surface are the same color. Aluminum siding tends to show its gouges and scratches since the metal cannot be painted through the entire piece.

The nature of vinyl siding allows it to be changed out with ease and relative simplicity in the event that it gets damaged. Other external coverings tend to require much more effort due to the way it is installed.

A final benefit is that vinyl siding is very slow to burn. It should certainly not be counted on as a major factor in the event the house catches on fire. It can help provide a slightly bigger window of time to enable escape. We do not recommend viewing this as a selling point. It is only mentioned here for the sake of complete information. Preventing a house fire by properly maintaining the wiring and using sources of heat correctly is far more important than attempting to utilize a barely tangible benefit from vinyl siding.

Vinyl Siding Colors

Years ago, a homeowner would have found only limited options for coloring of their vinyl siding. Manufacturers today offer a tremendous range of colors so that each customer is able to find exactly what they want. One minor problem with this much customization available is matching colors later on.

Many companies are able to match the colors through custom processes even if it is not a normal color for their company. Acquiring a Brick Red vinyl siding piece is not that big of an issue. If the rest of the siding on your house has been there for 10 years though, you will find that the colors do not match. While it does weather and upkeep very well, vinyl siding will have some wear and tear in addition to fading as years go by. Though this may not even be a concern to many homeowners, it can create a clashing effect.

The crafting process for vinyl siding sees each piece baked all the way through with pigment mixed throughout. That allows the piece to take scratches much better since the damage will not be easily visible. Other materials, such as aluminum siding, would require a replacement to maintain the cohesiveness and appeal of the home.

Common Vinyl Siding Components

When shopping for vinyl siding, one will find there are a wide variety of components and pieces available. Some are designed to offer custom looks to the exterior. Other pieces are considered more an integral part of the installation and will need to be used to ensure a watertight installation. If you are interested in creating a custom look for your home, many companies will work with you to create custom trim pieces to your tastes.

Siding Panels

Mentioning the phrase "vinyl siding" will inevitably put the image of siding panels in the listener's mind. These are the panels that are installed on the walls of the house that most people are familiar with. They come in horizontal and vertical styles with a wide, wide variety of different patterns and colors. Even if a given style is not readily available, one can typically have it custom made by a manufacturer.

J-Channel

A J-Channel is a type of siding that is fitted around doors and windows. It is designed to accommodate other siding pieces being seated into it to provide a finished, smooth look for the installation. Without a J-Channel, the edge of the siding would simply sit against the window or door. The lack of a seal will allow moisture, pests, and weather to affect the building material behind it which can cause extensive damage.

Inside Corner Posts

There are a variety of ways to handle an inside corner regarding vinyl siding installation. The most commonly used is an inside corner post which allows the siding to be seated neatly into a corner and provide a watertight seal. Contractors may have other solutions they use. One can create the same effect with two pieces of J-Channel or a piece of J-Channel and aluminum flashing. This typically requires specialized knowledge and tools to pull off correctly.

Outside Corner

An outside corner piece is fairly self-explanatory. It installs on outside corners so that the vinyl siding panels can be neatly mounted into it. The purpose is to create seals that will prevent the material beneath the siding from getting damaged by weather. Without an outside corner piece the vinyl siding panels would be able to flap up from the wind which would result in damage to the house and siding.

Undersill Trim

An undersill trim is installed any place where the vinyl siding would need to come up horizontally into an area. Most notably, this will be under windows. One will typically need to cut a piece of paneling along the top to fit the distance correctly beneath the window to the next row of paneling. This piece of trim is designed to grab and hold the cut portion of the siding in place while providing a solid seal.

Starter Strip

The starter strip is typically the beginning point for mounting the siding panels. It is attached at the bottom of the wall where panels can be set into it and fixed into place. The starter strip keeps vinyl siding panels from flapping up and helps build the required seal against moisture.

Other Things to Know About Trim

An important part about the installation of vinyl siding is to know that it will expand and contract more than other materials typically do. Installation of the panels and trim needs to reflect this otherwise it will damage the siding. The trim pieces are designed to permit a degree of fluctuation of the product. Thus, the panels should not be seated tightly into the trim pieces. Panels should not be nailed tightly against the wall during installation. The nail slits will allow the piece to slide back and forth. That way vinyl siding has room to move, expand, and contract as it needs to with changing weather. Final installation should see the paneling able to be slid in place.

Care and Cleaning of Vinyl Siding

The ease of cleaning and care for vinyl siding is a primary factor in homeowners choosing it for their house. The siding itself can easily be cleaned with soap and water or in some cases just water. One can use a soft cloth or brush to clean the siding but you will want to be careful not to smear dirt or debris into it. With smooth siding this will not be an issue so long as there are no major scratches. Siding that features textured surfaces will require a bit more attentive detail to it.

Some homeowners find the use of a power sprayer to be an easy solution for cleaning. It can be, but great caution needs to be exercised when using one. Installation of vinyl siding requires the panels to be attached loosely for it to expand and contract. Since it is loose, one needs to be careful not to angle the power sprayer in such a fashion that it can force the siding up and allow moisture under it. If moisture from the power sprayer is allowed to get seated behind the paneling it can result in rot and wood swelling which will require extensive repairs later.

The Cost of Vinyl Siding

Years ago, creating siding was a rather extensive and expensive process where the cost was passed on to the consumer. Thanks to advances in technology and technique (especially vinyl), siding in general has dropped to more affordable levels for many people. An average pricing on siding one may find to be between $2.00 and $7.00 per square foot.

The pricing on siding itself differs greatly on the production and style of the vinyl siding. It is easy to find pure utility styles that offer very little in the way of decoration. These styles will be understandably less expensive than designed styles. The benefit of the designed styles is general appeal. One may find a potential home buyer is more interested in a house with some "personality" to it and it does add some equity to the home.

The easiest way to get solid information on pricing for a vinyl siding project is to request quotes from an entity that deals in it. Consultations are generally no obligation and absolutely free. It is impossible to provide a store-like experience where you simply look at the price tag and take it to the checkout. Many factors need to be taken into consideration. Be certain to protect your interests with an itemized, written quote from whomever you are dealing with. Know exactly what you are paying for and what services you are receiving.

Regardless of your siding needs, finding licensed local professionals to assist you has never been easier! Answer a few simple questions to begin.