What Are The Disadvantages Of Vinyl Siding?

Are you about to embark on a home improvement project for your business or home? One of the oldest and most popular materials used is vinyl siding. Many homes, especially older ones in rural areas of the country, have vinyl siding, or “vinyl” as it’s commonly known. Vinyl siding is a good choice for anyone looking for a durable, low-maintenance way to improve the appearance of their home. It would help if you had a professional siding contractor do the installation.

Vinyl siding has been around since the mid-1950s. It began to increase in popularity during the 1970s and 1980s. Many people believe that vinyl siding is an excellent option for their homes. It is available in various colors or styles, low maintenance, lasts a long time, is durable, protects the house from the weather, and is a “new energy-efficient home improvement product.” It doesn’t crack or break, doesn’t require painting, and requires very little maintenance. For these reasons and more, vinyl siding has become one of today’s most popular choices for home construction. However, there are some negative factors to consider when choosing vinyl siding for your home that you should consider before deciding.

Vinyl Sliding Disadvantages

You should note that vinyl siding might not offer the same level of aesthetics as a more traditional siding option. It will add significant value to your home in curb appeal and overall effectiveness. Some of the disadvantages are:

1. It is not the most environmentally friendly choice for siding. Vinyl production is a highly energy-intensive process that generates large amounts of toxic byproducts, including dioxins and ethylene dichloride (EDC).
2. “You cannot paint vinyl. Manufacturers claim they can paint, but it is challenging to get the paint to stick to the vinyl and will often crack after a short amount of time. If you decide to sell your home in the future, you are stuck with the color you currently have on your home unless you want to replace all the siding.
3. Vinyl siding can be easily damaged by hail, lawnmowers, or other sharp objects. Once a panel is cracked or broken, it must be replaced rather than repaired.
4. Vinyl siding may fade in color over time and may become brittle if exposed to cold temperatures for very long periods.
5. Its synthetic vinyl siding is made from petroleum products, making it less environmentally friendly.
6. It can fade. Significantly in direct sunlight, vinyl can fade over time if you don’t keep up with regular cleaning. Because of this, you may have to replace your siding sooner than if you had chosen a different material.
7. It’s not for everyone. Some people don’t like the look of vinyl siding. It can also look cheap and doesn’t increase the resale value of your home like wood or brick would.
8. Installation costs can add up if you’re removing old siding before putting on new vinyl siding or adding insulation under your new siding to improve energy efficiency.

There are pros to consider as with any product before buying vinyl siding.

Vinyl Siding Pros

• Aesthetics: Vinyl siding comes in various colors and textures that mimic the look of other materials, such as wood or brick. It resists fading better than wood, it won’t peel or chip, and it’s easy to clean —spray it down with a garden hose.
• Low Maintenance: Vinyl siding is a no-maintenance material. Unlike wood, it does not need periodic repainting. The only maintenance required is occasional cleaning with a garden hose or power washer. Even then, you might be able to get away without washing your vinyl siding for years at a time.
• Affordability: vinyl siding is less expensive than fiber cement or wood products. On average, vinyl siding costs $2 to $7 per square foot installed. For a 1,800-square foot exterior wall (50 feet long by 36 feet wide), that’s between $3,600 and $12,600 in total installation costs. A similar application of fiber cement siding would run between $15,000 and $18,000 in materials alone; natural wood would cost much more.

While the advantages of vinyl siding are significant, it’s essential to understand that there are some downsides. Proper installation is critical to ensuring that your siding performs as well as possible, so you should always look for a contractor with years of experience. If you get your vinyl poorly installed, you may be liable for any damage over time.