Your Guide to Vinyl Siding
The exterior of your home does more than just look good – it plays an essential role in keeping the outside elements out and the comfort of the air within it.
You don’t initially think of its importance when you think of siding, but it serves a pivotal role in your home exterior. When it comes to siding replacement, there is a range of options to choose from – one of note being vinyl siding.
Vinyl siding is popular for a reason. While having its drawbacks, it has proven to be the most used siding style in the nation, as 30% of all homes in the United States have it installed.
So why is it so popular? Let’s find out.
Vinyl Siding Is the Most Affordable Option
There are some top-of-the-line siding materials out there. There is the luxurious stone siding or the ever-durable fiber cement siding, but you probably don’t feel like taking out a second mortgage to put new siding on your house.
Vinyl is the most reliable for homeowners because durability consistency matches the price. You get what you paid for with vinyl, but what you paid for isn’t all that bad.
Vinyl costs between $3-$8 per square foot and will last 25 years. For that price, you get a quarter of a century’s worth of durability, which is a deal most homeowners can’t refuse.
Vinyl Siding Is Easy to Repair
Vinyl will hold together quite well in severe weather, as it can usually take winds up to 110 MPH. However, if a storm manages to damage your vinyl siding, it’s a cinch to fix.
Vinyl is by far the most accessible style of siding to repair, as a few individual panels go missing instead of being ripped apart. The extent of vinyl siding repairs is simply popping in a couple of extra panels you have since your last installation.
Vinyl Siding Requires Simple Maintenance
Unlike cedarwood or engineered wood siding, vinyl siding doesn’t require much maintenance. Cleaning vinyl siding is as simple as giving it a quick rinse with your garden hose. Siding like wood requires a significant amount of upkeep unbalanced by vinyl siding’s ease of use.
Vinyl Siding Disadvantages
With all the benefits vinyl siding provides, there are a few shortcomings worth mentioning. Vinyl siding's lifespan is, on average, 25-30 years. However, the material that makes up the siding may show its wear around the 10-15 year mark, which may prompt repair or total replacement earlier than expected.
Vinyl siding hosts a layer of styrene underneath the surface for insulation purposes. While great at keeping warm air in, it will trap moisture underneath your siding--promoting mold and moss growth.
Unfortunately, vinyl siding is not the most eco-friendly option. The siding will give off toxic gas in the event of a fire. Additionally, vinyl siding is typically not recyclable, which will have it sit in a landfill indefinitely.
Lastly, since vinyl siding is the most affordable option on the market, it may drive down your home’s value in some cases.
Contact Trinity Exteriors for Trusted Vinyl Siding Installation
If you plan to repair or install vinyl siding for your Minnesota home, contact Trinity Exteriors! We are the most trusted and resourceful exterior contractors for siding, roofing, windows, and gutters in the west metro.
Get a free estimate online or give us a call at 952-920-9520 today!