Try to find vinyl with a doubled nailing hem, which helps resist lifting from high winds. Foam backing will make vinyl more firm and adds some insulation; profiles ¾-inch deep or more increase shadow lines. Some vinyl offers lengths beyond 12 feet to eliminate seams on long walls without windows or doors.
For fiber cement, decide if the additional color choices and money savings of painting it yourself outweigh the longer longevity of a factory finish…
Top-scoring vinyl siding resisted fading longest. For storm-prone areas, select siding that scored at least very good for wind level of resistance.
The magical performance attributes of vinyl siding are based in its formulation. All vinyl sidings are made from polyvinyl chloride (PVC) resins. Flexible acrylic resins are frequently added to ensure that the siding does not become brittle. Vinyl siding subjected to freezing weather, hailstorms, or baseballs needs this flexibility.
Ultraviolet (UV) light will break down vinyl siding. Without sufficient protection, low-quality vinyl sidings will experience extreme chalking and color fade. Essentially every vinyl siding has UV inhibitors, but many have much more than others. At least one manufacturer has gone a step further. They add an additional layer of sun screen UV protection on the surface of the vinyl.
Recreating the period colors of your home should not be too difficult. Several vinyl-siding manufacturers have developed color coordinated product lines. These products enable you to mix and match different colors, many of which may replicate your period house colors. Vinyl manufacturers have gone to great depth to recreate period accent pieces such as columns, fancy cut shakes, and dentil moldings. With minimal effort, you can make your Victorian style home look like the grand lady that she is.
Of course beauty and durability are important, but also look at attention to detail and expert craftsmanship are a must to achieve an outstanding completed installation. This is something that many siding companies claim, but not all truly achieve.
The first thing to look at is panel thickness.
If a panel is too thin it will show imperfections from the wall beneath it. This has been a major o issue in the vinyl siding industry and in nearly all cases could have been prevented if a thicker panel had been applied. Thicker panels do cost more, but the contractor can easily give you a cost breakdown and it should only be in the hundreds as opposed to the thousands for the upgrade. Here are the panel thickness breakdowns: Builder Grade (.040), Thin Residential Grade (.042), Standard Residential Grade (.044), Thick Residential Grade (.046)
The second thing to look at is the manufacturer.
Few people like to talk about the manufacturer, but it is a good idea to be as much of an informed buyer as you possibly can. It will help to make the siding purchase a pleasant one that can be appreciated for many years into the future. At some point, you may want to replace and match the installed vinyl siding that received damage such things as bar-b-q’s, weed eaters and rocks thrown by the lawn mower.
What Makes Vinyl Siding Extraordinary?
Vinyl siding provides enduring charm and design flexibility. Using a variety of siding and soffit styles, colors, add-ons and trim, you can update a ranch, add character to a colonial or even re-create a Victorian. Additionally, you can select one that will be continuous with your home’s design and fit into the environment and neighboring homes.
Vinyl siding is presently the number-one siding material around. And for good reason: Almost nothing beats vinyl siding, extra accessories and trim for pure endurance. Unlike many other siding materials, vinyl is impervious to bad weather, cold, salt and snow. And it will not rot, peel, dent or reveal scratches, nor will it ever require painting. An easy soap-and-water wash once a year is all that is necessary to remove dirt and maintain the look of freshly painted wood.
Vinyl siding is an excellent investment. Re-siding a home is among the top ten renovating projects in terms of overall investment recovery. And, if you re-side with vinyl, you can usually recoup 100% or more of your investment – if you select the right company, of course.
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