Popular Vinyl Siding Styles and Brands
Vinyl siding is available from many manufacturers, making your options even more numerous. The top five name brands include well known companies like Certainteed, Crane, Alside, Variform, and Royal. All of these brands offer vinyl siding that takes advantage of the latest design technology. The result is a siding that holds up against the elements without fading, cracking, or warping.
You won’t have any problem finding a style of siding to suit your home. It is available in traditional lap as well as the more pronounced Dutch lap. These are the most common options, and they will give you the same look as many of the more traditional types of siding. You will also find vertical panels and bead and batten, which is another vertical style. There is beaded siding, shaker that looks like wood, and scallops that mimic slate.
Many homeowners choose a combination of two or more simply to ad interest to their home. You can use a traditional lap siding for the majority of the home while choosing a coordinating design for dormer areas or above a garage. The vertical panels are ideal for these areas, but a wood shaker look or scallops will add a certain amount of charm to your home’s exterior.
Vinyl Siding Colors
There is practically an unlimited number of colors to choose from when trying to select the right siding for your home. The only color you won’t find is a true black, but there are many dark colors that come close. Some people like the look of a darker siding , but they are afraid it will fade over time. This was true of the very first vinyl sidings to hit the market, but over the years, manufacturers have developed new and improved ways of creating their siding. No longer do you have to worry about fading, cracking, warping, or any of the problems originally associated with vinyl siding.
Those that are most concerned with the re-sale value of their home will want to stick with a neutral color. Lighter shades such as off white or wheat appeal to a larger demographic. These shades are also better than a stark white which can be a bit to much when covering an entire home.
One of the biggest benefits to a lighter colored siding is that it reflects the heat better than darker hues can. The color you choose can be accented with shutters, window trims, and main front doors in coordinating colors. The same siding you choose can be used on garages, barns, and other outbuildings as well for a unified look across your entire property.
Siding Pricing
Vinyl is a very economical option when it comes to siding for your home renovation projects. On average, vinyl siding will run anywhere from $3 to around $8 per square foot. This can fluctuate depending on the brand, whether it is insulated, and the thickness of the vinyl. Insulated siding costs a little more due to the fact that it requires more materials to manufacture, but it can serve double duty as an energy saving solution. This makes it heavier which means that it is more expensive to ship. These additional costs are passed on to the homeowner.
The average price listed above may or may not include labor charges, and keep in mind that you will more than likely pay a higher price if the old siding needs to be removed. Even when you factor in all of these addition expenses, vinyl siding remains a relatively low cost option when it comes to a protective covering for your house. Easy installation reduces labor costs, and over time, the low maintenance of vinyl siding will save you even more money.
Vinyl Siding Installation
Vinyl siding is easily installed. This is another great benefit of this type of covering for the exterior of your home. If you currently have outdated siding or older metal siding on your house, the new siding can be installed directly over the top of it for an instant transformation.
Homes that are switching from wood to vinyl will require a few extra steps. The existing siding will need to be removed. A sheath wrapping must be applied first and possibly an insulation layer. The new siding is then placed over these sub-layers.
Switching From Wood Siding to Vinyl
When it comes to vinyl vs wood siding, there are many features to take into consideration. The first is cost. Vinyl is less expensive and easier to install. Wood siding can be as much as 250 percent higher in cost.
Many homeowners will avoid vinyl siding due to durability, but new technology has brought many improvements to vinyl siding. It is designed to be weather resistant in order to avoid cracking, fading, and warping due to extreme heat, cold, or direct sunlight.
Vinyl siding is very low maintenance when compared to wood siding. Wood siding will need repainted or stained every few years. Vinyl never needs to be painted or stained, and it is easy to keep clean. You will also have many more colors and styles to pick from when you choose vinyl over wood.
You can get the look of wood siding while enjoying the benefits of vinyl siding. Many of the top name brands such as Certainteed offer a vinyl siding designed to look just like wood siding. You can choose styles that appear to be cedar shingles, clap boards, or other popular wood styles.
Rely on Your Home Remodeling Contractor
Vinyl siding contractors can be your best friend as you finish your home remodeling project. All of the choices available with vinyl siding can be confusing. Your Trademark Interiors contractor can help you sort through all of the styles, colors, and designs as well as show you which types will work well together. These professionals have plenty of experience, and they can find the best vinyl siding for the style and design of your home.
A good contractor will make any portion of your home remodeling project stress free. They will sit down and discuss all of your options with you, including your vinyl siding options. Once you decide exactly what you want, they will take care of all of the details for you.
If you are looking for a siding that is cost effective, looks great, and holds up well over time, vinyl siding is the ideal solution. You will find a wide range of colors to choose from as well as styles and designs. New advancements in technology make it a durable solution for heat and cold as well as direct sun without the worry of fading, cracking, or warping. Installation is easy, and your house will have a brand new look that will perfectly complete your home remodeling project.