Pros and Cons of Vinyl Siding: What You Need to Know

Vinyl siding has been around since the 1950s, but has come a long way since then. New vinyl siding can add beauty and longevity to the exterior of your home and tends to cost less than other types of siding. Available in a variety of styles, textures, and colors, vinyl siding makes it easy to create the look of your dreams. Wondering if vinyl is the best siding material for you? Taking a look at all the vinyl siding pros and cons will help you decide.

What Is Vinyl Siding?

Vinyl siding is a type of exterior residential siding made from polyvinyl chloride (PVC). Manufacturers make this material into textured boards and panels, which normally resemble real wood. Manufacturers can infuse the PVC with dyes to give it a specific color for customization.

It’s an affordable, low-maintenance option, but it’s susceptible to damage from high heat and impact from hail or blown debris. Consult a local siding professional to determine whether this type of siding is right for your home.

Advantages of Vinyl Siding

Whether you want a modern or traditional look, new vinyl siding can breathe new life into your home’s exterior. As one of the most cost-friendly siding options, vinyl is also long-lasting and easy to clean.

Affordable

Vinyl siding costs less than other types of siding, largely due to the material prices. Labor costs are also lower, though, as vinyl is easier to install than most other materials. Vinyl siding could save you anywhere from $1,000 to $10,000 compared to other types of siding.

On average, vinyl siding costs $12,200 to install on an entire home, with most homeowners spending between $6,400 and $18,300 for materials and labor. Vinyl siding tends to be less expensive than stucco, fiber cement, engineered wood, stone, wood, brick, and stone veneer.

Just remember: Price isn’t the only factor to consider. For instance, when considering brick vs. vinyl siding, you’ll pay less for vinyl siding but lose the long-lasting and environmentally friendly benefits of brick.

Variety of Colors and Styles

Available in a range of colors and textures, you can choose vinyl siding that looks like wood grain or a smooth modern surface. You can also choose between vertical and horizontal panels, clapboard and board and batten style siding, and more. Vinyl siding is also available in an endless number of colors for further customization.

No Painting Required

Unlike wood siding that needs to be repainted or restained every two to five years, vinyl siding never needs to be repainted or refinished, which is rare among siding options. Even low-maintenance Hardie board siding made of concrete substrate still needs repainting every 10 to 15 years.

While vinyl never needs to be touched up with paint, you can choose to paint it for aesthetic reasons if you decide you need a change down the road.

DIY Installation Potential

When it comes to vinyl vs. wood siding or aluminum siding, which is easier to install? Vinyl takes the cake as far as installation. If you’re going to DIY siding, vinyl is your best option, as it’s the easiest to work with.

With that being said, while you can install vinyl siding if you’re experienced, it’s still better to hire a local siding installer in your area to ensure a quality job. Mistakes can still lead to major property damage that ends up costing you more to fix than you’ll save from DIYing.

Low-Maintenance and Easy to Repair

Vinyl siding is incredibly low maintenance. Because it’s not painted, you won’t have to worry about the paint peeling over time, and it stays relatively clean on its own (a good rain now and then can wash away dirt and debris).

But that doesn’t mean you don’t ever need to lift a finger. So how do you clean vinyl siding, and how often?

Once or twice a year, grab your garden hose and spray down the exterior. Because of its slick surface, most debris and cobwebs come off with water. You can also make a vinyl siding wash with water and white vinegar to tackle dirtier areas; just scrub with a soft-bristled brush.

Be sure to read the cleaning recommendations from your manufacturer, as pressure washers can damage thinner and more brittle types of vinyl siding.

Good Value for the Money

If you take a look at how long vinyl siding lasts, you’ll see a lifespan of 20 to 40 years, which is a shorter lifespan than most other siding materials offer. However, since it’s more affordable upfront than other siding styles, you end up getting great value for your money, even though the lifespan is limited. On average, new vinyl siding provides an ROI of 80%, and the average ROI for siding is closer to 70%.

You can get even more value for your money and more life out of your siding by learning how to repair vinyl siding yourself. That way, you can save on labor for any damages that do crop up.

Insulating Options

Standard vinyl siding has very little insulation, but comes at a minimal cost. If your home needs additional or better insulation, you can invest a bit more in insulated vinyl siding to save on long-term heating and cooling costs. Options include installing a sheet of rigid foam insulation behind the vinyl or buying vinyl with insulating inserts pre-installed in the siding itself.

Pest Immune

Carpenter bees, termites, and ants that frequently damage wood or engineered wood siding have no interest in vinyl. That makes this siding a great choice in areas that experience frequent pest infestations.

Disadvantages of Vinyl Siding

While there are a lot of upsides to vinyl siding, it’s not right for every home, and there are some important drawbacks to consider.

Fades Over Time

Most vinyl siding includes some built-in UV protection, but the color still tends to fade after 10 years from sun exposure and oxidation. UV damage can also weaken the PVC, making it more likely to crack and break. Because this is a natural process that happens over time, there’s not much you can do to stop it, and this is a big reason why vinyl siding has a shorter lifespan than other siding materials.

Minimal Value Add

Any type of new siding will improve your curb appeal and add value to your home, but since vinyl doesn’t always appeal to all buyers, you’ll see less value added to your property than if you went with a high-end option like stone or brick.

This is especially the case with older homes. Vinyl can take away from the charm of an old house, although it really depends on the preferences of the buyer.

Can Hide Moisture and Other Problems

Vinyl siding can hide issues like water or moisture in your walls. While wood siding warps and peels when water seeps underneath, vinyl doesn’t show these signs. That means that leaks can persist without you noticing, leading to more internal issues than external damage. You likely won’t see mold growing on the outside of vinyl, but it could be proliferating underneath, which is an issue.

Expands and Contracts Based on Temperature

As temperatures fluctuate, vinyl siding panels will expand and contract. This can cause the individual panels to split and crack over time, especially if they aren’t installed properly. It’s always a good idea to purchase extra vinyl siding so you can replace panels as needed, but you won’t have this issue at all with some other types of siding.

Expansion and contraction are the main culprits behind cracked siding, but vinyl can also crack from impact. If your lawnmower throws rocks up while cutting the grass, a limb falls on the side of your home during heavy winds, or hail pelts the siding during a storm, you may see cracks and holes before you’d see them in other siding materials.

Not Environmentally Friendly

During the construction of vinyl siding, greenhouse gases, sulfur dioxide, and carcinogens are produced. When vinyl siding is on your house, it releases low levels of harmful chemicals. While there have been no studies that show it causes health problems for homeowners, you should choose a more natural option, like stucco, stone, or brick, if sustainability is a priority.

High Heat Warping

High temperatures, especially in direct sunlight, cause problems for many types of vinyl siding, especially those made with low-quality materials or produced in darker colors. This siding starts melting at around 160 degrees Fahrenheit, according to the Vinyl Siding Institute. That may sound very high, but siding warmed by the hot summer sun can reach temperatures beyond 200 degrees Fahrenheit. Vinyl may not be ideal if you live in an area that sees intense sunlight and high temperatures.

Painting Can Create Issues

It’s possible to paint vinyl siding, but you need to be careful. Many standard exterior paints won’t adhere to vinyl, and dark paint can create heat-warping issues. For those reasons, some manufacturers warn that painting the vinyl will void its warranty, something you want to avoid.

Hail Damage

The lightweight nature of vinyl siding has many advantages, but that also makes it vulnerable to some storm damage, especially heavy hail. Direct hail impact may crack vinyl siding, and windstorms that slam debris in walls can do the same. If your area is notorious for hail, it’s best to avoid vinyl siding.

Top Alternatives to Vinyl Siding

While vinyl leads the pack when it comes to low-maintenance and affordable siding options, it's not the only choice for homeowners seeking easy and attractive products. Some homeowners are looking for architectural or high-end siding choices that are still easy to clean and maintain. Check out these alternatives to vinyl siding, which may provide better value over time.

Best Places for Vinyl Siding

Still wondering if vinyl siding is right for you? Exterior vinyl siding tends to work best and last the longest in specific areas.

• Rainy, humid climates: Lots of moisture can be dangerous for wood, stucco, or brick siding, all of which can also harbor mold. Vinyl siding is largely immune to these issues, making it an excellent choice in areas that see heavy rain.

• Areas with frequent pest infestations: If termites, carpenter ants, or other pests often make a meal of exterior wood in your region, defend against infestations using vinyl siding over something like wood or engineered wood, which can attract pests, especially as they rot.

• Coastal areas with windy, salty air: The combination of wind and salt found on the coasts can be very corrosive for exterior materials, and siding takes the brunt of it. But vinyl has effective resistance against wind when properly installed, and salt doesn’t affect it, making it a popular siding choice for homes in coastal areas.

• Locations free of fierce storms: Vinyl may have good defenses against moderate winds and storms, but it’s a lightweight siding and very strong winds can damage it or rip it off of your home. Vinyl siding may not be ideal in areas that experience hurricanes, tornado weather, or similar high winds.

• Regions with mild temperature ranges: You don’t want your vinyl to become too brittle and break, or too hot and melt. It works best in temperate zones that don’t experience many freezing nights or days that hit 90 degrees Fahrenheit or more.

• Cloudier areas: Vinyl fades with UV exposure. If your area has plenty of cloudy days, your vinyl siding will last and maintain its color longer.

Tips for Buying Vinyl Siding

So, you’ve weighed all these vinyl siding pros and cons and decided it’s the right choice for you. Now it’s time to buy. But where do you start?

Here are a few tips to make sure you purchase the right siding—and the right amount.

• Focus on quality. Spend a little more for a higher-quality vinyl siding that will last longer. Look for high-quality vinyl that is 55-gauge or .55 inches thick for the greatest durability.

• Be intentional about color. Review inspirational photos and homes in person to determine the colors you like best. Consider your neighborhood, too: what will mesh with the other homes or, if you prefer to be a trendsetter, what will make your house stand out? Painting vinyl is challenging, so choosing the right color up front is wise.

• Consider a different style. Determine if you prefer vertical or horizontal panels or a combination of both in your design. You can create a custom look by mixing the patterns. You may also be able to create a unique look by mixing vinyl with brick veneer or other siding types.

• Purchase more than you need. There will always be waste when installing siding. Plus, you’ll want extra vinyl siding panels as replacements if the siding on your home gets damaged. It’s a good idea to buy 10% to 20% more than you need, which you can determine by using a siding calculator.

• Buy through a siding installer. You can buy vinyl siding from home improvement stores and construction supply companies. But you should also check with siding installers, as they can often get discounts on vinyl siding and other materials.