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We
, at Northwest, install a very wide variety of sidings including Vinyl,
Cement boards, Aluminum, Steel, Nailite, and other materials. Vinyl
siding is not for everybody. There are areas that have siding covenants,
there are people who love to paint, and there are people who want
real cedar. We try to give the individual exactly what he or she wants.
Vinyl
siding generally appeals to people who do not want to paint or have
difficult homes to maintain.
Q.
How does vinyl siding compare with wood?
Wood
sidings initial costs vary: premium clapboard installations are
expensive. The abundant wonderful old growth cedar of yesteryear
is now a memory. We still do a few old growth cedar jobs, but the
materials are very expensive. Old growth cedar is still one of my
all time favorite sidings for the Northwest. Today's second growth
cedar lacks the straight grain of old and can rot as it is harvested
too young. It is often replaced after 15 years. A new option to
cedar is the old growth spruce from Norway and Sweden. While it
doesn't have the anti rot properties of old growth cedar, it is
straight grained and true. Hardboard installations are less expensive
(but hardboard is also far less durable). Both need constant, costly
maintenance. And appearance and durability are directly related
to maintenance schedules. In a wet climate like ours, maintenance
becomes more critical to maintain the structural integrity of the
home.
Q.
How does vinyl siding compare with metal?
Metal
sidings are moderately expensive. Less maintenance than wood; however,
can be costly to repair dents and scratches, a common problem with
metal sidings. A well installed steel siding can have a very nice
appearance with wide widths available (such as 8" reveal). Metals
are cold, conduct heat and care must be taken to protect cut edges
to prevent them from rusting. And since metal siding is a conductor
of heat, special care must be taken to prevent water condensation
on the back of the siding coming in contact with the wood underlayment
or rot may occur.
Q.
How does vinyl siding compare with brick and stone?
Brick
and stone are very costly to install and need periodic mortar repairs,
usually at high hourly rates. Appearance and durability are typically
better than average. Brick can be beautiful and give a home a distinctive
rich look. Unfortunately, we live in an earthquake zone and homeowners'
insurance usually does not cover damage to masonry. Brick tends
to be a cold siding. Our simulated brick and stone is an attractive
substitute.
Q.
How does vinyl siding compare with stucco?
Like
brick and stone, stucco is costly to apply. And because stucco is
less durable than brick or stone, it develops cracks and bulges
that need regular (and costly) attention. Appearance is usually
dependent on applicator skills. In a dry climate like Arizona or
New Mexico, stucco would probably be my siding of choice as it fares
very well in hot dry climates. Here in Washington, stucco suffers
because concrete absorbs water and that is where all the problems
begin.
Q.
How does vinyl siding compare with cement boards?
They
are a new product to the Northwest and time has yet to tell how
they will fare. We have put up a number of them. We continue to
install cement boards but are very cautious about water intrusion.
Concrete absorbs water, so we have tried to pay extra attention
to the lower edges near flashings, etc. The installation guide clearly
states the need to keep the product completely dry throughout the
installation process and that is hard to do here. I have no doubt
the cement board sidings will do exceptionally well in dry climates,
but get cement near wood and you usually get instant rot. For that
reason we have taken extra care to make sure the underlayments are
protected as much as possible. Cement is a conductor of heat, so
condensation may well be a factor also. Cement tends to be a cold
siding. Cement is also heavy at 288 lbs. per square or so, thus
if you are in an area with unstable or very wet ground you may have
some possible foundation concerns.
Q.
Can I just put up a cheap vinyl?
You
certainly could...But I am not a fan of cheap vinyl. Cheap vinyl
looks cheap. Not only that, it is prone to fading, cracking and
premature failure just like cheap wood or cheap anything else. You
can find many pictures of cheap vinyl all over the web and in my
book on things not to do. Today the market is saturated with many
cheap products that profess to be as good as the top of the line
or nearly so. Unfortunately, that just isn't so. Many people want
something cheap just to get the house sold or because they don't
intend to live there more than 5 years. They are the primary buyers
of cheap vinyl siding and down the road the reason for the cheap
price becomes readily apparent. Often the homeowner ends up living
in the home well beyond his or her 5 year estimate and they end
up bitterly regretting their short term solution.
Q.
Is high quality vinyl worth the additional cost?
Yes.
You knew I'd say that...didn't you?) Quality vinyl looks like wood,
cheap vinyl doesn't. A quality vinyl siding is the superior choice
for low maintenance, high value and outstanding beauty. When you
pay to reside your home, the only cost difference between high quality
and low quality is the price difference of the material. It costs
the same in labor to install junk as it does a quality product.
Today's high quality vinyl sidings are beautiful, last a lifetime,
provide added insulation for a much more comfortable home to live
in while saving you money on your heating bills. Long lengths of
vinyl reduce the number of seams to about half what was common a
few years ago. Wind ratings have nearly doubled lately, with most
high quality siding now boasting hurricane wind ratings. I know
the winds are not that strong here, but it means you don't have
to worry about losing siding during the freak wind storms we get
every few years. Today you have color choices. Only a few years
ago, you were limited to 6-10 colors. Today, you can choose from
hundreds.
Q.
Why should I choose vinyl siding?
Because
vinyl is final! When compared on the basis of initial cost, maintenance
costs, insulating values, appearance, durability and value, vinyl
siding is clearly superior. We all love the classic beauty of freshly
painted cedar. Real wood siding is beautiful if it is sided in a
quality old growth product. Today, there exists a big shortage of
good quality, knot-free, old cedar and what little can be found
is very expensive. Because of the high cost of cedar, many builders
turned to LP, Weyerhauser, and various other brands that feature
blends of wood, pulp, and resin siding. Unfortunately, these products
all failed because the fiber absorbed water and delaminated after
several years of freeze/thaw cycles. Cement and wood fiber mixes
are being tried now. It is too early to tell how they survive the
freeze/thaw cycles as a siding, but they were all recalled for failures
as roofing. Products like Cal Shake, Hardi Shake, American Chemwood,
etc., have all failed and were recalled. Keep in mind the reason
cement pots work so well for plants, is because they are porous
and retain water.
