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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.