Vinyl Siding is a popular plastic exterior siding for homes and small apartment buildings, typically used for weatherproofing and decoration, imitating natural wood grain, wooden clapboard, batten and board or shakes, and utilized in place of many other materials including aluminum or fiberglass siding. There are many advantages to vinyl siding that can be attractive and at the same time can also offer a higher degree of resistance to fire than other types of siding materials. It is made from a plastic that is resistant to both water and oil and therefore does not rot, mildew, decay, yellow or brown, or yellow peel. Vinyl siding, though it can be expensive to install, is a long-lasting, low-maintenance material that can also offer energy savings as it reduces the use of fossil fuels to power the house’s heating and cooling system. The siding also insulates against noise and cold, and the home or business owner can enjoy both of these benefits when he or she installs vinyl siding.

One of the benefits of using vinyl siding, especially for homes or businesses, is the durability that it provides. It is made from a product that is extremely durable and has a long life expectancy, which is much longer than that of some other types of siding materials that can outlast only a few years. In fact, vinyl siding that is installed on the exterior of a building can actually increase the life expectancy of the building by several years! Because of its impact resistance, it will also withstand impact damage from objects that are dropped on it, including hammer tips, paving stones, basketballs, golf clubs, baseballs, and many more.

It is also a very low-maintenance siding material; thus, it is not difficult or expensive to maintain. It is very simple to clean and requires only basic soap and water to keep it clean. It is very durable and low-maintenance and does not have to be painted once it is installed. As far as maintenance is concerned, it needs just occasional scraping to keep it clean, and even then, only abrasive cleaners should be used.

Aluminum siding, although it looks like vinyl, it is actually a form of metal that has its own benefits, as well. Unlike vinyl, it is an incredibly strong material, which is especially useful for providing structure to the exterior of the building. It is durable and strong and is almost impossible to breakthrough. It can be painted, though, so it does have the advantage of being easy to maintain. It can also be insulated to provide additional protection against the elements and is a good choice for some areas in North America where temperatures are unpredictable.

Old houses that are more than fifty years old may benefit from vinyl siding if they have already been damaged by the elements. The best vinyl siding material for these houses is shingles, because they look very much like the older styles of vinyl siding that were used before modern insulation, in order to retain as much of the integrity as possible. They can also provide a bit more curb appeal, since they tend to be a bit more stylistic in appearance than vinyl. They come in a wide variety of colors, although red, black, brown, and white are the most popular.

Polyvinyl chloride or PVC is a flexible but durable plastic that is typically used in paneling. It comes in a variety of different colors, depending on what manufacturer you go with, and it comes pre-primed for installation, saving you the tedious task of pre-drilling. It is very durable, resisting water damage and cracking, and it can resist termites, making it one of the most durable, long-lasting siding options out there. Unfortunately, it is also one of the most expensive, because it is susceptible to weathering quickly, and must be painted frequently in order to protect it.

Aluminum siding has low-maintenance properties, although like wood, it does need to be painted occasionally, in order to keep it looking its best. Like vinyl siding, aluminum offers a variety of colors, and it comes pre-primed, eliminating the tedious process of pre-drilling. It also is extremely durable, resistant to cracking and water damage, and it does not rot or discolor. Unfortunately, it is one of the more expensive choices, and can become flimsy over time. It also takes on a lot of weight, so if you have a garage or other structure under it that weights a lot, you may want to consider aluminum instead of vinyl.

If you are not concerned about appearance, but still want a very durable home, you can choose textured vinyl siding. This option looks like wood, but has a texture that mimics the look of brick, stone, or tile. It offers a decorative, rustic look, and is extremely low maintenance as well. Textured vinyl siding is installed just like wood, although it comes with a texture designed specifically for your home.