Vinyl Siding

According to building industry statistics, vinyl soon will account for more than half of all siding sold. Of the choices, vinyl siding requires the smallest initial investment. It doesn't need to be painted either - a huge selling feature among consumers who would gladly trade in their paint brush for a hammock. Vinyl siding is touted to be "maintenance-free," but no siding is maintenance-free. You don't paint it, but you do need to regularly clean it. And over time it will oxidize, which can require more elbow grease than any paint job. Be happy with the color because you'll be stuck with it for a while. Vinyl is water- and insect-resistant, but can chip or crack in cold weather. Cost can be misleading. While it is true that vinyl is less expensive initially, its estimated life (25 to 50 years) is shorter than some of the other choices. If vinyl is in your future, look for a thicker panel (0.044 to 0.046). A deeper profile looks more like real wood siding and a double-hem mounting tends to be more wind-resistant than a single hem mounting.