Should i use vinyl siding

Vinyl siding is the lowest maintenance option out there. All you must do is clean it once a year. Vinyl siding is resistant to pests like termites and issues like rot, meaning it will last for years and years without maintenance. A big part of the reason for vinyl siding is low maintenance and cost-effective is its durability. This prevents rotting and corrosion.

Vinyl siding often comes with a lifetime warranty to back up its claims. That warranty can even be prorated for 50 years for successive owners. Vinyl costs less than wood or bricks. Not only is installation significantly cheaper than other alternatives, but you also get more for your money in the long term. For example, wood siding is more prone to damage and requires much more maintenance than vinyl siding, but it also comes with a much higher price tag.

You also have to factor in the cost of maintenance and repairs. Not only will vinyl siding save you money on the cost of the product itself, but opting to install vinyl siding will save you money on utilities. Vinyl siding that is insulted prevents heat loss through a process called thermal bridging. What happens is, even if your home as another form of insulation, heat can be lost where wall studs contact exterior siding. Insulated vinyl siding is like adding a protective blanket over the wall studs.

When joining fascia pieces in the corners, run slightly past the original eave fascia, and butt the intersecting gable fascia against this overrun. Finally, replace the gutter. While this fascia installation works for many homes, complicated or decorative trim is best left to a professional who can custom-make and fit aluminum components.

Begin by loosening or taking off all easily removable obstacles, such as porch lights , address plates, handrails, and self-storing clothesline reels. Then, measure from the eave to the bottom of the existing siding. If this distance is divisible by 8 inches—the finished width of a piece of siding—you're in luck. The utility trim you'll install under the eave will accept the top edge of the last full-width row of siding.

In the case of Dutch lap siding, which looks like two courses of siding in each single panel, you'll have two opportunities: at 4- and 8-inch intervals. If raising or lowering the starter edge an inch or two will make the top pieces fall where you want them, by all means, do so.

If you have to cut the top row of siding, then use J-channel at the top instead of utility trim. When you've determined the best height for the metal starter strip, mark this position on the walls and snap a reference chalkline around the entire house. Follow by nailing window and door trim around any exterior doors and sheath the first few feet of the walls with insulation.

This will leave you ready to install siding on the lower portion of the first wall. Snap each length of siding in place, so that its bottom lip hooks under the starter strip. Slide it into the corner and nail it every 16 inches or so.

Be sure to center the nails in their slots to accommodate expansion. When joining two lengths of siding, lap one length over the other approximately 1 inch.

As for which direction to lap, consider which angle will get the closer scrutiny. If the walk leading to the front door approaches from the left, a left-over-right lap will be less conspicuous. If your home has a deck , it's likely to be suspended from a wall and covering the bottom of the existing siding. In this case, you'll need to maintain the starter-strip height on both sides of the deck and trim the siding to fit above the deck.

Begin by installing the first row of siding on both sides of the deck. To provide a common reference point, measure up 8 inches from the top of this row and stretch a string line across the deck. Then, trim around the door leading onto the deck. Finally, measure the distance from the first row to the deck top and cut the siding to fit over the deck. You may use rigid-foam backing, but plywood makes a stronger support. Install the siding adjacent to the deck conventionally, and press the cut section into the J-channel.

To side under a faucet, remove the two mounting screws and pull the faucet out from the wall. If yours won't pull out, check to see if you can shift the pipe that feeds it. Then, notch the siding from the top and slide it under the faucet. If the faucet falls in the center of the siding, create a lap joint and slide the notched lengths under the faucet from the sides. As for permanent utility equipment, you'll simply have to work around it. In the case of an external conduit , nail insulation backing board around it and trim the sides and top with J-channel.

Generally, you can spray it down with a regular garden hose when it gets dirty and call it a day, though you may need to pressure-wash your siding once a year to get out deep-set muck and grime. The cost of vinyl siding will depend on the size of your home and whether you're able to install it yourself versus hiring a contractor for the job.

Though that's not a terrible return on investment when it comes to home improvements, it's also not nearly as high a return as you might get for other renovations. That said, there are reasons to install vinyl siding outside of money. New siding can make your home look nicer, which means you'll take more pride in ownership. Vinyl siding is a classic choice when it comes to your home's exterior, and since it's durable and relatively low maintenance, you won't spend a lot on it once it's installed.

That said, extreme weather conditions could cause your vinyl siding to warp or buckle, so at times, maintenance may be required. Also, with vinyl siding, proper installation is key. If you don't put that siding in correctly, it won't repel water the way it needs to, resulting in leaks, rot, and other unpleasant consequences.

Finally, many homes throughout the country have vinyl siding, and while that speaks to its popularity, it also means vinyl siding won't help your home stand out.

If you're improving or flipping a home in a high-end neighborhood, you may want to opt for a brick or stone exterior, despite the higher cost. Ultimately, vinyl siding can be a solid investment in your home, and it's an affordable choice to boot.

Even if you don't recoup the full amount you spend on it, it may still be a worthwhile improvement. Our team of analysts agrees.

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