How to Choose the Right Vinyl Siding Manufacturer

Homeowners here in the Northeast have a wide range of sidings to choose from, so why choose vinyl?  There are many advantages to vinyl siding.  Choice of colors, patterns, ease of installation and low maintenance are just some of the advantages of vinyl.  Cost can be another, both the cost of the physical siding itself as well as the cost of installing it.  Many homeowners simply like the way that vinyl siding looks on their house.

Choosing the right vinyl siding manufacturer is actually a difficult and ultimately thankless task.  The reason is, many different name-brand sidings turn out to be made by the same manufacturer, so there is really little or no difference between  many brands.

So the choice of manufacturer is not as important as a recommendation by another homeowner or even by an independent contractor or installer who does not receive a kick-back from one particular manufacturer for pushing a specific brand.

More important when choosing which vinyl siding is right for the home as well as the budget is understanding that ” broadly speaking ” there are two basic types of vinyl siding to choose from.

There is value vinyl and there is premium vinyl.  Understanding the difference between these two basic types of vinyl siding is far more important than choosing a siding based on a manufacturer.

As the name implies, value vinyl is the least expensive.  In this case the least expensive is not necessarily the inferior choice. Value vinyl has many things to recommend it.

While it is true that value vinyl is generally thinner than premium vinyl (the thinnest vinyl is builder’s grade at approximately 35mm thick) what sets the two types apart, primarily, is aesthetics.

Value vinyl is smooth, with no grain” or pattern impressed into the vinyl.  This is not necessarily a bad thing.  Smooth vinyl does not have divots and textures to hold dust and dirt, so value vinyl often looks cleaner than the more expensive vinyl siding.  And because of its smooth surface, value vinyl is easy to clean with simply a garden hose, a mild soap and a soft cloth or sponge.

The primary drawback to value vinyl here in the Northeast is its thickness.  The thinner vinyl provides less protection against harsh weather.  However, the insulation under the vinyl can more than make up for this, providing adequate warmth during the winter and a cool interior during the summer months.

Of course, the thinner vinyl generally does not last as long as the thicker, premium-grade vinyl siding.  But even with the limited” warranty for the value grades of vinyl, a cost-conscious value vinyl can still protect a home here in the Northeast for as long as 20 years in some cases.

Therefore, part of the decision-making equation when choosing between value vinyl and premium vinyl might include the length of time one plans to live in a home, as well as the severity of both winter cold and summer heat.

The heavier and textured premium vinyl generally comes with a longer warranty and the variety of textures can add a certain ambiance to a home that the value vinyl simply cannot match.  Some premium vinyl siding can come with a lifetime warranty, and all premium vinyl sidings provide long-term protection.

Regardless of the type of siding chosen or the manufacturer, vinyl siding offers many advantages here in the northeast.  Vinyl is easy to clean and it provides superior insulating value along with improved energy consumption.  Vinyl siding resists insects, cracking, damage from flying objects and it even provides resistance to fire.  It also never needs painting.

Talk to a dependable company such as United Home Experts to determine whether value vinyl or premium vinyl is the best choice, and then ” and only then ” discuss the manufacturers.  Because when it comes to vinyl siding, choosing between the different vinyl siding manufacturers may not be as important as simply choosing between value and premium-grade siding.