Vinyl Siding Waterloo

Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Vinyl Siding

If you are looking for a great way to completely transform the exterior of your home, you may want to consider vinyl siding. Vinyl siding is an ideal way to brighten the exterior of your home, and it can significantly increase the resale value of your home. There are several benefits that come with investing in home siding, including low home-improvement costs and reducing the costs of your home’s energy bills. If you aren’t familiar with vinyl siding, here is some brief information about the history, what it’s made of and the benefits you can expect with the installation of vinyl siding.

History of Vinyl Siding

Vinyl siding made its debut in American homes in the late 1950s and early 1960s. This was during the time when aluminum siding was thought to be the supreme home cladding to replace wood siding. In the early stages, vinyl earned a bad reputation as an inferior material that would eventually sag and crack. Fortunately, today’s vinyl siding is made with high-tech materials that are exceptionally versatile and high-performing. In fact, vinyl siding is now the number one choice for more than 32 percent of all new home construction, and the trend is continually rising.

How Vinyl Siding Is Made

Vinyl siding begins its life as the result of a chemical reaction from the combination of chlorine gas, oxygen and ethylene. This combination creates vinyl polychloride resin. When vinyl polychloride resin is combined with additives, it creates a wide variety of commonly used products, including plumbing pipes and the faux leather that is used for furniture, but the most common use is vinyl siding. The majority of vinyl siding has a core of recycled vinyl with a new layer of vinyl on top. The new layer is specially treated to prevent it from fading from the UV rays of the sun and to minimize expansion when it is exposed to heat. Some vinyl companies provide the option of 100 percent “virgin” vinyl siding, which means there isn’t a core of recycled materials; the entire structure is new vinyl.

Installing Vinyl Siding

The best news is that there is very little, if any, preparations the homeowner will have to do before the day of your siding installation. It is recommended that you ensure the siding contractor is able to have easy access to the property on the day of installation. For instance, make sure there aren’t any toys, lawn equipment or debris near the home to prevent the contractor from having to spend time moving these items and to reduce the risk of an injury. Vinyl siding is made in panels, usually 20-foot sections. These sections are fastened to the exterior wall of the home, and they interlock at the top and the bottom of each panel, which helps provide a seal against the weather. The installation is generally easy and much quicker to install than aluminum or wood siding.

Benefits of Vinyl Siding

One of the best things about installing vinyl siding on your home is the vast array of benefits that come with it. Some of the benefits of vinyl siding include:

• Easy to maintain — Once vinyl siding is installed, it will continue to look great with very minimal upkeep. It is virtually maintenance free because of its resilient design. It never requires repainting; it sustains much less environmental damage than other materials, so it keeps its new look for years to come. A simple cleaning once a year is all that is needed for it to maintain its original look.
• Vinyl panels are versatile — Vinyl siding provides a wide range of options that allow you to personalize your home. There are several choices when it comes to textures, trim, styles, shapes, color and decorative accessories. In fact, modern vinyl siding is available in styles that look like other materials, such as cedar shake.
• More durable than other siding materials — Vinyl siding is designed to withstand the elements, including excessive moisture, heavy winds and hail. Unlike aluminum, it will not corrode over time, and in many situations, you can expect your vinyl siding to last for as long as 50 years. It is strong and reliable, dent-resistant and made to withstand the typical activities that occur in many backyards, such as an impact from a flying ball.
• Energy efficient — When vinyl siding is properly insulated and installed, it provides a layer of insulation that helps reduce air leakage and saves you money on your energy bills. It keeps the hot and cold air outside, making your home comfortable year-round. In some situations, installing vinyl siding may make you eligible for energy tax credits, which makes it even more economical to install.
• Environmentally friendly — Vinyl siding is completely recyclable, so it can be reused for another batch of siding or a variety of other vinyl products. It has a lower impact on the environment throughout its life cycle than other types of exterior siding materials.
• Increase resale value of your home — Due to the durability and variety of colors and styles, you are able to enhance the beauty of your home and ensure that it will retain its look for many years to come. This, along with the curb appeal improvements, means that vinyl siding can increase the resale value of your home. Also, if you are considering putting your home up for sale in the near future, installing vinyl siding will make it more saleable by increasing the chance that prospective buyers come to view the home.

With low-maintenance costs, low installation costs and a warranty, vinyl siding is an extremely affordable exterior option. It is one of the top home improvement projects that provide a high return on your investment. When compared to other exterior materials, such as aluminum or wood siding, vinyl panels provide a wider selection of colors and styles. It is a cost-effective, long-term solution for weather-resistant, maintenance-free exterior siding for contemporary to traditional homes.

To learn more information about how vinyl siding can be beneficial for your home, contact the leading experts in the Waterloo, Iowa area, Community Builders, to schedule your consultation and get a free estimate.