Vinyl Siding

Vinyl siding is the most common exterior material in Kansas. This is no surprise, as the product offers customers a beautiful appearance at a low cost and with little to no upkeep requires. Vinyl siding is manufactured in a wide array of colors, from subtle neutrals to vibrant brights. These colors are also enormously long-wearing, as the pigment permeates the entire panel. Thanks to this all throughout color, scratches to the surface make no difference in overall appearance. Vinyl, like fiber cement, is a synthetic material available in the shape of shakes, shingles, and boards. All of these products require relatively little installation labor and therefore have notably lower installation costs are compared to other materials.

A vinyl exterior is a great choice, whether you are remodeling, renovating, or building from the ground up. Vinyl’s synthetic nature allows manufacturers to replicate the appearance of natural wood planks, while simultaneously enabling it to endure a vast spectrum of weather conditions. Unlike natural wood siding, vinyl planks do not peel, rot, or split. The coloration runs throughout the entire material, so it does not require staining, scraping, or painting. Product upkeep is also extremely easy—just hose your siding down or wipe it with a wet rag.

BENEFITS OF VINYL SIDING

No painting required
Easy upkeep
Wide variety of colors
Wide variety of styles (i.e. scallops, shakes, fish scales, lap, etc.)
Insulated backing available
Long-lasting

Homeowners, contractors, and commercial builders alike praise vinyl siding. It’s quality and appearance rank high, and the creative control that its variability allows homeowners is widely appreciated. At its advent, vinyl siding was manufactured in almost exclusively neutral tones. These days, however, the material is offered in just about any color imaginable. If you’re hoping to have your house stand out from the crowd, vibrant vinyl may be the way to go. Even if you are aiming for a more neutral tone, vinyl’s original palette is still around–a beautiful and versatile option. An added benefit of vinyl siding is the longevity of its color–the complete permeation of pigment allows the material to maintain vibrancy longer than most other products. Even when the surface of a vinyl board is scratched the color beneath is the same as that on top and the marks are difficult to see. While the color will, of course, fade over time, it has a very slow rate of degradation as compared to painted wood and other siding.

HISTORY OF VINYL SIDING

Vinyl siding was introduced to the construction market in the middle of the twentieth century. It was first marketed as a sturdy, synthetic alternative to then-ubiquitous aluminum siding. Even though its fabrication was not of the highest quality at the outset, vinyl became a fairly popular option for home and business owners. By the 1970s, however, factory processes had improved and the material was transformed into a beautiful, durable product. It was also able to be produced quicker and most cost-efficiently, bolstering its structural benefits with financial advantages. Consumers were pleased, and their appreciation grew as manufacturers expanded their color palettes to appeal to a wider range of styles. With low-upkeep and durability to recommend it, vinyl was practically without competition until fiber cement appeared on the scene.

Vinyl is one of the most popular exterior materials in the United States. The market–saturated with a huge variety of vinyl products–offers many materials at both ends of the quality spectrum. The thickness of a product tends to correlate to its quality and longevity. At the lower end of product lines are thin materials, running around 0.3 mils. At the higher end of the spectrum are thicker materials, running around 0.6 mils. Product durability varies in accordance to the accordance with the formula used. Every manufacturer uses a slightly different process, and every manufacturer offers a slightly different product as a result. Most manufacturers offer a variety of thicknesses in their products as well, allowing them to appeal to a wider range of budgets. Being thicker and more rigid, thicker boards last longer than thinner boards. Thicker boards also have greater durability, standing up to vinyl’s most common issue–the tendency to break in cold weather or when forcefully struck.

Vinyl material’s particular formulation, and its subsequent quality and longevity, varies from producer to producer. One of the important aspects to keep an eye out for when shopping for vinyl siding is whether or not it has a protective UV coating. A vast majority of manufacturers include this treatment as a standard procedure, but this is not a universal rule. UV protection is critical to the longevity of vinyl materials as UV rays can cause structural damage to the product. Typically, higher quality materials have higher levels of UV protection.

TYPES OF VINYL SIDING

The exterior materials market has a number of vinyl offerings. Some of the most commonly purchased forms are faux replicas of wood, siding boards, brick, and stone. Thanks to cutting-edge manufacturing techniques, producers are able to fabricate vinyl materials that resemble a wide range of other home exterior materials. Thanks to its pigmentation, vinyl also lasts longer than most of these products in terms of paint and peeling. This pigmentation is also available in practically every color imaginable, making vinyl a great option for those seeking a unique appearance for their home. Thicker vinyl siding also tends to wear well, lasting far longer than many other siding materials.

Vinyl’s greatest appeal is, perhaps, its aesthetic. If your home is beginning to look run-down, its paint starting to chip or peel, or its boards sporting dents and cracks, look into vinyl. Vinyl siding can update the look of your building in no time at all, and can also be installed over top of your existing exterior, including wood, stone, brick, and concrete. With Kansas City Siding, your building is in good hands. We can take any siding from shabby to ship-shape very quickly. This newly-beautiful exterior will increase the market value of your building. A stunning exterior may also help you to enjoy your home more fully, remembering the things that led you to purchase it the first time.

INSULATED VINYL SIDING

One of vinyl’s other major appeals is a specific version of the material–foam insulated vinyl. This product features a regular vinyl board on one side and a foam board on the other. This combination gives homeowners vinyl’s durability, and throws in increased energy efficiency for good measure. Many report seeing energy efficiency gains upwards of 30% with foam-backed boards. Another advantage of foam-insulated vinyl is increased strength, as the extra layer of material creates a thicker product. This strength and thickness contributes to a marked reduction in noise pollution for many homeowners as well. The cost of insulated vinyl is higher at the start than regular vinyl boards, but those who invest in the product typically find it to be well worth it, receiving impressive returns in energy efficiency and longevity.

Some of foam-insulated vinyl’s many advantages are:

The base-level durability of regular vinyl
Increased energy efficiency and lower utility bills
Reduced outside noise pollution

VINYL SIDING INSTALLATION

Vinyl is the all-purpose siding material. It can fit any style and stand up under nearly all weather conditions. It is low-maintenance, highly durable, and easy to clean. The installation can be a tricky process, though, so it is recommended that you seek out an experienced and fully licensed contractor to get the job done right. Here at Kansas City Siding, we have an incredible team of skilled professionals up to the task. We are fully confident that once you work with us, you’ll never hunt for another contractor again.

Call to request a free estimate: +1 (816) 281-0705
Or E-mail: info@SidingInKansasCity.com