The exterior of your home needs a redo, and you’re thinking vinyl siding might be the best choice. It could be. But there are many other options to consider, too. So think about the pros and cons of vinyl siding before you make a choice.

The Pros of Vinyl siding

• When compared to other siding materials, vinyl is inexpensive. But beware: You may pay for it when you sell your house.
• Vinyl siding is versatile. It comes in many styles and colors and can even look like wood.
• It needs very little maintenance. About all you have to do is spray the cobwebs and dust off with a garden hose and you’re done.
• You’ll never need to paint it. In fact, you can’t. The color is baked into the vinyl so it goes all the way through from top to bottom. It can’t be scratched off, stripped, or removed mechanically. Do you want to live with the same color house for many years? Think that through before you choose vinyl.
• Vinyl siding is easy to install. While it’s hardly a DIY project for most people, installing vinyl by a contractor should cost less than other kinds of siding because it’s easiest to do and takes less time. Even contractors can make mistakes though. Ask if yours has been trained and certified.

The Cons of Vinyl Siding

• Because of the length of the planks, they often don’t line up. So, you’ll probably see some seams in your siding.
• It can crack if hit by flying debris in a storm or even an airborne ball from a neighbor’s yard. Changes in temperature can also cause splits or cracks as it expands and contracts. Damaged siding can be replaced though. It can’t be patched, but the entire plank can be replaced.
• The siding can begin to fade after a few years. That’s especially true of dark colors and in sunny climates. Since vinyl is designed to not be painted, the paint will probably peel if you try to paint the house.
• Vinyl siding can reduce the price you’ll get for your home when you sell.
• Vinyl siding saves trees, but it’s far from earth friendly. As it ages, it gives off low levels of the same greenhouse gasses – nitrogen oxide, dioxin and sulfur dioxide – it emits in dangerous levels during manufacturing. In house fires, the siding releases large amounts of those deadly chemicals, killing more people inside the homes than smoke inhalation does.

Caring For Vinyl Siding

The only care vinyl siding needs is to be kept clean, so it continues to look nice.

First, inspect the entire outside of your home looking for breaks or cracks in the siding. Those panels should be replaced.

To get rid of dirt and debris, use a bucket of water with a dish or laundry detergent and a long-handled brush. Or just use a garden hose. That should get the siding clean.

Once you’ve got your siding in place, you might find that you have some pieces coming loose over the course of time. If you run into this issue, we can help! Master Key’s loose siding fasteners can quickly and easily fix any sagging siding you may be dealing with. Check out our video below to see how they work.

To purchase loose siding fasteners, click here.