Home Improvement With Low Maintenance Exterior Siding

3 Low-Maintenance Home Improvement Siding Choices – Which is Best For You?

An excellent way to dress up the exterior of any home is with a home improvement project that utilizes one of the various kinds of exterior siding available on the market today.

There are several different types of low-maintenance siding, one sure to fit your remodeling project budget. Let’s take a look at a few, to determine which might be best suited.

Vinyl Siding

Vinyl siding is one of the most popular types of siding available. Surveys estimate that it is currently used in as much as 40% of new construction. Vinyl siding is very popular with Ontario, Toronto, and Calgary homeowners. Partially due to the following facts: it is touted to last a lifetime, it is relatively “maintenance free”, and it is affordably priced.

Although vinyl siding is considered maintenance free, it requires cleaning once or twice a year; gentle scrubbing, or by spraying it off with a hose. Homeowners should expect to repair or replace a few pieces here and there. Although strong, it will crack or break if struck with enough impact at the wrong angle.

Since vinyl first made its debut in the 1960s, drastic improvements have been made in its appearance, durability, and insulating factor. Earlier versions faded and became brittle over time. And due to the thin-wall construction, it had an insulating factor of less than R-1.

More contemporary versions come in a wide variety of shades. They are color fast, resist brittleness, and are constructed with a foam core which drastically improves durability, and increases the insulating factor to R-4.

Vinyl siding is available in both seamed and seamless versions. Due to the solid coloration through the vinyl, it does not show scratches. One down side is that it contains polyvinyl chloride, or PVC. Because it does not break down, environmentalists see PVC as a potential disposal hazard.

Aluminum Siding

Aluminum siding has been around since the end of WWII and still is a relatively popular choice. It has a baked enamel finish, is fireproof and will not rust. It is also lightweight and insulates better than vinyl. However, it dents easily, shows scratches, and requires re-painting every 5 to 10 years.

Like vinyl, aluminum siding needs to be cleaned at least once each year. Aluminum siding is relatively easy to install. An ambitious homeowner might be able to complete this type home renovation project with little or no help from a siding contractor.

Seamless Steel Siding

Seamless Steel siding is one of the newest types of exterior siding available. Because each piece is custom cut and fitted to the dimensions of the home, it is installed without any seams or joints, which makes it a very attractive choice.

Steel siding comes in a variety of colors which are “sealed” using a PVC coating. It never needs to be sanded or re-painted like aluminum. Oxidation is one of the few potential problems that can occur. But this can kept to minimum if promptly addressed. Oxidation is a chalky film that can be removed simply by power washing.

This type siding is very strong and durable, and much less likely to dent in a hailstorm than aluminum. It is a good choice for areas with heavy snowfall, as well as hot desert or salty coastal climates.

Most manufacturers offer excellent warranties. You can expect over 20-years of service from your steel siding. Check to make sure which kinds of damage the warranty contract covers; rust or corrosion can occur on steel siding if the finish is scratched or damaged.

Seamless steel siding seals on the home extremely well, and renders good heating and cooling efficiency. Steel siding can cost twice as much as vinyl. But its benefits – longevity and energy-saving properties – can more than offset the difference.

Handy Hint: while aluminum siding is relatively easy for an ambitious homeowner to install, seamless steel and vinyl siding is custom-fit to the home. Successful installation is best provided by an experienced, reliable home improvement contractor.

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