Vinyl Versus Wood Siding

One of the most significant advantages of vinyl siding over T1-11 wood siding is its durability and resistance to high winds, moisture, and impact. These are all important factors you need to consider when choosing siding. Michigan is prone to severe weather, including hail and high winds, and vinyl is the only siding option that can withstand these weather patterns. In addition to its weather resistance, vinyl siding won’t be impacted by pests like T1-11 siding, so you won’t have to worry about filling in holes and repairing surface damage.

If you want to achieve a wood appearance without the durability issues, we recommend CertainTeed’s Cedar Impressions®. They’re a polymer/vinyl option that mimics the appearance and texture of wood but comes with more advanced properties, such as:

• A molded Perimeter Lock™ and reinforced nail slots to improve longevity.


• A 3/4” panel projection for superior rigidity, even during hurricane-force winds and other weather events.


• Ribs on the back of siding panels to prevent warping, cupping, and distortion.


• A TrueTexture™ finish that’s molded from real cedar shingles.

Some CertainTeed vinyl siding options even offer a Class 1(A) fire rating. Comparatively, wood isn’t fire-resistant, even when treated.

Vinyl is more affordable than T1-11 siding, both upfront and over time. Vinyl costs anywhere between $8 and $20 per square foot. Cedar Impressions® will run on the higher end of that range, while traditional vinyl siding will be on the lower end.

T1-11 siding, like most wood, comes with a high price point. In fact, even cheaper plywood or pine siding can cost up to $35 per 4’ x 8’ panel, while higher-quality woods like cedar can run up to $120 per per 4’ x 8’ panel. In addition to the higher material costs, T1-11 siding installations require more intensive labor, including replacing damaged OSB, plywood, or framing members, foundation and clearance planning to prevent moisture wicking and pest access, acclimating the materials to local moisture conditions, cutting the panels, and painting or staining the siding.

Vinyl doesn’t require this level of pre- or post-installation work, especially CertainTeed vinyl products, which all follow a similar installation process (with the exception of vertical products like Board & Batten). Vinyl is lightweight and easier to handle, so multiple people don’t have to be involved when installing individual panels.

Vinyl siding requires routine cleaning over time to remove dirt and debris and keep the siding looking fresh, but this routine maintenance pales in comparison to the more regular treatments that wood siding requires to continue looking good.

Another downside is that wood naturally attracts pests and other animals like squirrels and woodpeckers. When installing new siding, our team has seen a lot of damage, including claw marks and holes, on previously installed wood siding. You won’t ever see this type of damage with vinyl/polymer siding because it’s not a welcoming environment for pests and animals.

T1-11 siding will need to be painted or stained for aesthetic purposes, and over time, that paint or stain will chip or fade. L&S Home Improvements uses CertainTeed siding products because they all feature PermaColor™, a CertainTeed guarantee that the color won't fade.

From a maintenance perspective, if you choose T1-11 siding, you will likely spend thousands of dollars on treatments, repainting, and minor repair work over its short 10-20-year lifespan. However, with vinyl siding, you will only need to wash it, preferably once a year.

Wood siding like T1-11 comes as-is and must be painted or stained to add any color or finish to it. Vinyl is available in dozens of colors, so you'll never have to settle for less when it comes to your home's aesthetic. For example, CertainTeed's Cedar Impressions line is available in more than 50 colors and 16 blends. There are even three texture options: Sawmill (replicating the pattern of saw blades on real cedar), Perfection (clean edges, mimicking natural wood textures), and Rough-Split (a deeper, split-by-hand appearance).

Thanks to its lightweight nature, installing vinyl siding is already easier than installing T1-11 siding, but CertainTeed makes the installation of its products faster and easier because they are manufactured with several features, including QuickReference™ nail mark indicators to help installers achieve correct panel nailing without measuring, CertiLock™ Continuous Hanger to hold the panels together seamlessly, a PanelThermometer™ to improve installation accuracy, HammerTapper™ Assist Pads to ensure precise alignment, and SureStop™ to eliminate any risk of damage.

T1-11 siding is heavy and awkward. A standard 4 x 8 panel can weigh as much as 80 pounds, requiring at least two people to install one panel efficiently. Extremely skilled labor is needed to achieve clean cuts with no splintering. The installation process also requires careful control and management to prevent gaps that can encourage water and pest filtration. Additionally, there is a higher risk of inaccurate installations because T1-11 siding requires precise fastening patterns with specific nail types and spacing to prevent panel movement. In contrast, vinyl has built-in slots that allow for natural expansion and contraction and, as already mentioned, CertainTeed’s products feature convenient nail mark indicators.

Wood on its own is sustainable, but T1-11 siding undergoes several treatments, which may include fungicide treatments, water-repellant preservatives, and fire-retardant treatments, most of which are not environmentally friendly. Vinyl siding is manufactured using sustainable methods, and many of CertainTeed’s siding products, including Cedar Impressions®, feature Environmental Product Declaration and Green certifications to showcase their minimal environmental impact.

In addition to its sustainability, vinyl siding is a more energy-efficient option compared to T1-11. Insulation can be easily incorporated into vinyl siding to improve energy efficiency, but it cannot be easily incorporated into T1-11 installation projects because T1-11 panels are generally applied directly to wall studs without separate sheathing, which eliminates the typical space where insulation is typically installed. Adding insulation during a T1-11 project would also require removing the siding entirely, which is why most contractors don’t include insulation in these installation jobs. T1-11, on its own, has minimal R-value.