Should You Transform Your Home With Vinyl Siding?
Learn more about the benefits of vinyl siding, how it compares to other materials, and what to expect during the installation process.
Learn more about the benefits of vinyl siding, how it compares to other materials, and what to expect during the installation process.
Vinyl has become an increasingly popular siding material, especially in regions like Michigan. This surge in popularity is mainly due to vinyl’s exceptional durability and resilience to harsh weather conditions, including heavy snowfall and intense summer heat. Its ability to maintain color and structural integrity under these conditions, coupled with minimal maintenance requirements, makes it an ideal option for homeowners seeking both practicality and aesthetic appeal.
In the following sections, we’ll delve deeper into the advantages of vinyl siding, how it compares to other siding materials, and which vinyl siding options our team at L&S Home Improvements prefers.
Vinyl siding is highly regarded for its aesthetic versatility and can meet both contemporary and traditional preferences. Some of the most common vinyl siding styles include:
Vinyl siding also comes in a wide range of colors, from classic whites and creams to bold blues, greens, and reds.
The beauty of vinyl siding lies in its ability to adapt to different architectural styles and personal preferences. Whether you’re aiming for a traditional look or want to add a more modern flair to your home, vinyl siding offers the flexibility to bring your vision to life.
One of the most compelling advantages of vinyl siding is its affordability, particularly when compared to other siding materials. It’s typically less expensive upfront than other premium siding materials like wood, fiber cement, and stone, making it a more accessible option for most budgets. Vinyl siding is also known for its ease of installation, which can be less labor-intensive compared to materials like brick or stone, sometimes resulting in lower installation costs.
Beyond the initial purchase and installation, vinyl siding also reduces costs by being relatively low maintenance. Unlike fiber cement, which can require periodic repainting and repairs, vinyl siding maintains its appearance without such frequent upkeep. Additionally, the durability of vinyl siding means it can last for decades with minimal care, reducing the need for costly repairs or replacements.
Homeowners even have the opportunity to increase their home’s property value by installing vinyl siding. According to Remodeling Magazine’s 2023 Cost Vs. Value report, vinyl siding has a 94.7% return on investment.
The installation of new vinyl siding will not only improve the exterior look of your home but also make it more energy-efficient. All of our vinyl installations at L&S Home Improvements come with new exterior insulation panels and house wrap, which creates a formidable opponent to harsh winter winds and thick summer air.
Some vinyl siding options come with built-in insulation, which creates a thermal barrier for the home, preventing heat gain in the summer and heat loss in the winter. The added insulation also contributes to a more consistent indoor temperature, ultimately meaning less strain on heating and cooling systems and more comfort and savings throughout the year.
Michigan homeowners: finding durable siding should be your top priority. Vinyl siding stands up well against strong winds, heavy rain, and extreme temperatures. Many of the CertainTeed siding products we offer feature PermaCOLOR™ technology, making them resistant to fading from UV damage and helping them maintain their color and integrity over time. High-quality vinyl siding, like our CertainTeed products, can also withstand impacts from hail and debris without denting or cracking.
And if being fully protected from extreme weather conditions wasn’t enough of an advantage, vinyl siding also offers a long expected lifespan. When taken care of, vinyl siding can last between 20 and 40 years, although the projected lifespan will vary based on material quality and the conditions it’s exposed to frequently.
We’ve discussed the many benefits of vinyl siding, but how does it compare to other siding materials, like wood, fiber cement, aluminum, brick, and stone?
Vinyl siding is more durable and requires less maintenance than wood, which can be prone to rot, warping, and insect damage. Vinyl is generally more cost-effective both in terms of initial installation and long-term maintenance. Lastly, while wood offers a beautiful, natural look, vinyl siding is available in many colors and styles, including options that mimic wood.
As stated earlier, vinyl requires less maintenance than fiber cement, which may need repainting over time.
Vinyl is also lighter and easier to install, which can lead to lower installation costs. Both materials are durable, but fiber cement typically has more impact resistance.
Lastly, while both materials are available in different colors and styles, vinyl is generally more versatile. While fiber cement can be painted in any desired color, this adds an extra step to the installation process, and that color could fade over time when exposed to the heat and sun. Comparatively, with vinyl siding, the color is baked into it, which helps prevent fading over time.
Aluminum siding is not as popular as it once was due to the rise of vinyl and fiber cement siding. Although aluminum is fire-resistant and highly efficient, it can be noisier during rain or hail and is prone to denting, unlike vinyl. Aluminum siding can also corrode over time, whereas vinyl is not susceptible to rust. Lastly, vinyl typically offers better insulation properties.
Brick will always be more expensive than vinyl because the installation process is complex, and it can be harder to source high-quality materials.
Additionally, brick is a porous material, so it can be more susceptible to cracking and spalling over time due to the freeze-thaw cycle. In some situations, repointing or tuckpointing may need to be done, which can be difficult and expensive, especially because mortar matching is usually required to ensure aesthetic consistency. On the other hand, vinyl only needs to be occasionally cleaned to remove mold or mildew and inspected annually.
Lastly, while brick offers a classic look and good insulation, vinyl is available in more styles and colors and can be installed with built-in insulation.
Stone provides a unique, natural aesthetic that materials like vinyl can’t actually mimic. However, it’s one of the most expensive siding materials available, and the installation process is extremely labor-intensive. It’s also harder to repair and replace stone siding because it is heavy, requires special equipment and tools, and requires the skills of a masonry specialist.
Additionally, although stone’s unique aesthetic is an advantage, it can be a disadvantage when it comes time to repair the siding—matching a specific type of stone can be more difficult, especially if the original stone is no longer available or was unique in color and texture.
At L&S Home Improvements, we only install materials from brands we know and trust, like CertainTeed. Our four preferred vinyl siding options for homes include MainStreet™, Monogram®, Cedar Impressions® Perfection, and Cedar Impressions® Rough-Split.
CertainTeed’s MainStreet™ line of vinyl siding is available in seven classic styles, including traditional lap and Dutch lap, 25 color options, and authentic textures like natural cedar or freshly painted finishes.
No matter where you live in Michigan, MainStreet™ is designed to protect your home. It features Partial Rollover Nail Hem technology that can withstand wind-load pressures up to 170 miles per hour, DuraLock®, a reinforced locking system that ensures superior strength and durability, and the PermaCOLOR™ system, which ensures exceptional resistance to fading and discoloration. MainStreet™ also holds a Class 1(A) fire rating, is designed with a patented STUDfinder™ to ensure accurate, high-quality installations, and requires very little maintenance.
Monogram® is a popular CertainTeed series combining exceptional style with outstanding performance. It’s offered in an extensive palette of over 40 color choices. It also features a variety of styles, including both traditional and longer-length panels, providing flexibility to match different designs.
Another standout feature of Monogram® is its TrueTexture™ finish, which replicates the look of natural cedar wood. This finish gives the siding a realistic wood grain appearance without compromising quality. Monogram® siding is also manufactured for strength and designed to withstand harsh weather conditions. It is resistant to heavy winds, and its RigidForm™ 210 technology reinforces its ability to stay flat and firm against the exterior walls, even in wind-load pressures up to 210 miles per hour. The material is also virtually maintenance-free, is resistant to rot and wear over time, and has PermaCOLOR™ Protection to prevent fading.
Like MainStreet™, Monogram® also features CertainTeed’s STUDfinder™ system to ensure accurate, high-quality installations.
Cedar Impressions® Perfection allows you to enjoy the appearance of cedar shake siding without the hassle. Although it has an authentic wood-like appearance, complete with a finely crafted finish and subtle cedar grain texture, it’s resistant to rotting, warping, and insect damage. It’s available in 24 colors, from natural colors like Sterling Gray to bold Pacific Blue or Autumn Red hues.
Like MainStreet™, Cedar Impressions® Perfection is engineered with durability and longevity in mind. Its polymer construction makes it resistant to wind, rain, and other inclement weather conditions, and it features other performance-enhancing benefits, like reinforced nail slots and Molded Perimeter Lock™ to withstand heavy winds and ribs on the back of the panels to prevent warping, cupping, and distortion. The HammerTrapper™, EasyMeasure™, SureStop™, and PanelThermometer™ features also ensure quick, easy, and accurate installation. Rain or shine, this siding option ensures long-lasting beauty for years to come.
For those who prefer a rugged, rustic aesthetic, the Cedar Impressions® Rough-Split is an ideal choice. It mimics the look of hand-split cedar shakes, providing a robust and textured appearance, and is available in 15 colors. Like other CertainTeed siding options, the Rough-Split series is low maintenance and built to withstand harsh weather conditions.
The Rough-Split series also shares some of the many benefits of the Perfection series, including reinforced nail slots, molded locks, and ribs to ensure strength, durability, and superior performance, even in the harshest weather conditions, and can withstand winds up to 155 miles per hour.
If you choose to install vinyl siding on your home, L&S Home Improvements is here to make the process as easy as possible.
Every siding installation project begins with a consultation to understand your needs, style preferences, and budget. The consultation also includes a thorough property assessment to examine the condition of the existing siding, measure the area, and identify any potential challenges or special requirements for the installation.
Before the consultation, you can use CertainTeed’s convenient Design Tool to test different siding options. If you’re still not sure—we can help you pick the best siding options. Our ultimate goal is to use your vision and our experience to design a project that you will love coming home to.
After you accept your quote, your design order is processed by our staff, ensuring an accurate order. We begin the installation process by preparing the job site, removing old siding, repairing any underlying wood damage, preparing the surface for new siding, and installing insulation and house wrap.
Once the preparation work is complete, we install aluminum trim around windows, doors, and soffits, and then we begin to install the siding. We use metal starter strips as the foundation and install every nail by hand, allowing for the expansion and contraction of the siding during the seasonal climate changes (this is the most important aspect of a siding install) to ensure superior and durable results. After we finish the installation, we’ll perform a final walkthrough with you to ensure your satisfaction.
We’re committed to transparency and honesty. During the start of your project, we will provide you with an estimated timeline. If any challenges or obstacles come up that would delay your project, know that we will always keep you updated. Your satisfaction is our priority.
With that in mind, some factors could increase the timeline of your project. These include:
Let L&S Home Improvements transform your home’s exterior. We’re a certified, family-owned home improvement company specializing in roofing and siding installations. No matter how complex the project is, we’re committed to delivering exceptional results and responsive customer support. We also provide convenient financing options (subject to credit approval) through GreenSky and Enhancify, including a Traditional 10-year plan, No Interest No Payment options, and customized solutions.
Please contact us today to get started with a free project estimate.
