Vinyl vs. Aluminum Siding… What’s the Difference?

At A Real Advantage Construction, one of our great services we provide is that of siding installation and repair. We always provide the highest quality of workmanship, yet at some really great, unbeatable rates. We know you may be wondering what the best siding is for your home and we would like to take a minute or two to give you some advice. There are literally so many options when it comes to siding, so we thought we’d focus right now on two different types, vinyl and aluminum.

Vinyl siding is a plastic material that ranges in thickness from .040 – .046 inches and is typically more durable than aluminum. During the winter time, it can become slightly brittle. It also expands and contracts in greater fluctuation than aluminum siding. It’s color is solid all the way through. There is no top coat of color. This means that if it is scratched, the color won’t change.

Aluminum siding is a formed material and is typically .019 inches thick. It has a baked on enamel paint finish. Thus, if it becomes scratched, the paint will become removed and the bare metal below will be revealed. Aluminum siding does however take paint better than vinyl. Unlike vinyl siding’s tendency to become brittle in the winter, aluminum siding maintains the same properties year round despite the temperature.

It seems that aluminum siding has lost tremendous market share since the release of vinyl siding. Some statistics report that almost 80 percent of all sidings installed are vinyl. Whichever you choose, we are sure it will be a good choice. We hope these tips help!

Getting Away from Siding Installation

It might be a good idea to ask friends or family members to use their homes as a short-term daytime escape.If you work from home, then you might want to find a temporary office or workspace to use throughout the process. You should also make your contractor aware if you are a stay-at-home parent or if you operate a business out of your home office. When possible, a good contractor will do his best to get the job done as quickly as possible so your life can quickly return to normal.

As a courtesy, you might also want to notify your neighbors of the impending siding installation project. This will give them the ability to make alternate plans to avoid having to suffer through several days of noise.

Clear the walls: When it comes to siding installation, sometimes the pressure from the outside walls of your house can impact the inside walls. It's a good idea to remove all valuables from your walls, including paintings, framed photographs, and mirrors, before the installation begins. Store these items in a basement or spare bedroom to avoid them getting damaged during the siding installation process.

Be prepared for some strange things to happen: Some homes - especially those that are older - are built with sheet rock that is nailed in, not screwed in. As a result, during siding installation
, it is possible for the outside banging to cause nails to pop out of the sheetrock. This won't cause any structural damage, but nail pops are known to be rather unsightly. While it is rare for this to happen, as a consumer, it never hurts to be aware that siding installation can bring about some strange and unpleasant side effects. If you own an older home and have never had siding previously installed, then you might want to discuss this risk with your contractor.