How to Care for Your Vinyl Siding

Unlike wood siding, vinyl siding may not rot or wear in the same way, however it can still crack or puncture, so it is important that you care for it properly. Here are a few of our tips on how to keep it looking great:

• Make sure to trim back any trees or shrubbery that come close to your house. They can easily mar the siding, leaving marks that are difficult to get rid of.
• Although heavy winds from hurricanes are uncommon in the New York area, you still should make sure your vinyl siding is securely attached, as it can easily be pulled off in the case of a strong windstorm.
• To keep the siding looking great, make sure to clean it once a year or so, using a hose, sponge and a mild detergent, like laundry soap of TSP. You may need a brush, like a car-wash brush, or a pressure washer to get all the grit off, especially if you live in an area that gets a lot of pollution from exhaust and smog. If you do use a pressure washer, please be sure to cover any plants nearby with a tarp!
• One thing to keep in mind about vinyl siding color, is that it permeates the entire material. It is not a surface coat. If you want to paint the siding to change the color, make sure to apply two coats of 100% acrylic latex paint. You will still need to re-paint it every so often to keep the color.

What the Siding Experts Say

Siding experts have also found that longer panels create a more aesthetic and secure installation. When panels are 20' to 25' long, smaller houses can enjoy a seamless finish. Larger houses will have the fewest number of seams possible. This also makes the finished product tighter, more weather proof and stronger.

When you choose vinyl siding, you will have your choice of a wide range of colors and grains. You can choose something that resembles a traditional wood grain, or a completely smooth finish. Colors range from neutral earth tones, to slightly brighter reds and blues. You also are not limited to traditional, horizontal siding.

You can choose siding that has additional insulation on the back of it to make your home even warmer on those cold winter nights. You can select siding that installs in lines vertically or horizontally. Or you can go for a highly traditional look with siding that looks like cedar shakes or shingles. Vinyl siding can be installed by roofing contractors as well as siding contractors.

How Much is Vinyl Siding?

Vinyl siding creates a fresh-painted look and it doesn't scratch, peel, or flake. You can customize your siding job to satisfy your tastes and differentiate your home from other houses with siding. Perhaps the biggest benefit of vinyl siding, though, is the cost.

When vinyl siding was first introduced, it was not considered inexpensive. Over time, technology has gotten better and vinyl siding is now within reach of most homebuyers.

As an estimate, plan on spending between $2 and $10 per linear foot of siding. The overall cost of the siding will vary depending on factors such as style, quality, thickness, durability, insulative properties, installation, and UV protection.

Remember that there are many benefits associated with the cost of installing vinyl siding. You are getting an exterior surface that will maintain its value for a long time with almost no maintenance. When you pay whatever amount to have the siding installed, you enjoy the peace of mind of not having to spend a lot of money in the future to maintain the quality of the siding.

When you take into account the cost of siding and the installation, you will find that vinyl siding is generally less expensive than bricks or metal. Additionally, vinyl siding won't deteriorate in the same manner as wood, which may often form hazardous splinters.

What Does Vertical Siding Have to Offer?

Vertical vinyl siding need not be limited to your home. You may have a barn, for example, or a doghouse in need of a new siding job. Look at the additional structures in relation to your home and determine whether they would look better
with vertical siding.

Vertical siding can come in many different colors and grains. As an example, you could use siding that resembles wood to give your home an old-fashioned barn look. The color you choose can be supplemented by choosing a good contrasting shutter color.

An important thing to remember with regards to upgrading the siding on your home is how it can relate to the overall value of your home. If you take the time to make sure the job is done well and that the vertical siding enhances the appearance, your home will be of much more value. If you decide to sell, you will get much better offers.

Vertical siding can also do wonders as far as enhancing the appearance of your home. If you are interested in vinyl siding, take some time to find out what style suits your preferences and put some thought into using both vertical and horizontal siding.

Wood Siding On Your Home

Wood siding types that are manufactured today are many which include, clapboard, plywood, shakes and shingles, tongue and groove and hardboard. Choosing a type of wood for your house is a big step. By matching the style of your home to a unique wood siding type you will be have a more desirable looking house at the end of the day. Read on to find out more about the unique types of wood siding available.

Clapboard siding are long planks of wood that are lain horizontally overlapping one another on the side of the house. A big plus for clapboard siding is that it complements any style of architecture. Redwood and cedar are the most preferred wood variety to be used for clapboard siding while fir and larch are acceptable too.

Plywood siding is another type that is easy to install using the most minimum basic carpentry skill. It is typically made from Western red cedar, Douglas fir, Southern pine and redwood, giving off a variety of patterns and textures to choose from. Plywood siding that is painted or stained regularly can last up to 30 years and more.

Tongue and groove siding are lengths of boards that fit and lock together in a pattern. It is made from pine, cedar and teak and is valued by its versatility and attractiveness. This type of wood siding can be installed horizontally, diagonally or vertically with either a rough or smooth finish. Depending on the style of the home, it can come in a knotty or clear appearance.

Choosing Your Vinyl Siding

When it comes to any home building decisions, most homeowners take aesthetics, durability, and cost into account. Deciding on siding is no different. Vinyl siding comes from many manufacturers with different qualities. After quality of the siding product, the professionalism of the Denver siding company is the next most important, because you want the materials to be installed right, and have the peace of mind in knowing that the company will fix any problems they may cause.

Even within the same vinyl siding company, there is significant variation among products. The most important aspect is panel thickness. Vinyl is a very weather resistant material. It is also flexible, and installing siding that is too thin may result in being able to see the wall underneath poking through. I have also witnessed many instances of Denver vinyl siding being punctured relatively easily. The material survives weather well, but physical wear and tear can destroy vinyl quickly, especially if it is of the thinner variety. Only a tenth of an inch more can make a great difference with vinyl, so ask your Denver vinyl siding company for a cost breakdown for an upgrade. Upgrading the quality or thickness of the material should not cost all that much more overall.

Vinyl siding made by cheap companies sometimes stiffens with age, which can lead to cracks. This is another reason to get thicker siding. If you pick a smaller company and a unique color, you may be in for some major problems if the siding gets damages and you want a localized replacement. The probability that the same company is still carrying a matching replacement is not so good. So most siding contractors recommend you pick a trusted company in simple colors and design. This does not mean you have to go with off-white but consult with your contractor on a siding manufacturer you both trust.

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Why Vinyl Siding Instead of Aluminum?

You may be wondering why you'll want to put up new vinyl siding as compared to aluminum siding. There are a lot of good reasons to choose vinyl, but the final decision is yours. There are a lot of differences between aluminum siding and vinyl. Vinyl siding is manufactured from a continuous formed plastic material and usually has a thickness between.040 to.046 inches. Aluminum siding is a continuous formed material that is usually around.019 inches thick.

Vinyl siding is manufactured with a solid color, while aluminum siding in manufactured with a baked on enamel paint finish. Since vinyl siding has a manufactured solid color, the color will remain solid even when scratched.

Not so however with aluminum siding. The paint is baked on so if aluminum siding is scratched, the paint peels off and leaves a shiny bare metal finish exposed. The choice is yours, but your home will look newer and have a higher value when

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Mastic Home Exterior Vinyl Panels

Here is a press release I found for vinyl siding panels that look like cedar and clapboard wood siding. The improvements in vinyl siding have made it much more comparable to traditional siding:

Cary, N.C. (Jan. 20, 2008) – Mastic Home Exteriors™ by Ply Gem Quest®a premium vinyl siding panel with the classic look of authentic wood, features 35 vivid colors with the protection of the Duranyl® 5000 system on Quest Signature’s darkest colors.

Duranyl 5000 proprietary technology provides additional UV protection for superior color retention. Because of this, homeowners can be assured that the rich and vibrant color they choose from the industry’s broadest color offering will not fade or weather over time. Colorfastness combined with superior durability, which makes panels more resistant to cracking, impact and thermal distortion, means Quest’s beauty is engineered to last. Visit www.mastic.com for more information.

Cleaning Vinyl Siding

How do I wash vinyl siding?
Wash vinyl siding with a soft cloth or ordinary long-handled, soft bristle brush. For textured surfaces, use only a soft bristle brush to keep the grooves in the texture stain-free. For best results, start at the bottom of the house and work up and rinse the cleaning solution completely before it dries. If your house has brick facing, cover the brick so that it is not affected by the runoff.

Can I use a power washer?
Yes, though you should read the washer instructions carefully before use. When cleaning, hold the power washer straight at eye level to keep the water on top of the vinyl siding where it can clean most effectively. Do not aim the power washer upward as water may be driven behind the siding.

You should also follow the siding manufacturer’s recommendations. Some manufacturers don't want pressure washers used on their products at all. Others allow them, but have limitations on the amount of pressure and the cleaners that can be used. Most will caution against the use of pressure washers around any opening in the wall, such as windows, doors, electrical wiring, and plumbing.

How do I remove mold and mildew?
Small spots of mold and mildew can be handled with cleaners such as Fantastik® or Windex®. For larger sections, a solution of vinegar (30%) and water (70%) has proven successful. Alternatively, you also could try the following solution: 1/3 cup (2 2/3 ounces) powdered laundry detergent (e.g., Tide®, Fab®, or equivalent), 2/3 cup (5 1/3 ounces) powdered household cleaner (e.g., Spic & Span®, Soilax®, or equivalent), 1 quart (32 fluid ounces) liquid laundry bleach, and 1 gallon (128 fluid ounces) of water.

What types of cleaners should I use for other stains?
A list of commonly accepted cleaners is provided in the box below. Be sure to spot check any general or stain specific cleaner before using it on a large section of siding. After removing the stain, rinse thoroughly with water. Do not use cleaners containing organic solvents, undiluted chlorine bleach, liquid grease remover, nail polish remover, or furniture polish or cleaners. They can affect the surface of the siding.

Vinyl Siding Cleaners

General cleaners (e.g., Simple Green®, Nice & Easy®, Armor All®, etc.) can be used to clean dirt, bird droppings, and spider webs. Stain-specific cleaners are listed below. Rinse all cleaners with water before they dry.

Stain
Cleaners*

Bubble Gum
Fantastik®, Murphy Oil Soap®, solution of vinegar (30%), water (70%) and Windex®

Crayon
Lestoil®

DAP (oil-based caulk)
Fantastik®

Felt-tip Pen
Fantastik®, water-based cleaners

Grass
Fantastik®, Lysol®, Murphy Oil Soap®, Windex®

Lithium (car) Grease
Fantastik®, Lestoil®, Murphy Oil Soap®, Windex®

Motor Oil
Fantastik®, Lysol®, Murphy Oil Soap®, Windex®

Paint
Brillo® Pad, Soft Scrub®

Pencil
Soft Scrub®

Rust
Fantastik®, Murphy Oil Soap®, Windex®

Tar
Soft Scrub®

Top Soil
Fantastik®, Lestoil®, Murphy Oil Soap®

*Cleaning Materials are listed in alphabetical order.
*VSI does not endorse products or processes and makes no warranties for the products referenced herein. Reference to proprietary names is for illustrative purposes only and is not intended to imply that there are not equally effective alternatives.

Taken from http://www.vinylsiding.org/aboutsiding/cleanmain/cleaning/index.asp

Historic Restoration with Vinyl Siding

Many people frown upon the idea of installing vinyl siding on their historic New York Homes. That's because we've seen the devestating consequences of the older vinyl siding, which covered up the period details of delicate old victorians and craftsman homes. However, siding has changed over time and new siding products Brooklyn are remarkably different from siding products of the past.

Vinyl manufacturers are catering to historic homes by producing product lines that replicate period details. Vinyl manufacturers now provide vinyl trim, panels and period colors to match historic building styles. Do you want clapboard and spindles? You got it!

All this and vinyl siding Queens is super low maintenance without the termite problems, cracking and rotting issues that wood has.