If you’re renovating your North Shore home, having an addition put on, or are in the midst of having a new home built, at some point, you have to choose what type of exterior cladding to put on the structure.
Vinyl siding is by far the most popular exterior option in the United States. Here on the North Shore, vinyl siding is often installed in combination with other types of cladding, including wooden shingles and brick. Does vinyl siding make sense for your home? Here are three questions you can use to help you decide.
Do you love painting the house?
The most common alternative to vinyl siding is wooden clapboard siding. To maintain wooden siding properly, it needs to be painted on a fairly regular basis. Fairly regularly basis means once at least every five years, although people who are highly concerned about their curb appeal have the job done more often. The cost of having a home painted is generally several thousand dollars.
In comparison, vinyl siding needs little to no maintenance once it’s installed. Most homeowners wash the home down with a pressure washer once or twice a year, just to clear away spider webs and any dust or grime that accumulated over the course of time. The cost to buy a pressure washer is under a thousand dollars.
How do you feel about long lasting color?
If you love bold, vibrant color that stays strong and true despite years of exposure to direct sunlight, you want vinyl siding. Paint fades, splits, and chips over time. Vinyl siding is designed to be durable, with thick layers of color that minimize the impact of any minor scratches from branches and other windblown debris.
What is your budget like?
Even the most affluent homeowners need to make the most of their budget. Given the 30+ years of reliable service the best vinyl sidings offer and the low lifetime costs of maintenance, vinyl siding is a sensible financial investment for the North Shore homeowner.