Make A Statement With Vertical Vinyl Siding
When my husband and I bought our 1980's split foyer home we knew that we were going to want to give it a different look. It had typical horizontal siding on it, and looked very much like every other home in the neighborhood. We were interested in using vertical vinyl siding on the home to give it an updated look.As much as I like a natural product, such as wood, it just takes too much work. We don't want to have to worry about upkeep. Vinyl siding won't warp or rot and never needs painting. Aside from an occasional good cleaning with a pressure washer and a vinyl cleaning solution, your siding should be absolutely maintenance free.
We'd seen vertical vinyl siding used on other homes and really liked the look of it. It gives a barn look to a home and actually makes a house look taller. We knew that there wouldn't be much difference in the ratings and insulative properties of the vinyl siding. There is no difference between horizontal and vertical siding, except the placement. We wanted to make sure that we found a qualified and reputable vinyl siding installer and used a good siding product.
The first question that comes to mind is how much does VS cost? Of course the cost per square foot was going to dictate our decision. It would be wonderful to have the ultimate vinyl siding and door and window trims, but cost does matter.
When I saw the look of CertainTeed vinyl siding I was hooked. Not only did they have beautiful siding, their siding came with a limited lifetime warranty. They also had a line of door casings and window trims and vinyl corners to accent their siding.
Another product we checked out was insulated vinyl siding. We looked at one called Fullback. In this day and age everyone is looking for ways to save on energy costs. We think this product is genius. It has an "R" value rating that is five times that of conventional backing products used in vinyl siding installation. We also liked how it wouldn't sag or dent. It also has a vapor breather to prevent mold growth. Fullback insulated vinyl siding can save up to 20% in energy costs. We also found out that insulated vinyl siding adds between 20% and 30% more to the final cost of siding. It's a cost you'd have to weigh out. If you're planning on staying in your home at least five to ten years insulated siding may be a great investment, and it certainly can't hurt when time comes to sell your home.
Work with a vinyl siding installer who is experienced installing the siding product you choose. Some vinyl siding manufacturers, such as CertainTeed, give training classes and certify installers. As always, before you hire anyone to do any work on your home check with the Better Business Bureau for possible complaints and get references.
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