Vinyl Siding 101

By: Handy Andy

Over the years, many builders, by demand of homeowners, have choose vinyl siding, because it is perceived to be almost maintenance-free. Put it up, clean it occasionally and forget about it. If the siding fades or breaks, it can be relatively easy to be replaced.

Another nice thing about today's vinyl siding is that it is know to last relatively long.  Vinyl siding will last depending on the grade of the siding, how heavy the vinyl is and the harshness of environmental conditions. Vinyl siding  comes typically with a 10-year up to 50-year warranty.

It comes in many styles. It expands and contracts with temperature variations more than other siding materials and this can cause puffing or separation at seams if the installation did not properly allow for such fluctuations.

Vinyl siding is one of the more popular choices buy homeowners and builders a like for homes today. As a testament to its popularity, as many as 30 percent of homes are now covered in some type of vinyl siding.
Vinyl siding is available in more profiles than any other cladding on the market. Using the latest technology, Vinyl siding manufacturers are using the latest technology to recreate fine wood exteriors of the past that work beautifully with many of today and tomorrows architectural styles, from historic to contemporary. A couple are listed below:

1. Dutch Lap             3. Clapboard                     6. Beated              9. Scallops
2. Single Lap             4. Board & Batten            7. Shakes
2. Cabinet Board       5. Vertical                         8. Shingles

Vinyl siding comes in a wide range of product quality, thickness and lasting durability. Thickness can vary from .035" in cheaper grade siding products up to .052" in the highest grade products which vary from manufacturer to manufacturer. Today, the thinnest vinyl siding commonly used is .040", and is known as "builder's grade".


Siding profiles are relatively easily distinguishable from each other. Below are some of the more common profile sizes:


1. Clapboard Siding - Triple = 3",  Double = 4", 4-1/2", 5", and Single = 6", 7"
2. Dutchlap Siding - Triple = 3" and Double = 4", 4-1/2", 5"
3. Beated Siding - Single 6", 7"

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March 2013