The Truth About Vinyl Siding

Myth Buster 1: Vinyl Siding is NOT Maintenance-Free

Every siding material requires maintenance. Period. Vinyl installation requires lots of caulk around windows and doors and at corners. Exterior caulk eventually shrinks, cracks, and mildews. Gaps open up, and water enters.

Vinyl and the Weather

Vinyl siding pieces are secured to the house by a nail or staple. As the vinyl contracts and expands with the temperature changes, these fasteners can loosen and strips can buckle (especially if they’re secured too tightly). High winds can loosen or remove fasteners. 

As vinyl ages, it fades and grows brittle—even more brittle in cold weather—and can crack and shatter when struck by a ball or limb. You can’t (or shouldn’t) paint faded vinyl. And since vinyl cannot be patched (like wood can), you have to replace an entire panel to fix one crack.

Vinyl and Moisture

Adding vinyl siding is not necessarily a home improvement Often owners of older homes in need of repair turn to vinyl as a solution. But installing vinyl over wood that is already water damaged can simply mask a minor problem, turning it into a major problem with time. Moisture trapped beneath vinyl will accelerate rot, promote mold and mildew, and invite insect infestations in leftover wood siding and framing. Even in new homes, vinyl siding can act as a moisture trap.

Myth Buster 2: Vinyl Siding is NOT Easy to Clean

Over time, vinyl siding grows dingy with dirt and mildew. Marketers often say cleaning it is as easy as spraying it with a pressure-sprayer. But pressure-washing vinyl is a no-no, since the high-powered water can seep in between cracks and get trapped behind the panels, leading to the above-mentioned rot. Power-washing can also rip vinyl panels right off the wall. And you can’t refresh vinyl with a coat of paint. More likely, you’ll have to scrub the entire house with warm, soapy water.

Myth Buster 3: Vinyl Siding Does NOT Increase Property Value

More and more people around the country are coming to appreciate historic homes as one-of-a-kind antiques in their own right. As a result, old home values are rising—but not if they have lost their historic charm. While vinyl siding may look like “authentic” wood, installation usually calls for the removal of much of the original wood siding and artistic exterior trim—moldings, scrollwork, gable shingles, and decorative attic vents—that people love.

Myth Buster 4: Vinyl Siding Will NOT Cut Your Energy Bill

Thin and flimsy, vinyl is not a good insulator. The addition of foam backing beneath the panels will do next to nothing to add energy efficiency to your home. In older homes, experts estimate that if the original wood siding is removed to make room for the new vinyl siding, the net effect would be a loss in energy efficiency.

Myth Buster 5: Vinyl Siding Will NOT Last Forever

Sure, vinyl will last a long time, a very long time. But vinyl siding is just not as durable as wood or masonry siding. As vinyl starts to noticeably fade and dull, it becomes less attractive. At the same time, the longer you have the siding, the more likely it is to be damaged—accidentally hit by a ball, a branch, a mower or snow blower, strong hail, or wind-blown debris. This means replacing an entire panel with a bright new mismatched panel. At this point, to preserve the value of their property, many homeowners opt for the ultimate act of maintenance: replacing the siding.