Delaware Roofing Info & Tips

Vinyl siding is designed to be a durable alternative to other siding materials. This type of siding comes in different styles and usually is installed with a stiff foam board backing. This board can either be contour fit or a flat board behind the vinyl. The foam helps the vinyl keep its original shape, as well as providing a small amount of insulation.

Vinyl siding can come in nearly any color, but is generally white. It is generally sold in 6 to 10 inch wide strips, but other widths are available as well. Vinyl siding has become increasingly popular over time because it lasts for a long time, does not need a lot of repairs, is inexpensive, is easy to clean, and offers some insulation. It does not contribute to termites or the rotting of wood, and is flame retardant.

It is made of PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride), which is a mixture of plastic resin and some other chemicals. Because vinyl siding is mostly made of PVC, it doesn’t dent like aluminum, or rust like steel siding.  Vinyl siding can be designed to resemble wooden siding, and it shares some of the characteristics of aluminum siding, mainly density and weight.

However vinyl siding is easier to install then other kinds, and is good for any climate. Vinyl siding expands when it heats up and contracts when it cools down. It’s important to make sure it has enough room to expand when its installed. Several factors affect the stiffness and wind resistance of vinyl siding. One factor is the thickness, adding thickness to a section of vinyl siding can substantially increase the rigidity and wind resistance.

Even thought vinyl siding is flame retardant, fires in buildings that have a vinyl siding are generally more dangerous because when the PVC burns it releases toxic fumes. The same fumes are present when it is manufactured and recycled. While vinyl siding is becoming more impact resistant, windblown debris and heavy ail can still puncture the sheets of vinyl, which requires the entire panel to be replaced because it cannot simply be patched.

The color on vinyl siding is baked through so it doesn’t show scratches, and is fade resistant, but will still fade over several years. So if you need to replace one panel it will not exactly match the color unless you replace all the panels. It is possible to paint vinyl siding, but then the paint will chip and need to be repainted just like wood.

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