Siding in Vinyl and Wood
Getting the “Curb Appeal” Your Home Deserves
Home siding is more than just the material used to finish the outside of a home’s walls. It represents the home’s character, setting the stylistic tone for the entire exterior. Color and style decisions regarding new windows, doors or a new roof are all made based on the siding, so this is a design element whose importance cannot be overemphasized. |  |  |
House siding can be purchased in many different varieties, but the two most common materials used for siding are vinyl and wood. Both represent distinctive functional and stylistic decisions by the homeowner, and buyers should know the basic facts about each siding option before making their choice. Vinyl siding and wood siding are both excellent options to dress up a home and give it the curb appeal it deserves, but they are different in the basic exterior look they produce, and in the maintenance they require.
Vinyl siding has gained in popularity over the years since its introduction because of its relative ease of installation and its low maintenance characteristics. Vinyl siding comes in a wide variety of prefinished colors, widths and grain patterns. The primary advantage of vinyl siding over wood is its low-maintenance nature. However, it is important to note that any exterior product including all types of siding do require occasional maintenance to maintain their beauty and keep up a home’s curb appeal. Like garage doors and pavers, vinyl siding is low maintenance, but should be powerwashed from time to time to help it keep looking great for years to come. This washes away any built up dirt and other build up that may accumulate over time.
Unlike vinyl, wood siding must be finished when it is first installed, and the finish must be maintained as the years go by. Wood siding can either be painted or stained, depending on the exterior stylistic vision of the homeowner. Like vinyl, wood siding needs to be kept clean over time in order to stay looking beautiful and remain functional. Power washing wood siding in between paint jobs can help the paint or stain last longer and help keep the wood looking new for years.
