How Long Will Vinyl Siding Last?

The exterior walls of your home go through a significant amount of wear and tear throughout their lifetime. The weather will mercilessly throw rain, wind, hail, and anything else it can at them. While quality siding is always a must for a long-lasting home, lifespan and maintenance costs over time need to be considered.

The most popular choice of siding for modern American homes is vinyl due to its longevity and ability to outlast heavy weather and moisture. If maintained properly, this siding can last up to 20 to 30 years. Minimal maintenance is required to keep it in good condition, making it an undeniably affordable alternative to other sidings that are more temperamental or degrade in quality more quickly.

Compared to Aluminum Siding

While Aluminum siding was more common in the first half of the 20th century, vinyl became a marketable replacement in the ’50s. Unfortunately, this brand new version of siding was not well developed yet. Problems arose that quickly sullied vinyl siding’s reputation. It had a tendency to crack, sag, and fade in color relatively quickly. After redeveloping the product, we now have a modern vinyl siding that is much more durable and trustworthy than the previous version. Today’s technology allows the vinyl to be UV resistant and sturdy while also providing a vast array of colors or designs to mimic any other material’s appearance. This is what makes vinyl siding so appealing to modern-day homeowners and gives it a long lifespan.

Other Alternatives

While there are a number of alternatives to America’s most popular siding, such as wood, stucco, or fiber cement, none can compete with the more cost-efficient vinyl. Not only is vinyl made of quality yet inexpensive materials, but the cost of installation is also lower than other options since it is not quite as labor-intensive.

Lifespan

The reason for the long lifespan of vinyl siding is its hardiness against natural forces. Neither extreme heat nor frigid weather will cause it to crack, bend, or sag. Due to the advanced material from which it’s made, it’s color is resistant to fading in the sunlight. Vibrant colors or designs will keep their fresh look for decades.

Water damage is a beast that causes infuriating roof issues from minor leaks to complete collapses. Certain siding varieties are susceptible to water damage as well, namely wood, which can rot and warp. This can lead to decreased property values unless the homeowner gets the siding replaced. It’s a small price to pay compared to the cost of repairing the structural damage that rotting wood could cause to the rest of the house. With vinyl siding, on the other hand, moisture should not be a real concern if it is installed correctly. The waterproof material seals away access to the walls and insulation of a home that water could easily damage otherwise.

With adequate installation by professionals, vinyl siding is one of the most cost-efficient and reliable options for a home meant to last a lifetime.