Siding may not be something you spend long periods of time thinking about — in fact, siding is something we’d all like to think about as little as possible. There are enough details to consider in life already.
Really beautiful siding, however, made of the best material and installed by reputable professionals, can really add something to the curb appeal of a home. Even if you don’t intend to sell, being truly proud of your home is something you can’t put a price on. Siding is also an important structural component of the home — this is even more to the point. This is the outer skin of you home. It’s your front-line defense against the wind, rain, snow and dust.
There are actually a number of different materials used for siding, but aluminum and vinyl are two of the most popular. People who find themselves in a position of needing to replace siding, or install siding on a brand new home, often wonder about the practical differences between these two materials. Let’s take a closer look at aluminum vs. vinyl siding.
Vinyl siding — a lower price point and an excellent value
Vinyl siding can be purchased in a number of different thicknesses (grades) and textures. Generally speaking, you can expect to pay $2 to $4 per square foot for vinyl siding, including professional installation. It’s a reasonably durable material for the money, and when done correctly (and depending on the weather and climate where you live) it can last a decade or more. Vinyl is easy to maintain and clean. It comes in a huge variety of colors, styles and textures to suit your tastes and needs. All of these strengths make it a very popular choice. Vinyl is not, however, as durable as other choices, and does not provide the same level of temperature resistance as other types of siding.
Aluminum siding — higher costs, but longer life and better protection
Aluminum siding has been around since the first half of the twentieth century, and for long time was the most popular siding out there. There are different qualities and grades of aluminum too, and it comes in basically any color you want. People generally find that aluminum holds its color better than it did in the past, due to advances in paint and painting techniques. It provides better protection against heat when compared with vinyl, which is something you should take into account if you live in hot or tropical climate. In terms of cost, you’ll often pay about double the cost of vinyl, with average prices around $6 – $7 installed.
Making the right siding choice
We can see that aluminum and vinyl are two distinct choices of siding, each with its own set of pros and cons. You may want the help of an expert to decide which of these choices is more practical for your home, and in line with your style. Whatever type of material you actually go with, you’re going to want only the most reputable siding installation specialist to perform the work. This will ensure you get the very most of your new siding, and that it lasts as long as possible without any need for major repairs or replacements.