“My daughter shared a picture of our house on social media, and honestly, I was embarrassed.” Megan lives in the South Shore. “There’s just something about abruptly seeing on the phone how sad and tired the house looks that I find very upsetting. I was ready to call the South Shore siding contractors that day – but my partner, in a very sensible way, said, ‘We need to find out if replacing the siding is a good investment’.”
Understanding Vinyl Siding: Cost, Useful Life & Curb Appeal
Vinyl siding is the most popular type of exterior cladding for family homes in America. No other siding even comes close. The reasons are simple: compared to other options, vinyl siding is affordable, easily accessible, and long lasting. The cost of vinyl siding is generally lower than having new wooden clapboard siding installed, or having your home faced with brick or stone.
When we talk about the useful life of vinyl siding, it’s important to understand that the expected lifespan of today’s vinyl siding, made with superior materials and better manufacturing processes, is much longer than what we expect from the siding from the 1960’s and 70’s. Today it is very reasonable to expect that the siding you have installed this year will deliver 30-plus years of reliable performance.
If you do have vinyl siding from the Sixties – or even more recent, but you have concerns about its condition, consider this list of signs vinyl siding needs repair:
Sags, Splits, Bends and Twists
Vinyl siding should be tight up against your house. It should be straight. However, the impacts of weather, time, and gravity combine to damage vinyl siding. If your vinyl siding is sagging, split, bent or twisted, it’s time for an upgrade.
Significant Color Fade
Areas that have been exposed to strong sunlight for a prolonged period of time are most prone to fading. Talk to your South Shore siding company about a refresh!
