Siding material protects your home from cooler temperatures, and wind damage, and keeps bugs out of your living space. Siding can be made of multiple materials and even mixed materials. Metal siding has become more popular for homes, but is it the only option? Two common siding materials include metal and vinyl, but what option is best? Choosing a siding material for your home comes down to a few essential factors including the style of your home and how much it costs to install. Below are some other areas to consider and how metal siding and vinyl siding compare in these areas.
Durability
All siding will provide protection against weather and other forces but metal siding far outweighs vinyl in this category. Not only is metal siding more durable than vinyl, but it will last a lot longer. This means that even if your home is older, the metal siding will still give the same protection at 20 years as it did when it was first installed.
Vinyl siding will protect your home, but it is more prone to small punctures by objects. This could lead to moisture getting trapped between the siding and insulation and lead to mold. Hail, rocks, or even sand that is pelted at vinyl siding can cause small indentations or holes. Changing temperatures can also cause the vinyl to warp or change shape, which could impact the integrity of your home leading to further damage.
Maintenance
Home maintenance can take up a lot of your time as a homeowner, so choosing a material that is easy to repair (or doesn’t require many repairs) and is easy to clean gives you more time to do other leisure activities. Metal siding is the superior choice when it comes to siding maintenance. It can repel insects and mold or algae growth. Because it is more resistant to these things than vinyl, your home will look cleaner and more appealing.
It can be difficult to remove growths and even dirt from vinyl siding. If you live in a climate with mild weather with little to no wind, vinyl siding is fairly easy to upkeep. Some annual exterior cleaning is usually enough to maintain your vinyl siding, but if you see extreme changes in temperature and different weather conditions like homes do here in Utah, it may be a more cost-effective option to install metal siding.
Aesthetics
Both metal and vinyl siding, as well as other materials like steel and stone, can come in a variety of options to improve the look of your home. They can come in many colors and be positioned horizontally or vertically. Metal siding, while relatively new to the home design industry, can be made into intricate patterns or laid to make your home look artistic.
If you want a traditional home with a more rustic look, vinyl siding is a great option. While the color range is limited, there are many earthy tones that can make your home look beautiful against the landscape. If you live in a suburban area, vinyl siding is a more suitable option.
Metal has become the most flexible option for homeowners. You can add texture, patterns, paint, and lay the metal sheets in any fashion you like. Metal can even be made to look like other siding materials, without losing the durability benefits. If you want your home to be something unique, metal siding can help.
Installation
One major downside to metal siding is the installation process. It can be difficult to install metal panels on your own, so it is best to hire a contractor or metal expert. Because the siding is growing in popularity, a professional installer may be hard to come by, which in turn could make it more expensive to have your home covered by metal siding.
Kanga Roof has now added metal siding installation to our service list! We want to help homeowners have this gorgeous siding option across the Wasatch Front. Our team can give you an estimate and estimated time frame of installation before we begin your project.
Vinyl siding is easier to install because it has been around for many years. Since vinyl siding is typically only laid using the lap method, there is no complex pattern to follow, which makes the installation process much faster.
Metal Siding From Kanga Roof
Our team is now bringing the look and durability that you love from metal roofs to the siding on your home. Kanga Roof knows that homeowners want to have the best-looking and structurally sound home possible. This is why we continue to add services and grow our business so that homeowners across the state can have better-quality roofing and siding. Contact us for a free estimate today!
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