As home inspectors, we inspect a variety of types of exterior cladding. One, very popular form of cladding is vinyl siding. Whether you are thinking about remodeling your home or purchasing a home with vinyl siding, its beneficial to know something about it. A good question, for example, is what are the benefits of vinyl siding and, does it have any disadvantages? Here are a few points for you to consider:
Vinyl siding has many benefits to it. Firstly, it is a very durable type of cladding and as long as it is given proper maintenance it should last a very long time. Other benefits are that It is rust proof and does not fade. It is also not easy to dent. When you consider the fact that siding will cover the majority of your homes exterior, these are all important factors.
So, what about possible downsides to vinyl siding? Well, we must realize that any type of siding can be prone to damage and vinyl siding is no exception. In situations where there are extremes of weather, it can become damaged, for example, excessive heat could cause it to melt and become warped or distorted, then, on the other end of the spectrum, extreme cold could make it start to become brittle and easier to crack. Remember, also, that it is not a type of insulation so do not assume it will increase the energy efficiency of the home.
You could also encounter a problem if there is a fire. Hazardous chemicals could be released which would pose a danger to the residents of the home.
So, as we see, although there are some downsides to vinyl siding, there are also many benefits. It’s important that vinyl siding is correctly installed which then makes it very easy to maintain. It might just simply need power washing once a year. If you would like information on how we inspect vinyl siding, or have any other home inspection question, please don’t hesitate to contact us.
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