It could be argued that every product has at least one drawback.
When shopping for siding, you'll likely encounter some of the alleged disadvantages of vinyl siding.
The question is: how valid are those claims? Here are some of the biggest supposed drawbacks of vinyl siding: 1.
It's thin.
Would siding made from a thin material be more vulnerable to damage, and be less energy-efficient? Yes, so thin siding made from vinyl isn't your best option.
But consider that such siding is actually available in different thicknesses.
While thicker siding made from vinyl will have a higher price tag, it will also be more durable and insulating.
It's definitely worthwhile if you want to avoid replacing your siding fairly soon.
2.
It only imitates wood.
It's been said that imitation is the best form of flattery.
So when choosing between wood siding and vinyl siding in particular, should you choose siding made of vinyl since it has the appearance of wood, or the real thing? Current siding made of vinyl looks much more realistic than the earlier versions.
So today such siding will look more like the real deal, than a bad imitation.
Another issue to consider is that siding made of wood contains several disadvantages compared to siding made of vinyl.
In particular, on average you'd need to paint wood siding every four years or so.
3.
Its color can't be changed.
After choosing wood or aluminum siding, you can paint it in order to change the color.
Unfortunately, that's not true with vinyl siding.
Once you've chosen a particular color, it will be permanent until you replace the siding.
So that's a bad thing, right? You might be surprised.
Yes, having the ability to change the color of your home's exterior can provide more versatility.
But keep in mind that it's not like changing your clothes.
Repainting your house can be a time-consuming and grueling task.
Then there's the fact that you'd need to do it roughly every four years! If you want to change the color scheme of your home's exterior, it would be more practical to change the hue of objects besides the siding, such as the shutters.
4.
It can't be burned.
Wood siding can be burned before you replace it, allowing you to reuse it as firewood.
On the other hand, Augusta vinyl siding can't be burned.
Still, over half of the materials contained in vinyl can be recycled.
So this makes the siding as resourceful as wood siding.
Furthermore, siding made of vinyl has a longer lifespan than siding made of wood.
So your decision about what to do about the old siding will come later, rather than sooner.
And in terms of fire safety, you'd likely rather have siding that doesn't burn, rather than siding that does.
The bottom line is that one of the supposed drawbacks of vinyl made from Augusta siding actually creates multiple benefits.
Does siding made from vinyl have drawbacks? Yes, but it turns out that there's more to those drawbacks than what you've probably heard or read.
Overall, siding made from vinyl is still one of your best options.