9 Things you may not know about vinyl siding

Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) is the most popular siding material but, while vinyl may be a viable option for some people, it's no miracle product. There are a number of issues to consider before siding your home.

Listen to what the vinyl salesman says, and then think about what he's leaving out. Here's what he may not be telling you about vinyl siding:

1. Maintenance. Every siding material requires maintenance. Period. Vinyl installation requires lots of caulk around windows and doors and at corners. Exterior caulk eventually shrinks, cracks and mildews. Gaps open up and water enters. Time for maintenance.
2. Weather damage. Also, the vinyl siding pieces are secured to the house by a nail or staple. As the vinyl contracts and expands with the temperature changes, these fasteners can loosen and strips can buckle – especially if they're secured too tightly). High winds can loosen or remove fasteners. Time for maintenance.
3. Fading.  As vinyl ages, it fades and grows brittle and can crack and shatter when struck by a ball or limb. You can't paint faded vinyl and, since vinyl can't be patched, you have to replace an entire panel to fix one crack.
4. Moisture. Adding vinyl siding is not necessarily a home improvement. Installing vinyl over wood that is already water damaged can simply mask a minor problem, turning it into a major one. Moisture trapped beneath vinyl will accelerate rot, promote mold and mildew, and invite insect infestations in leftover wood siding and framing. Even in new homes, vinyl siding can act as a moisture trap.
5. Health hazards. While vinyl siding on your house will not likely lead to health problems, PVC is known to cause cancer in humans. Fires in vinyl-clad homes are more dangerous because of the toxic fumes produced by the burning plastic.
6. Cleaning. Over time, vinyl grows dingy. Marketers often say cleaning it is as easy as spraying it with a pressure-sprayer. But pressure-washing vinyl is a no-no, since the high-powered water can seep in between cracks and get trapped behind the panels, leading to rot. Power-washing can also rip vinyl panels right off the wall. You can't freshen vinyl up with a coat of paint. More likely, you'll have to scrub the entire house with warm, soapy water.
7. Vinyl siding won't increase value. Old home values are rising — but not if they've lost their historic charm. While vinyl siding may look like "authentic" wood, installation usually calls for the removal of much of the original wood siding and artistic exterior trim that buyers love.
8. Vinyl won't cut energy bills. Thin and flimsy, vinyl isn't a good insulator. The addition of foam backing beneath the panels will do next to nothing to add energy efficiency to your home. In older homes, experts estimate that if the original wood siding is removed to make room for the new vinyl siding, the net effect would be a loss in energy efficiency.
9. Vinyl siding won't last forever. The slogan of the siding industry is that "vinyl is final," and its ads imply that vinyl siding is permanent – but don't believe it. Sure, vinyl will last a long time, but vinyl is just not as durable as wood or masonry siding.

As vinyl starts to fade and dull, it becomes less attractive. At the same time, the longer you have the siding, the more likely it is to be damaged. This means replacing an entire panel with a bright new mismatched panel. At this point, to preserve the value of their property, many homeowners opt for the ultimate act of maintenance: replacing the siding.