5 Ways Vinyl Siding Saves You Money

If the time has come to update the siding on your home, vinyl siding is an excellent way to go. Not only is vinyl attractive, but it can also save you money over the life of the siding.

1. Never Paint Again

Wood siding, and to a lesser extent aluminum and steel, requires periodic painting to repair fading and scratches. Failure to do the necessary painting can lead to major problems like rot or rust. With vinyl siding, the color is part of the material. Fading is rare, and the need to paint is nonexistent. This not only saves you time, but it also saves you the expense of the paint and the labor.

Since vinyl siding is long-lasting, the color you choose now will be the color of your home for many years. Opt for a neutral color of vinyl siding. You can update the look of your home by changing the color of the trim. By going neutral, you can use any hue of trim desired for your future home style upgrades.

2. Avoid Rot Problems

Rot is a major cause of excess maintenance expense with traditional wood siding. Only a little bit of moisture needs to get into a siding panel to cause rot, which creates the need for siding replacement. When vinyl siding is properly installed, rot is almost never an issue. The siding itself can't rot, and proper installation also prevents moisture from getting behind the siding panels and causing rot issues to the structure of the home.

Do your own inspection every month. Check for loose or crooked siding panels, as these may indicate missing hangers or hardware. You can easily replace these before moisture makes its way behind the siding and causes expensive damage to your home.

3. Enjoy Energy Efficiency

Energy costs can be one of the more expensive aspects of homeownership, so anything that saves you money on energy is a good investment. Insulated vinyl siding adds another layer of efficiency to your home, adding as must as four points to the insulation rating of your home. The siding will prevent air leaks in summer that lead to a hot home and help prevent cold incursion in winter so that heating your home is less expensive.

However, you have more benefits to insulated siding than just an increased R-value. Insulated siding also provides sound reduction, which is very useful if your home is near a busy intersection or similar loud area.

4. Skip Expensive Maintenance

Ongoing maintenance of certain types of siding can be expensive. Climate can increase maintenance costs. For example, more frequent painting or panel replacement can be necessary in wet climates. Vinyl siding is virtually maintenance-free. Other than dust and surface debris, such as pollen or mildew growth, nothing really affects vinyl siding. The material isn't porous, so it won't actually absorb any dirt or develop permanent stains.

Vinyl siding is easy to clean if the dirt buildup becomes unsightly. Often, you can simply rinse it off with a hose or scrub it lightly with a stiff brush. General household surface cleaners, as well as DIY solutions made of vinegar, also work well for removing mildew and stubborn dirt.

5. Maintain Your Property Value

Maintaining your property value may not save you money, but it can make you money if you plan to sell in the future. Vinyl siding can increase your property value by more than 60 percent of its installation cost. This is because it looks goods, provides excellent durability, and requires next to no ongoing maintenance. Property value is another reason to choose neutral-colored siding. Due to its durability, you don't want a dated color to counteract any value increase that the siding material bestows on your home.

Contact Ratliff Enterprises, Inc., today to learn more about the available vinyl siding options.