Siding will protect the sides of your home from the elements, which takes a battering, and it takes a hammering from the elements such as wind, hail, rain, and sun. Several elements govern the vinyl siding lifespan. You can find alternatives such as wood siding, aluminum siding, brick, and fiber cement siding, which all have their own set of advantages and disadvantages, as well as cost differences that can be significant.
One difficulty with siding is that you must pick between investing a lot of money upfront for new siding that requires minimal maintenance and more maintenance and repair. As a result, when weighing your options, the expected lifespan may become the decisive factor.
With vinyl siding being the more popular option, you can use this guide you learn more about your home’s cladding and why vinyl siding could be the option for you. (Learn How to Cut Vinyl Siding)
By the end, you’ll know how quality vinyl siding can raise your curb appeal, and when you have to think about changing, you’ll know how long does vinyl siding last?
What Is the Average Life Expectancy of Vinyl Siding?
Vinyl siding is resistant to temperature fluctuations and high winds, and it lasts for 20 to 40 years on average. It’s similarly moisture resistant and can resemble actual wood, but it’s a lot less expensive and easier to deal with. Because it is resistant to most of the elements that other types of siding are susceptible to, it is virtually maintenance-free compared to other siding materials. Vinyl does not decay, scratch, or dent like wood or metal.
It will get dirty, yet it just needs rinsing off with a power washer. Siding is common in the United States since it has a long life, low cost, and low maintenance. Vinyl siding can lose its aesthetic appeal after two or three decades, where it could fade, crack, and leak if the climate is harsh. In extreme cold, it could crack or extreme heat; it could warp, such as if a barbeque was too close.
Vinyl has a manufacturer’s warranty against flaking or peeling, corrosion and blistering through manufacturing defects. You can find your warranty covers excessive fading, although pre-painted vinyl normally only has a 15-year warranty. (Read What is Peva)
Here you can compare to other siding materials:
- Wood Siding: 15–40 years. Wood siding needs heavy maintenance, such as checking for cracks, holes and pests.
- Cedar Siding: 25 years, according to most manufacturers warranties on cedar siding. Cedar siding needs regular maintenance like wood and could result in a bug infestation if not treated.
- Aluminum Siding: 30 – 50 years, and Aluminum siding requires minimal maintenance. Paint is the area that suffers, although the siding material can easily be cleaned with a pressure washer. Aluminum gets scratched and dented and can show surface imperfections that need repair. Enamel fades, and it is one reason this material is losing support.
- Fiber Cement Siding: 25 – 40 with proper maintenance. Biber cement is more durable than wood siding but needs maintenance. Unlike cedar and other wood sidings, it is termite, water-resistant, flame-resistant and won’t burn. A Garden hose is best used to wash this material down. Warranties can last up to 50 years on some products.
- Stucco siding lasts a long time, yet this is more of a finish, like a stone veneer. Stucco is popular siding materials, yet they protect the home’s exterior differently and won’t offer the same sort of barrier. However, the life span can be longer on the right type of home.
When Should You Replace Vinyl Siding?
Water is seeping underneath the siding because of the warping, and this could mean water is going inside the home. However, vinyl doesn’t absorb moisture, so mold won’t grow and doesn’t attract bugs. More homeowners may find the siding needs changing because you find holes, fissures, or the entire home needs a revamp as the UV rays have taken their toll, and heavy storms are battering your home, and re-caulking doesn’t suffice.
When you want to know, “How long does siding last?” most times, once it returns ugly or brittle. Many homeowners increase the energy efficiency of their home at the same time. Through the proper preparation and professionals doing a proper installation, it is easy to increase a home’s energy efficiency as foam is installed beneath the vinyl.
Such a siding replacement isn’t a thinner siding on the foam and is thicker because of the foam insulation board. With energy efficient co parted to other materials, the siding material is now made to be fade-resistant and can stand tall through heavy storms for years.
Does Vinyl Siding Go Bad?
When comparing siding, look attention to the thickness of the planks and panels. This is known as the grade, and it may be the determining factor in how long your selection will continue to function. The thickness of vinyl siding will range from.35mm to.55mm.
The grades are:
- Builder’s grade vinyl or thin residential: .40mm.
- Standard residential grade: .44mm
- Thick residential grade: .46mm
- Super thick grade: .50mm
The vinyl siding cost will vary depending on the grade you choose, both at the outset and over life. In just a decade, low-grade vinyl will crack and possibly sag. It will also fade sooner, needing a paint job. Vinyl with a higher density will be more fade-resistant and long-lasting. It will last longer and will usually come with a longer warranty. Plus, the thicker grades have a nicer appearance. If you leave the material selection to your siding contractor, he will get the lowest grade to save money.
The siding on your house protects it from rain, wind, snow, heat, and cold; therefore, how long it lasts is largely determined by how well it is maintained. Maintaining your siding properly will guarantee that it lasts as long as it should. Simple washing is all the low maintenance tasks that require keeping vinyl panels and planks clean.
How much does it cost to replace vinyl siding on a house?
The average cost of siding a house is $10,648. The average cost of siding installation is between $5,355 and $16,090. High-end installations, such as large mansions with tropical hardwoods, might cost many more thousands of dollars. Vinyl siding costs between $2 and $7 per square foot, whereas wood costs between $3 and $15 per square foot.
Depending on the material you choose, labor accounts for roughly 25% to 50% of the total cost. Labor will cost $0.75 to $3 per square foot, and materials will cost $1 to $10 per square foot. Vinyl siding is made of a durable polyvinyl chloride, often known as PVC, by manufacturers. The PVC vinyl siding is long-lasting, water-resistant, and resistant to the elements. The material makes the siding expand and contract in response to extreme temperature changes. (Learn How to Turn on Sprinkler System)
Thicker vinyl is more durable and offers a longer life expectancy.
Most manufacturers don’t cover certain things in their vinyl siding warranty, such as:
- Acts of God, House Fires, Flood
- Mildew, Negligence, Normal wear and tear
- Oxidation, Painted siding
- Siding damage from the installation process by supposed siding expert installers
- Structural defects
Some vinyl siding warranties offer a distortion promise guaranteeing the vinyl siding will not become melted or distorted in high temperatures. This guarantee is because some vinyl siding expands and contracts in extreme temperatures and may melt at higher temperatures.
