Vinyl Siding Pays For Itself

Vinyl Siding Pays For Itself

What would you say is the average life expectancy of an exterior paint job on a house? Two years? Wrong, try again. Six years? Close, but no cigar. Eight years? You're going the wrong direction! Four years? That's it! This may seem like a low number to you. Yes, some paint jobs last longer. But the number is based on what it takes to keep a house looking fresh. I know that you can squeeze eight to ten years out of some paint jobs, but by that time, many areas may have blistered and peeled. You would be the talk of the neighborhood!

Payback Material

There are not many building materials that pay for themselves. Take roof shingles for example. As soon as they are installed, they begin to degrade. Each year they wear. Blacktop or asphalt driveways are another example. Sunlight and air break down the asphalt. Materials like this often do not have the capability to pay for themselves.

Vinyl siding, on the other hand, is a building material that can save you money. How, you might ask, can this be so? If you have an existing house that requires periodic painting, vinyl siding eliminates this need. New homes with vinyl siding benefit as well. You do not have to set aside money or time to paint in the future.

Installing vinyl siding on existing structures can also save energy. This is achieved by installing insulation board beneath the vinyl siding. Many vinyl siding applicators use 1/4 inch thick insulation board. A better alternative is to use 1/2 inch foam insulation board.

If you really want great thermal performance from your existing house, consider caulking all cracks before the vinyl is installed on your old siding. Pay particular attention to any cracks around windows and doors. See these tables that illustrate the savings potential that vinyl siding offers.

Column B100