Not that long ago, vinyl siding would not have made a designers list of suitable siding choices for the discerning homeowner with taste. A lot has changed in a few years since the introduction of a new class of vinyl siding entered the scene. You can now choose what’s aesthetically delightful, while keeping maintenance and upkeep on your priority list as well.
The functionality of vinyl siding is unbeatable and you can mix a variety of elements, colors and styles to create a custom look.
Fashionable
Siding defines the look of a home and today’s vinyl siding allows you to select any combination of color and style to create an architectural look for your home. Maybe you want to recreate the opulent, decorative features and multicolor palette of a Victorian. Or get the look of the popular Colonial style with long expansive siding, gables and a classic front porch. Mix up siding styles such as vinyl shake for gable sides with vinyl lap siding for the main part of the house. Whether your dream is to have a farmhouse, a modern house or a modern farmhouse pay attention to the details. Wide or narrow window frames, crown moldings, beaded or smooth soffits and fascia all in styles to complement your home’s trim. Don’t shy away from adding awesome standout wood, fiberglass or glass doors. All these choices are available and they are essential if you want to be true to architectural style.
Washable
No tuck-pointing brick, patching stucco, or scraping wood, vinyl siding only requires a soap and water wash.< Generally speaking, a homeowner needs only to use water to spray off any stains, but depending on your home’s location, mold or grime can accumulate. For cleaning, the VinylSiding Institute (VSI ) recommends using a solution of 30 percent vinegar and 70 percent water. Others suggest a mixture of laundry detergent, household cleaner, liquid laundry bleach and water.
One of the most popular methods for keeping vinyl siding looking new is pressure washing. Most pressure washers can easily clean a single story vinyl sided home, but if you have a multi-story, consider using a high pressure soap lance attachment and reach an additional 25 feet under high pressure. If the siding hasn’t been cleaned in a while, consider using a rotating or utility brush to help loosen thick layers of dirt. Give the soap sometime to do its job and then rinse and watch the dirt fall away and the siding look as beautiful as when it was new. For those of you new to pressure washing. It’s fun and addicting and packs a punch. Be sure to start with a good distance between you and your house and gradually move closer, so as not to damage the area. Spray away from eaves, vents, light fixtures and windows and point the wand downward or horizontally, avoid spraying upward under the siding. Rinse from the top down to avoid streaks.
Of course, follow the manufacturer’s recommendation before you wash your siding and defer to their instructions.
Vinyl siding will eventually fade, but usually only slightly. If you’re not happy with the less-than-vibrant color, consider adding a coat of a latex exterior paint, which flexes in keeping with the expansion and contraction of the siding.
Paintable
It’s been many years since choosing vinyl siding meant you were forever stuck with your home’s color. Whether you’re selecting new vinyl siding or want to refresh or change the color of your existing siding, you’ll have a choice of paint brands along with a huge assortment of paint colors. Benjamin Moore, Sherman Williams and other dependable brands have moved into the business with vigor to offer low luster fortified acrylic paints in hundreds of colors, from soft neutrals to deep hues. Use different color combinations to create a palette that’s right for your home’s style.
We suggest that you visit the Benjamin Moore and see how their designers use color palettes to create a desired look and let your own imagination run wild. See how you can use paint to create cottage charm or the more natural look of a Craftsman-style bungalow. Or see how trading a historic color palette with a neutral palette transforms a traditional farmhouse into a contemporary statement.
Vinyl has captured over 32 percent of the U.S. siding market for new homes, with no end in sight to its growing popularity, largely due to it’s versatility to be fashionable, washable and paintable.
When you’re ready for a change, choose vinyl siding.
