Alternatives to Vinyl House Siding
Oct 08, 2024
Find Your Ideal Solution When You Read These Fun Facts About House Siding Options
Homeowners have begun consciously choosing alternatives to vinyl siding, which is prone to cracking, fading, and falling off, and often isn’t installed with quality insulation or the proper vapor barrier.
In fact, many homeowners in the past chose vinyl because they thought it would be easy to care for, only to realize their siding needs patching and repair after storms and is no longer the rich color it was when it was first installed.
So, what are the most advanced, in-demand house siding options on the market? Let’s take a look at three candidates for your next exterior remodel and crown the one that outperforms them all.
What Is Polymer Siding?
Polymer siding is made of polypropylene resin, a type of synthetic thermoplastic known for its versatility and strength. It’s tough, flexible, lightweight, and heat- and chemical-resistant. The FDA considers it one of the safest commercial plastics because it is inert, so it poses no health risks to consumers. The manufacturing of polypropylene resin is also relatively environmentally friendly, created in such a way that it is fully recyclable. It’s also easily moldable so that it can mimic other materials, like wood grain.
All of these qualities make polymer the ideal material for house siding. And when it’s manufactured to be totally seamless once installed on a home, it becomes an even better choice.
Seamless polymer siding from Continental Siding solves frustrations homeowners have with traditional siding options, including vinyl:
- Because it is seamless, it is watertight. This prevents moisture from getting behind the siding and eventually into your home, where it fosters the growth of mold and mildew.
- It’s installed using the Perma-Strate Wall System®, a durable installation system that keeps each piece of siding in place, even through storms.
- Our seamless polymer siding is treated with BASF LURAN® S, a solution that prevents color fading. Essentially, the color is baked into the siding itself, so the sun can never affect it.
- It resists insect damage and will never rot, so you don’t have to worry about making regular repairs during the course of homeownership.
- The vapor barrier, form-fitted insulation, and installation system help your home breathe, so you avoid “sick house syndrome.”
In short, seamless polymer siding does all the things that vinyl siding promised, but couldn’t fully deliver on, making it the top choice for homeowners looking for an alternative to vinyl siding for their houses.
Wood Siding Options
Perhaps influenced by HOAs or tradition, some homeowners stick with wood siding products when remodeling their home exteriors.
Today’s modern wood siding, also called engineered wood, can withstand rain and moisture better than it used to. However, it is still a wood product. When wood siding isn’t properly sealed with caulk and paint, it will rot or warp. Moisture leads to mold, which means you’re replacing your house siding again before you know it!
Wood siding also needs repainting every few years, so it’s hard to consider it a low-maintenance house siding option that can compete with the likes of polymer or even vinyl.
Cement Board House Siding Options
Also called fiber cement siding or Hardie board, cement board siding resists insects, moisture, and even fire. It also can be purchased and installed pre-finished, so you never have to paint. These characteristics may make it seem like it’s a great vinyl alternative, but there are some realities about fiber cement siding that its supporters seem to sweep under the rug.
Fiber cement siding is incredibly expensive, costing up to three times as much as vinyl. It’s also especially heavy, weighing 300 pounds per 100 square feet. For the average house, the excess weight can ultimately become a structural issue, all for the sake of longevity of the siding itself. Fortunately, seamless polymer siding lasts just as long, is just as durable, and requires just as little maintenance, but without the safety risks.
Finding Seamless Polymer Siding In Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas
In business for more than 40 years and here to stay, Continental Siding has helped more than 50,000 homeowners get the confidence in their purchase, pride in their home, and peace of mind for their future.
Our siding is made with pride in the United States, backed by innovations that solve the problems of the siding industry, resulting in reduced overall maintenance costs and improved energy efficiency that saves you money in the long run.
If you want your house to look like new no matter how long you’ve had your siding, seamless polymer siding is the only alternative to vinyl worth considering.
Learn more about seamless polymer siding on our website, or request a FREE estimate.