Siding: "Trade in your paint brush for more free time"...
Advantages of Vinyl Siding
Vinyl siding offers a number of advantages to individuals building a new home or renovating an existing one.
- Reasonable cost. Vinyl siding represents an excellent value compared to alternative materials. Vinyl costs can be as little as one half as much as cedar clapboard or other wood siding.
- No painting required. Vinyl siding is factory shipped in the chosen color and does not require painting. This results in considerable cost and time saving.
- Easy installation. Vinyl siding is relatively easy to install, resulting in reasonable labor prices and fast completion of the project.
- Low maintenance. Vinyl siding is durable and requires little maintenance - unlike wood siding, which requires repainting every 3-6 years.
A garden hose is all you need to keep your home's exterior clean.
- Wide variety of materials. With the increased popularity of vinyl siding there are more material choices than ever - allowing the purchaser to select the right color, style, and trim.
Decorative elements are also available that allow you to keep the distinctive architectural detail of your home.
Disadvantages
While vinyl siding is an excellent choice for many homeowners, there are several potential disadvantages that should be considered.
- Inability to change color. While it is easy to significantly change the look of a wood-sided house with a new paint job, the homeowner is fairly committed to the initial color selection with vinyl siding. Considerable thought should be exercised, therefore, before deciding to use vinyl siding in an unusual color.
- Low end perceptions. Vinyl siding is an extremely popular building material, but it is still perceived as a value item. It is inadvisable to select vinyl siding for a high end home where it would be perceived as a negative by potential purchasers. Vinyl siding has gained widespread acceptance, however, and this concern is only valid with true luxury housing (defined as a minimum price of $250,000 to $500,000, depending upon location).
Painting vs. Siding: A cost comparison.
Does it cost more to side your home? Yes, but only if you compare it to a single painting. A paint job will last from 3-10 years, and to be at the upper end of that range you need to strip your house down to the bare wood, wash the wood thoroughly, apply pre-coats and primers and at least 2 coats of paint. Doing it right takes quite a bit of time and/or money. Look at the chart below and consider how long you will live in your home.
| 1st painting |
2nd painting |
3rd painting |
4th painting |
5th painting |
6th painting |
7th painting |
| $1,500 |
$3,414 |
$5,857 |
$8,976 |
$12,956 |
$18,035 |
$24,518 |
| $2,500 |
$5,690 |
$9,762 |
$14,960 |
$21,593 |
$30,059 |
$40,864 |
| $3,500 |
$7,966 |
$13,669 |
$20,944 |
$30,230 |
$42,083 |
$57,209 |
| This chart assumes an annual inflation rate of 5 percent, and that you will paint your house every 5 years. Painting once every 5 years your 7th house painting will come just after you've paid off a 30 year mortgage. (Costs shown are commutative) |
You can see from the chart above that it doesn't take long for the cost of painting to add up. A really good paint job will last longer than a cheap one, but even a costly paint job will have to be repeated 4 or more times over the life of your home. The average home in Seward County can be sided for less than it costs to paint 4 times, and you get a home that looks good every year, not 4 out of every 5 years.
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