Vinyl siding is a good choice for your home when it's time to change your siding. Vinyl is popular because it's attractive and easy to maintain. Vinyl is also a lightweight yet durable material. It's also fairly easy to install and repair. Here are details about vinyl siding you may want to know.
The Siding Is Applied Over Waterproof Underlayment
Vinyl siding panels overlap each other so rain rolls down the siding. This makes it fairly waterproof, but water can still get under the panels if it is directed at your house at a certain angle. That's why the panels have weep holes in them. They allow for air circulation that helps the siding and wall of your home dry out if water gets behind the siding.
Waterproof underlayment also protects your home from water damage. The underlayment adheres to the sheathing on the walls of your home, so if water gets under the vinyl panels due to gutters overflowing or washing the siding with a hose, the water will roll down the underlayment instead of soaking the sheathing and causing water damage.
Vinyl Panels Are Installed Loosely
Vinyl expands and contracts when the outdoor temperature changes. That's why the panels are hung from the walls of your house rather than being held securely in place with nails. This allows the panels to move as they need to so they won't warp. This is important to know in case you ever want to attempt replacing a panel on your own. The panels are easy to take off and replace, so DIY repairs are possible, but it's important to know what you're doing or you might damage the new replacement panel.
Extra Panels Can Be Saved For Future Repairs
When your siding contractor orders supplies, they will order a little more than needed so they're available for emergencies and unseen complications. Once the installation of your new vinyl siding is complete, ask for the excess panels so you can save them in your garage to use for repairs in the future. You might need to replace a whole panel occasionally or cut out a patch to cover a hole. By saving the extra, you'll be sure of an exact color match for the repair pieces.
Plan To Wash The Siding Regularly
Vinyl siding is quite easy to care for. You won't have to paint it, but you'll want to wash it to get dust and stains off of the siding and keep it looking like new. You can use a soft washer or power washer to clean the siding, just be careful not to direct the water stream so water is forced behind the siding. Depending on the environment around your home, you may need to have your siding washed once every year or so.
For more information on vinyl siding, contact a professional near you.
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