Do you wish your home’s exterior was low maintenance? Have you been receiving mailer after mailer claiming that artificial siding is the answer to your home maintenance issues? Before you invest in having vinyl siding applied to your home, consider all the pros and cons.
Do you have a historic home or live in a planned community, if so vinyl siding may not be for you. vinyl siding is applied directly to the exterior of your home and can wipe out the original character and architectural details found in your home. When vinyl siding is applied to your home, all the original wood trim will be removed and you may loose the charm and character that drew you to the home in the first place. If you have an historic home, your investment in time and care of the wood exterior may be more profitable to your home’s value in the long run.
Artificial siding can also create a fire hazard according to the National Fire Prevention Agency. There are several different types of artificial siding. aluminum siding can keep a fire contained and restricted inside a home which can intensify the heat of a fire. aluminum siding creates serious issues for firefighters as well because of the intense heat and the inability to break through the aluminum to find the source of the fire. vinyl siding doesn’t perform any better; when vinyl burns it melts and releases toxic gases.
If you want to have artificial siding installed because of an issue with the exterior paint, you may have a problem inside your walls that you are not aware of. If your homes’ painted surfaces peel and have blisters and needs to be repainted in less than ten years, you may have a moisture problem inside your walls that will only be exaggerated by an application of artificial siding. If you create an artificial and impenetrable barrier for the moisture in your walls you can create the ideal habitat for termites and other insects. You may also end up with a mold problem or wood decay without even knowing it.
Finally, artificial siding will not insulate your house or help with your heating bills. The materials used for artificial siding is simply too thin to create an effective layer of insulation. If you are considering the installation of artificial siding in order to reduce or improve your homes energy bills, consider traditional insulation installations first. Artificial siding is not maintenance free; your siding may dent, scratch, or tear several years after installation. In some cases, your siding will peel or shatter under severe weather situation. vinyl siding may warp as well due to shrinkage in the winter and expansion under the summer sun.
No one likes spending their free time painting their home, and artificial siding may seem like a great alternative to the labor required to keep up a wooden exterior. However, the negative aspects of artificial siding are starting to become apparent. Your artificial siding may fade in color several years from now, leaving you with a home that needs to be painted again and again.
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