8 Vinyl Siding FAQs

A Few Things to Know

At P.J. Fitzpatrick, our siding installation experts have installed countless amounts of vinyl siding on homes in Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Maryland. Over the years, we get many questions about vinyl siding, so we decided to answer some in this post:

What is vinyl siding?

Vinyl siding is made primarily from polyvinyl chloride (PVC) resin and is used to cover the exterior of a house. It was introduced in the 1950s to replace aluminum siding, which would often corrode and could be easily damaged. Today’s vinyl siding consists of two layers – the top, a capstock that is resistant to UV rays and the bottom, a substrate layer made with limestone for reinforcement.

How long does vinyl siding last?

Vinyl siding is built to last a long time, however, the warranty period depends on what type of siding you use and who installs it. Many warranties will last about 40 years, but some are lifetime guaranteed.

What maintenance is required for vinyl siding?

Vinyl siding requires virtually no maintenance. It never needs to be painted, however, to keep it looking fresh, our siding installation experts suggest washing it at least once a year.

What types of vinyl siding are there?

At P.J. Fitzpatrick, we sell shake siding, shingle siding, horizontal siding, and vertical siding.

Does vinyl siding come in multiple colors?

When vinyl siding was first introduced, is usually came in neutral colors like tan and beige, but over time, the options have expanded and you can find vinyl siding in many other colors like brown, grey, red, white, and more.

What’s the difference between shake and horizontal siding?

Shake siding is made to look like shingles; the vinyl siding is cut into square or rectangular shapes and are layered vertically to give the impression of many layers of shingles. Horizontal siding comes in long, thin pieces and is mounted side-by-side horizontally across the house. Both are very durable, yet give your house a very different look.

Is vinyl siding better than paint?

If you’re debating between vinyl siding and paint for your home, vinyl siding is a great maintenance-free option. Paint tends to fade quickly, so if you choose to paint, you’ll have to repaint your house every couple of years. Vinyl siding is designed not to fade, so you won’t have to worry about it losing its original color.

Can wind rip vinyl siding off a house?

Most vinyl siding is rated for winds up to 110 mph, however, in the event that the siding does come off, it’s very easy to replace.

If there’s a question about vinyl siding that we didn’t answer, feel free to call us. We’d love to help!