Vinyl Siding vs. Steel Siding: Pros and Cons
Posted in Siding Comparison on July 27th, 2009 by Owner – Be the first to commentVinyl Siding
Vinyl Siding is by far the cheaper of the two alternatives and is most common among homeowners today, making it a common choice for most folks. This type of siding does indeed have it’s advantages. It is by far one of the more cost effective siding types out there from a price to lasting ability perspective. Vinyl has also become a popular choice for it’s “green attributes” which have become increasingly important with today’s environmental concerns. It takes far less energy to produce and manufacture vinyl siding. In addition, it is also a better insulator of the internal temperature of the home than other sidings and doesn’t need another finishing such as paint.
There are cons to have vinyl siding on the home. For starters, it isn’t as resilient as steel siding because of it’s thin plastic material and can be cracked by flying rocks or other debris. The vinyl is also sensitive to heat sources like the sun or even a barbecue or grill, although, the effects of heat of been reduced by newer technologies. The big environmental concern with vinyl siding is it’s lack of disposability compared to other types, specifically the recyclable steel sidings. It is also flammable.
Steel Siding
In comparison to vinyl siding, steel is very energy-heavy to create and isn’t renewable resource. Luckily, it can be recycled, so old siding can be reused unlike vinyl siding. From a consumer perspective, steel siding is a very resilient material meant to last decades. This helps offsets the relatively high cost of this type of siding because it generally outlasts the others. Steel isn’t flammable and won’t rot or breakdown easily either.
Steel siding has a tendency to weight quite a bit compared to it’s vinyl counterpart. Both the building and the installers need to be able to hold up and handle the material safely. In addition, it doesn’t insulate the home at all, making it a poor choice for older, less insulated homes. However, steel siding is very easy to maintain which, coupled with it’s lasting appeal, makes it a great choice for consumers.