Should I Paint Or Replace With Vinyl Siding

When considering exterior painting, a lot of people wonder if they would be better off just having their house sided. In my experience, the answer depends on your situation and style preferences, as many people find vinyl sided homes appealing. We’ll talk about all of the considerations when it comes to deciding between vinyl siding or paint.

Cost:​ In my experience, the cost to have your old siding removed and hang new vinyl siding is about double the cost of exterior painting.

Performance:​ With vinyl siding you will never HAVE to paint the exterior of your home. With wood homes, painting should be performed at least every 7 to 12 years.

Appearance: ​Vinyl is very cheap and is the go to choice for low end new builds. Many of the houses built in the late 1990’s in Michigan have Vinyl Siding with either Aluminum or Vinyl Trim. Today, most Vinyl homes are accented with higher end materials to improve appearance. PVC window trim, frieze boards and pillars on the front of the home are common options. Stone, brick and cedar shakes are also commonly used on the front of vinyl homes today in order to improve their appearance.

In Michigan, Cedar sided homes are only seen in very high end areas. Cedar siding is very expensive compared to vinyl siding and boasts a high end look.

Durability: ​Vinyl is very durable. If installed properly it will last 30 plus years without fundamental issues. However, vinyl is prone to fading. After 10 years of sun exposure, vinyl will have significantly faded.

Maintenance Costs: ​Vinyl never needs to be painted. It does need to be washed. Due to vinyl’s non-porous nature it is prone to moss and algae growth. Especially in shaded areas with tree cover. Shaded homes ideally should be washed annually but rarely are. Non shaded homes can be washed less frequently. It is important to have a soft wash performed on siding rather than a pressure wash.

Pressure washing can greatly advance the aging process of vinyl siding. A soft wash requires more complex equipment and knowledge than power washing and costs considerably more. Soft washing can cost anywhere from $250 to $1000 depending on the size of the home.

Wood sided homes typically do not experience moss and algae growth the way that vinyl does. Therefore people rarely have their wood sided homes washed. However wood sided homes in Michigan will need repainting every 7 to 12 years.

Woodpeckers: ​Vinyl has a clear advantage over wood sided homes when it comes to woodpeckers. Woodpeckers can be a horrible nuisance and measures to prevent them are often ineffective.

Summary​: In summary, deciding whether to have your house sided or repainted is a personal one. There are a lot of factors to consider. However, do not fall into the trap of thinking
that if you have your house sided you will never need to paint again. It is very common for people to paint their vinyl siding after 10 to 15 years due to its color fading and changes in fashionable color styles.

A third option that has become very popular recently is hardie plank siding. Hardie Plank siding is a cement based siding that is more durable than wood. It is boasts a high end look but is very expensive to install.

Written By: Devon Sanders, Thornapple Painting Owner

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