The material that protects the outside of your home is very important for many reasons. There is a lot to think about when it comes to choosing the right material for the exterior of your home. Today we will be comparing the pros and cons of wood siding versus vinyl siding in terms of routine maintenance, functionality, costs, and longevity.

Wood Siding

Traditional wood siding is authentic, durable, and valuable if well maintained. Homes have always been built with wood siding simply because it is the best! The big question homeowners are asking is, is wood siding better than vinyl siding? Lets discuss some of the pros and cons of wood siding.

Wood Siding Pros

1. Wood Siding is Environmentally Friendly

We can all agree that wood is naturally grown in nature. Compared to vinyl siding the production of wood siding releases far less toxins and carcinogens into the air. Making it an eco-friendly option for those that are environmentally conscious.

2. Wood Siding Has Great Insulation

Different types of wood offer different R-Values, which are numbers that measure the effectiveness of the insulation of certain materials. By choosing wood with a higher R-value you can reduce your cost for heat in the winter and air conditioning in the summer.

3. Wood Siding Is Easy and Cost Effective To Maintain

Wood siding will hold high value for your home as long as it is maintained properly. If your home already has good wood siding, the cost of stripping it off and replacing it with vinyl wouldn’t make any sense compared to routine exterior painting every 3 – 7 years. Wood siding is both cheap and readily available making it easy to replace if broken or rotted.

If you are a home owner in the Massachusetts or the Rhode Island area, Zuck Painting Inc. offers excellent exterior home service which includes painting, pressure washing, deck painting or staining, clapboard repair/replacing, and much more! Schedule a FREE consultation today, Click Here. Or call (978) 310-9442.

Wood Siding Cons

1. Wood Siding Can Be A Lot Of Work

Nowadays we are all so busy with work, side hustles, socializing, taking care of loved ones, getting dinner on the table, and so much more. Adding taking care of the exterior of your home to the list would just be a burden. Which is why companies like Zuck Painting Inc. exist! We will take the burden off of your shoulders. By hiring us you can trust that the exterior of your home is in good hands.

2. Wood Siding Is Fragile

With poor maintenance of any exterior home material you will run into problems sooner than you anticipated. Without proper maintenance wood siding can have the tendency to break on impact, warp, twist, or rot thus allowing water to seep through and potentially cause damage to interior walls or even the foundation. By simply adding a coat or two of paint or stain to your wood siding every 3 to 7 years, all of these issues will be avoided.

3. Wood Can Be Inconsistent

There are many different types of wood that you can be used for the exterior of your home. Skimping on the cost of high quality wood siding may cause issues to arise sooner rather than later. For example, hardwoods are more durable and will last longer, however are much more expensive than softwoods which are cheap and easy to work with. Whichever type of wood you decide to go with, Zuck Painting Inc. can accommodate any type of wood siding and will deliver the highest quality results possible.

Vinyl Siding

Vinyl siding is essentially a plastic exterior for your home that imitates the look of wood. You can find vinyl that imitates the look of clapboard, shingles, laps, logs, and even scalloped siding. Before purchasing vinyl siding lets discuss some of the pros and cons.

Vinyl Siding Pros

1. Low Maintenance

This is the #1 season why vinyl siding appeals to homeowners. Due to being a plastic, vinyl siding can be left alone once installed until you have to pressure wash it of course because of mold and mildew build up over time.

2. Long Lasting

What manufacturers have done in recent years with vinyl siding is astonishing. Some vinyl siding companies claim a warranty of 20 – 40 years! Manufacturers claim that some vinyl siding on the market is water resistant, insulated, and mildew/mold proof.

3. High Durability

Depending on where you live or who you live with, the resilience of vinyl siding may be a pro for you. Vinyl is very durable under harsh weather conditions and can bounce back from most things that hit it.

With that being said Zuck Painting Inc. can provide your Massachusetts or Rhode Island home with one of the best pressure wash treatments on the market; siding, windows, gutters, and much more! To book a FREE consultation, Click Here. Or call (978) 310-9442.

Vinyl Siding Cons

1. Vinyl Siding Can Lower The Value Of Your Home

If your home has historical architecture, covering that up with vinyl may decrease the value of your home to potential home buyers. Vinyl siding covers up unique curves and appeals to special architecture by making homes look two-dimensional which may be unappealing to home buyers.

2. Vinyl Siding Hides Moisture

Vinyl siding can cover up trapped moisture underneath the surface. Undetected moisture can cause significant damage to interior walls as well as the foundation of your home.

3. Vinyl Siding Is Not Environmentally Safe

Vinyl siding is made out of polyvinyl chloride (PVC). The production of vinyl siding is known to release greenhouse gases and carcinogens into the air. Research is inconclusive on whether or not vinyl siding is harmful for the health of residents that live in the home. However, according to the Occupational Health and Safety Association (OSHA), there are regulations set for employees to limit the time under exposure at vinyl siding manufacturing plants due to the health risks. With that being said, in the unfortunate event that your vinyl siding home were to catch on fire, the toxins that are released into the air are devastating to the environment and anyone in the area exposed to the smoke.

There are a lot of things to consider between vinyl siding versus wood siding. It all comes down to what your goals are as a homeowner. If you are looking for a low maintenance long-term exterior vinyl may be the way to go. On the other hand, if you are looking to maintain the authenticity of your home and maintain value then wood siding wood be the way to go.

If you are in need of any type of exterior painting or pressure washing for your wood or vinyl home give Zuck Painting a call at (978) 310-9442 or visit our contact page to schedule a FREE estimate!