Siding
Vinyl Siding
Vinyl siding is the most common exterior cladding material installed on homes across Rhode Island, Massachusetts, and Connecticut. Its popularity comes from its low maintenance requirements and its economic price point. For many houses, vinyl siding provides a suitable long-term exterior finish without the need for periodic painting.
Understanding Vinyl Siding Materials
Vinyl siding is a plastic made from polyvinyl chloride, or PVC resin. It is formed into panels designed to interlock and create a weather-resistant barrier for a building's exterior. The material is manufactured in a wide range of colors and profiles, including clapboard, dutch lap, and vertical panels, mimicking traditional wood siding styles.
The panels are engineered to be durable, resisting rot, pests, and most weather conditions. Unlike wood or fiber cement, vinyl siding does not require painting, which is a major factor in its long-term cost savings. However, prolonged exposure to direct southern sunlight can cause some colors to fade over several decades. Physical impacts, such as a falling ladder or a hard-thrown object, can also damage panels.
Modern vinyl siding includes features like thicker gauges for improved rigidity and wind resistance, and UV inhibitors to slow down color degradation. These advancements mean today's vinyl products offer better performance and a longer appearance retention than materials from decades past. Expect a lifespan of 25 to 40 years for a quality installation.
Vinyl Siding Installation: A Step by Step Overview
Proper vinyl siding installation begins with preparing the wall surface. This often involves removing existing siding, repairing any damaged sheathing, and ensuring the substrate is clean and plumb. A weather resistant barrier, such as house wrap, is then applied over the sheathing to protect against moisture intrusion. This step is critical for a dry wall assembly.
Starter strips are fastened at the bottom of the wall, providing a level base for the first course of siding. Corner posts, J-channels around windows and doors, and other trim pieces are installed next, creating the framework for the siding panels. The vinyl panels themselves are installed from the bottom up, interlocking and fastened with nails through slotted holes. This allows for the material's expansion and contraction.
The panels are cut to length and snapped into place, with careful attention paid to overlaps and the positioning of fasteners. Window and door trim, utility vents, and other penetrations must be properly flashed and sealed to prevent water entry. A well-installed system moves with temperature changes without buckling or pulling apart, ensuring a tight and reliable exterior.
Cost Considerations for Vinyl Siding in New England
The installed cost of standard vinyl siding typically ranges from $4.50 to $8.00 per square foot in the Rhode Island, Massachusetts, and Connecticut markets. For projects involving approximately 1,800 square feet of wall area, a full re-side could cost between $8,100 and $14,400. This is significantly less than other popular siding options.
Several factors drive the variance in cost per square foot. These include the complexity of the house design, such as multiple gables, bay windows, or extensive trim work. The condition of the existing substrate, the type of weather resistant barrier used, and the specific vinyl product chosen also play a role. Premium vinyl options with thicker gauges or specialized finishes will be at the higher end of the range.
Beyond the material and installation labor, other costs can include dumpster rental for debris removal, scaffolding for multi story sections, and any necessary carpentry repairs to the sheathing or framing. A comprehensive quote should itemize these elements rather than presenting a single lump sum.
Insulated Vinyl Siding: Is the Upcharge Worth It?
Insulated vinyl siding integrates a rigid foam board backing directly to the vinyl panel. This provides a continuous layer of insulation over the wall studs, reducing thermal bridging and improving the overall R-value of the wall assembly. Standard vinyl siding, by itself, offers minimal insulation value.
The installed cost for insulated vinyl siding typically ranges from $7.00 to $11.00 per square foot. While this is an upcharge of $2.50 to $3.00 per square foot over standard vinyl, the added cost can be a sound investment, particularly for older homes with uninsulated walls, such as many postwar capes and mill worker housing.
For houses with minimal existing wall insulation, insulated vinyl siding can noticeably improve energy performance and comfort. It helps to reduce drafts and can lead to lower heating and cooling bills. The integrated foam also makes the panels more rigid, which can improve their resistance to impact damage and provide a flatter, more substantial appearance on the wall.
Choosing Between Vinyl and Other Siding Materials
Vinyl siding stands as the economic choice compared to materials like fiber cement, engineered wood, or cedar. Fiber cement costs $9.50 to $16.00 per square foot installed, offering a longer lifespan of 40 to 60 years and requiring periodic painting. Engineered wood siding, at $7.50 to $12.50 per square foot, also needs painting but offers the look of real wood.
Cedar clapboard and cedar shingle siding, priced from $10.00 to $19.00 per square foot, provide a traditional New England aesthetic and a natural product that can be stained or painted. These materials generally have lifespans of 30 to 50 years. The choice between these materials often comes down to budget, aesthetic preference, and long-term maintenance expectations.
If a specific historic appearance is needed for a center chimney colonial or a shingled coastal cottage, traditional cedar or a meticulously painted fiber cement might be a better choice despite the higher initial cost and maintenance. However, for a house where ease of maintenance and budget are primary concerns, vinyl siding is often the practical answer. It is a material built to withstand the region's weather without the need for repainting.
What Goes Wrong with Poor Vinyl Siding Installation
Many issues with vinyl siding stem from improper installation, rather than material defects. One common problem is buckling or warping of panels. This happens when the siding is nailed too tightly, preventing the material from expanding and contracting freely with temperature changes. Vinyl must be able to move along its nail slots.
Another frequent failure point is inadequate flashing around windows, doors, and other penetrations. If J-channels are not correctly sealed or if drip caps are missing, water can infiltrate behind the siding, leading to rot in the sheathing or framing. This undermines the primary function of the siding system: keeping the house dry.
A poorly executed installation can also result in an uneven appearance, with wavy courses or gaps at seams and corners. This indicates issues with the starter strip being unlevel, or panels not being properly locked together. These visual flaws not only detract from the home's appearance but can also create pathways for wind driven rain to penetrate.
Vinyl Siding Adaptations for New England Housing
New England homes, from triple deckers in urban areas to board sheathing construction in rural settings, present unique considerations for vinyl siding. Many older homes have uneven wall planes or previous layers of siding. Before installing vinyl, these surfaces need to be made as flat and plumb as possible, sometimes requiring furring strips.
For homes with existing board sheathing, common in many older New England structures, care must be taken to ensure adequate fastening. The wide gaps between boards require careful nail placement to hit solid wood. Additionally, features like weight and pulley sash windows in historic homes need particular attention for trim and flashing details, ensuring new siding does not impede their operation.
Houses like postwar capes or simpler mill worker housing often benefit significantly from insulated vinyl siding, directly addressing the common lack of wall insulation. Triple-deckers require coordinated planning for scaffolding and often involve more intricate window and door trim details across multiple units. Each building type demands a careful, specific approach to vinyl siding application.
Essential Elements of a Detailed Vinyl Siding Quote
A comprehensive vinyl siding quote should clearly outline all aspects of the project. It should specify the exact type and brand of vinyl siding, including the gauge thickness, color, and profile chosen. Details about the weather resistant barrier, such as the type of house wrap, should also be included.
The quote should itemize all trim pieces, including corner posts, J-channels, soffit, and fascia, along with their materials and finishes. It should also detail how penetrations like dryer vents, outdoor spigots, and electrical boxes will be handled. Removal and disposal of old siding should be explicitly stated as part of the scope.
A thorough quote will also address necessary carpentry repairs to the underlying sheathing or framing, providing a clear method for how these will be billed, whether fixed or on a time and materials basis. Asking for specific quantities, such as the number of squares of siding, helps clarify the scope and value. A thin quote that only lists a total price without these details makes it difficult to compare offers or understand the full extent of the work.
Common questions
Quality vinyl siding, properly installed, typically lasts from 25 to 40 years in the varied New England climate. Factors like exposure to strong sunlight, extreme temperature fluctuations, and occasional storms are accounted for in its design. The material is engineered to withstand these conditions, maintaining its integrity and appearance over decades. Regular cleaning can help extend its visual lifespan.
Modern vinyl siding is manufactured with UV inhibitors to resist fading, especially in darker colors or on walls facing full southern exposure. Some color shift can occur over a period of 20 to 30 years, but it is generally minor. Physical damage can occur from hard impacts, like a ladder falling against the wall or a thrown object. Such damaged panels can often be replaced individually.
The main difference is the integrated foam backing in insulated vinyl siding. Standard vinyl is just the PVC panel, providing a weather barrier but little insulation. Insulated vinyl combines the panel with a rigid foam board, creating a continuous layer of insulation. This adds R-value to the wall assembly and improves the rigidity of the siding, leading to better energy performance and a flatter wall appearance.
In some cases, vinyl siding can be installed over existing siding, especially if the original siding is flat and in good condition. However, this practice can sometimes conceal underlying issues, add unnecessary thickness to the walls, and complicate proper flashing around windows and doors. For best results and to ensure a solid substrate and proper weather barrier, removing the old siding is generally the recommended approach.
Maintaining vinyl siding is straightforward and low effort. It generally requires periodic cleaning to remove dirt, mildew, or algae buildup. A soft brush or power washer set to a low pressure, along with a mild soap and water solution, usually suffices. Regular inspection for any loose or damaged panels, especially after storms, is also a good practice to ensure the system remains intact and watertight.