Vinyl Siding Drawbacks:
Vinyl has become the most popular siding material in the United
States and is quickly gaining momentum around the world. Install vinyl
siding, they say, and you will never have to paint your house again.
Unlike wood or cedar, this durable plastic will not rot or flake. But
what are the drawbacks that vinyl siding sales people don't tell you?
1. Health Concerns
Vinyl is made from a PVC (polyvinyl chloride) plastic resin, a
material suspected to cause cancer (see 'Environmental Aspects' section
in Vinyl Siding
Wikipedia). Although vinyl may be safe while it is on your home,
some scientists believe that manufacturing and disposing vinyl is
hazardous to our health and to the environment. Accidental fires in
vinyl-sided buildings are more dangerous because vinyl produces toxic
fumes when heated. In addition, doctors are reporting a high incidence
of neurological damage, respiratory problems, liver and kidney failure,
birth defects, and cancer among people who work in or live near
factories where vinyl is produced.
To learn more about the ways vinyl siding impacts our health and the
environment, watch the award-winning documentary film Blue Vinyl,
available on dvd. Or, read what the environmental group Greenpeace
has to say about vinyl.
For an opposing view, read the arguments written by the Vinyl Institute.
2. Durability
In extreme weather vinyl siding is less durable
than wood and masonry. Violent wind can get underneath the thin sheets
of vinyl siding and lift a panel from the wall. Windblown debris and
strong hail can puncture vinyl. Damage to a vinyl siding panel cannot be patched;
you will need to replace the panel, and replacement color matching can be difficult
Liquid vinyl coatings, which are sprayed on like paint, may prove to
be more durable than vinyl panels. However, liquid vinyl coatings are
difficult to apply correctly. Numerous problems have been reported. (See
Miracle
Liquid Siding Products, on Ask the Builder.)
3. Maintenance
Unlike wood and masonry, vinyl siding presents its own breed of
maintenance worries. Moisture trapped beneath the vinyl siding will
accelerate rot, promote mold and mildew, and invite insect infestations.
Roof leaks, faulty gutters, or other sources of moisture should be
repaired without delay. Vinyl siding may not be a wise option for an
older home with a chronically damp cellar.
4. Energy Conservation
Vinyl siding doesn’t insulate your walls as well as wood, so it
won’t significantly lower your utility bill, even when used in conjunction with
foam behind the panel. The shape of the vinyl panel itself will not allow a uniform
fit of the foam insulation.
5. Historic Preservation
No matter how closely vinyl resembles wood, any
artificial siding will diminish the historic authenticity of an older
home. In many cases, the original trim and ornamental details are
covered or removed. In some installations, the original clapboard is
completely removed or seriously damaged. Vinyl siding will always alter
the overall texture and proportions of the house, changing the depth of
moldings and replacing natural wood grain with factory-made embossed
patterns.
6. Property Values
For new construction in the United States, vinyl is becoming increasingly
common. On the other hand, many home shoppers still perceive vinyl as a
tacky shortcut or a cover-up for possible problems. Homes built before
1940 lose their historic appeal when their authentic siding is covered.
Before you install vinyl over wood clapboard or cedar shingles, look
closely at other homes in your neighborhood. In a neighborhood of
historic homes or upscale houses constructed primarily of wood and
masonry, adding vinyl siding can diminish a home's appeal to potential
buyers.
Rhino Shield Ceramic Paint Out-Does Vinyl in ALL of these areas
To learn more about the durability of Rhino Shield Ceramic Paint visit:
About Us
See how Rhino Shield Cermamic Paint excels in product testing:
Testing and Quality
Get an in depth understanding of the Ceramic Painting Process here:
Ceramic Painting Process
References:
architecture.about.com
Wikipedia - Vinyl Siding
Greenpeace - The Poison In Plastic
Miracle Liquid Siding Product
Vinyl Siding Institute
Sending Request...
Vinyl has become the most popular siding material in the United States and is quickly gaining momentum around the world. Install vinyl siding, they say, and you will never have to paint your house again. Unlike wood or cedar, this durable plastic will not rot or flake. But what are the drawbacks that vinyl siding sales people don't tell you?
1. Health Concerns
Vinyl is made from a PVC (polyvinyl chloride) plastic resin, a
material suspected to cause cancer (see 'Environmental Aspects' section
in Vinyl Siding
Wikipedia). Although vinyl may be safe while it is on your home,
some scientists believe that manufacturing and disposing vinyl is
hazardous to our health and to the environment. Accidental fires in
vinyl-sided buildings are more dangerous because vinyl produces toxic
fumes when heated. In addition, doctors are reporting a high incidence
of neurological damage, respiratory problems, liver and kidney failure,
birth defects, and cancer among people who work in or live near
factories where vinyl is produced.
To learn more about the ways vinyl siding impacts our health and the environment, watch the award-winning documentary film Blue Vinyl, available on dvd. Or, read what the environmental group Greenpeace has to say about vinyl.
For an opposing view, read the arguments written by the Vinyl Institute.
2. Durability
In extreme weather vinyl siding is less durable
than wood and masonry. Violent wind can get underneath the thin sheets
of vinyl siding and lift a panel from the wall. Windblown debris and
strong hail can puncture vinyl. Damage to a vinyl siding panel cannot be patched;
you will need to replace the panel, and replacement color matching can be difficult
Liquid vinyl coatings, which are sprayed on like paint, may prove to be more durable than vinyl panels. However, liquid vinyl coatings are difficult to apply correctly. Numerous problems have been reported. (See Miracle Liquid Siding Products, on Ask the Builder.)
3. Maintenance
Unlike wood and masonry, vinyl siding presents its own breed of
maintenance worries. Moisture trapped beneath the vinyl siding will
accelerate rot, promote mold and mildew, and invite insect infestations.
Roof leaks, faulty gutters, or other sources of moisture should be
repaired without delay. Vinyl siding may not be a wise option for an
older home with a chronically damp cellar.
4. Energy Conservation
Vinyl siding doesn’t insulate your walls as well as wood, so it
won’t significantly lower your utility bill, even when used in conjunction with
foam behind the panel. The shape of the vinyl panel itself will not allow a uniform
fit of the foam insulation.
5. Historic Preservation
No matter how closely vinyl resembles wood, any
artificial siding will diminish the historic authenticity of an older
home. In many cases, the original trim and ornamental details are
covered or removed. In some installations, the original clapboard is
completely removed or seriously damaged. Vinyl siding will always alter
the overall texture and proportions of the house, changing the depth of
moldings and replacing natural wood grain with factory-made embossed
patterns.
6. Property Values
For new construction in the United States, vinyl is becoming increasingly
common. On the other hand, many home shoppers still perceive vinyl as a
tacky shortcut or a cover-up for possible problems. Homes built before
1940 lose their historic appeal when their authentic siding is covered.
Before you install vinyl over wood clapboard or cedar shingles, look
closely at other homes in your neighborhood. In a neighborhood of
historic homes or upscale houses constructed primarily of wood and
masonry, adding vinyl siding can diminish a home's appeal to potential
buyers.
Rhino Shield Ceramic Paint Out-Does Vinyl in ALL of these areas
To learn more about the durability of Rhino Shield Ceramic Paint visit:
About Us
See how Rhino Shield Cermamic Paint excels in product testing:
Testing and Quality
Get an in depth understanding of the Ceramic Painting Process here:
Ceramic Painting Process
References:
architecture.about.com
Wikipedia - Vinyl Siding
Greenpeace - The Poison In Plastic
Miracle Liquid Siding Product
Vinyl Siding Institute
