Insulated Vinyl Siding Vs Aluminum Siding

Setting aside the overall environmental profile of the oft demonized pvc check our coverage in this month s ebn feature the pvc debate.

Insulated vinyl siding vs aluminum siding.

By filling the voids behind the siding s stepped profile the insulation makes the complete material stiffer and more resistant to warping and movement than conventional vinyl siding. Aluminum siding doesn t rot rust swell or encourage the growth of mildew. Like all siding this material goes on the outside of homes and is typically constructed with high quality vinyl to make it more resistant to fading warping and other kinds of damage. Vinyl siding has a better cost recovery and will increase the value of your home for resale more than aluminum would.

Siding contractors like installing aluminum siding because it is lightweight and easy to cut which further reduces installation costs. Insulated vinyl siding is simply traditional vinyl siding with rigid foam insulation attached behind it. Insulated vinyl siding is standard vinyl siding with a backing of solid rigid foam insulation. Another advantage of using aluminum siding when compared to vinyl siding is that it isn t affected by extremely cold weather.

A fresh look i ve been getting a lot of questions about insulated vinyl siding the vinyl siding with form fitted. This foam provides several benefits including better resistance to warping and increased r value a measure of the insulation s effectiveness. Here is an overview of the data. Insulated vinyl siding advantages.

Insulated vinyl siding refers to standard vinyl siding that includes a layer of eps or expanded polystyrene attached to it. Vinyl siding needs to be maintained only slightly less often than aluminum. Aluminum siding is usually a little cheaper than vinyl siding but there s a reason for that. Two studies indicate some benefits to using insulated vinyl siding but more data is needed to win over this skeptic.

This saves you 1000 to 3000 in siding removal costs. Unlike vinyl siding which can crack and become brittle in the cold aluminum is unaffected. Finally according to remodeling magazine s 2013 14 cost vs. Reduced energy use ranging from just 1 percent to about 11 percent.

However the additional thickness of the insulation adhered to the siding does create some challenges that must be understood prior to installation. Pros and cons of insulated vinyl siding vs non insulated siding. The cost difference between aluminum vs vinyl siding is very minimal. Studies backed by the siding industry have shown that insulated vinyl siding offers modest benefits at a substantial cost.