Vinyl Siding
 

Bit of advice needed please.

We have a house with cedar siding at the moment. However, over the last 5-10 years it hasn't been maintained properly and there is a reasonable amount of rot under the siding where water has been leaking in from the roof.

So, it looks like it might be worth biting the bullet and replacing all the siding just now and getting all the rot sorted.

Having some workmen round, it seems that vinyl siding is far cheaper than new wood siding (could never afford new cedar siding) and requires less maintenance.

So, here's where we need the advice. What's better - spend the money on wood siding which will look better, and keep the house more like it is, or go for the maintenance free vinyl option, which might not look so good. What is the effect likely to be if we do sell in a few years? Would people prefer wood/vinyl?

Sorry to ramble, but would really appreciate advice on this.

Re: Vinyl Siding
 

I like vinyl siding. I probably wouldn't like it so much on UK style housing, but houses here look so individual. Maybe that's why, for me, it looks good.

Re: Vinyl Siding
 

There is a third option, synthetic wood siding. Home Depot have it, it's not a cheap option, but it is installed like wood and looks like painted wood. Worth it if you're planning on staying there a while, if not vinyl might be the answer.

Re: Vinyl Siding
 

Jane,

NO NO NO, Don't do it. You've got a fantastic house & Vinyl siding would not do it justice. Prefinished clapboard is the thing or unfinished spruce then stained like we've got. OK you have to restain it every 5-10 years or so (& here Steve P will tell us that he hasn't done his in 20 but here in Newfoundland I think it needs doing more often, it must be the fog or summat!).

If you don't believe me then just go for a drive around Outport Heights or any of the subdivisions in Paradise and see the full horror that is Vinylville.;)

Re: Vinyl Siding
 

But all the houses look the same ! I agree it looks nice but surely it seems like Stepford country with all the houses clad in the same, albeit varying colours, or vinyl siding ?

Re: Vinyl Siding
 

Its doesn't seem to matter to buyers what the covering is, along as (1) it is in good condition and (2) it suites the style of house and (3) it is a reasonable colour.

Re: Vinyl Siding
 

Will not. :p

Ours had been painted over the original stain (don't really know if paint is better than stain), we had it painted a few years after moved in (1987) and it was done again last year. ;)

It's a hell of a lot drier here in Calgary than Newfoundland, although you'd never believe that after the last six weeks.:eek:

Re: Vinyl Siding
 

To me they don't look the same though. I can't think of a single house around here that looks like another. Different shapes & height, different angles on the roof, some with fake shutters, thin strip sidings, wide strip sidings, square tile sidings, different colours, porches, no porches, wrap-around decks, sun rooms.....

I love walking or cycling along and just looking at the nice houses among the trees. Maybe I appreciate it more having lived in a terrace back in Bristol.

Re: Vinyl Siding
 

You presumably haven't spent much time in the new build areas where vinyl sidings are the norm; the houses around us have various different designs, but most are covered with vinyl sidings of very similar colors, which makes them look very much alike.

Re: Vinyl Siding
 

Having lived in Bristol I can appreciate that comment but I still think, even with varying designs, the houses are pretty well much of a muchness.

Re: Vinyl Siding
 

The vast majority of new builds in Winnipeg have Stucco sides in various pale colours. I like the look, but it does make the new sub-divisions look "samey:.

Re: Vinyl Siding
 

It's all in the eye of the beholder. You indicate strongly that you prefer the cedar material, you may have bought the home for this reason? Anyone who has any sense or appreciation of decent cladding, would no doubt like it. So, go ahead, put out the extra and get it done right.

Re: Vinyl Siding
 

In the Kent flyer this week..... Cedar shingles, $25 a bundle (covers 25 sq ft).

:thumbup:

Re: Vinyl Siding
 

Well, thanks everybody for the advice. We have been to see a couple of people, got a couple of quotes coming, and at the moment it looks like the wood is going to be three times the cost of vinyl. The choice as far as OH is concerned is Vinyl + can afford new motorbike + little maintenance, Wood + painting + no motorbike. I know which way he will go.

So, a wee bit of thinking to do and counting:confused::blink:!

Again, thanks all for the advice - it is much appreciated.

Re: Vinyl Siding
 

Wee update on this thread. Due to circumstances beyond our control (more rot than we thought in roof/walls) we had to go with the vinyl option - wood was just out of our range financially. However, we are getting the roof replaced, and putting an eave on our house (didn't have any eaves at all - hence rot in walls) so effectively at the end of all this we have a new house - although on the down side it will be plastic fantastic!

Another deciding factor was the painting/staining. Due to the design of our house, that would have been a nightmare job for whoever had to do it due to the weird shape and tilt of our roof. Anyway, here are a couple of photos of the before house, and the in progress siding/roofing which is happening just now just in case anybody is interested.

We did go for the best vinyl and the colour most similar to the original house. Unfortunately they didn't do pink siding.;)