97% of members of the National Association of Realtors agree that curb appeal is essential to a home. After all, you’re exterior is the first thing guests will see when they arrive at your address.
If your home looks worse for wear, giving your exterior some TLC can help save the day. One of the best ways to change your home’s appearance is to invest in vinyl siding.
When picking a vinyl siding for your home, you may not know where to start. Luckily, you’re in the right place – keep reading to learn everything you need to know about this material and how to select the best option.
Table of Contents
Set a Budget
Before you start shopping for your new panels, you’ll need to set a budget. Understanding the vinyl siding cost before you make a final decision is crucial to ensure there are no surprises when you get your bill.
Vinyl siding is one of the most affordable options, so you don’t have to worry about choosing a material that’s too expensive. You’ll need to know how many square feet your home is to get a clearer idea of the project’s final cost.
Generally, the price of vinyl siding varies by the square foot of the material. However, you can expect to pay as little as two dollars but as much as fifty dollars per square foot. On average, vinyl siding will fun you twelve dollars per square foot.
Setting a budget of what you’d like to spend will help you narrow your options. When looking at siding, you may feel overwhelmed by the sheer number of options. However, a price range will reduce the number of options, making it easier for you to choose.
When considering your budget, you’ll also want to consider vinyl shake siding installation costs, which can impact your price range. Finally, you’ll want to get estimates from companies to help you narrow down your siding options.
Think About Efficiency
Next, you’ll want to consider the energy efficiency of your siding options.
If you reside in more temperate conditions, this may not be a significant concern for you. However, if you live in a colder climate, looking into energy-efficient siding options can save you money and shivers in the long run.
Adding vinyl siding to your home can help you reduce your monthly utility bills as it can help add an additional layer of insulation. This decreases how much heat is passed through the exterior of your walls and into your home.
Many vinyl siding options come with a rating to help consumers determine how efficient the material is. This allows you to explore the varying levels of efficiency and cost.
Research Quality
As with any home improvement product, you’ll want to take the time to look into how well the vinyl siding is made. As you’re installing this material on your home, it’s essential to ensure you pick a high-quality option that won’t break, fade, or crack after a few years.
Vinyl is incredibly easy to produce, meaning companies can make vinyl quickly, so the markets often flood with options.
However, quantity does not equal quality. As this is easy to produce, meaning the quality will not be up to par, making it essential to know how to navigate your search for the best siding for your needs.
Researching different siding brands and companies will help ensure you get the best bang for your buck. After all, you don’t want to pay for vinyl that will deteriorate on your own home within a few years of installation.
Find a Style You Like
Once you’ve set a budget and looked into the efficiency and quality, you’ll need to find a style you like.
This is one of the most crucial aspects, as this material will cover the entirety of your home. If you’re unhappy with the style you choose, you’ll grow to hate the appearance of your house.
One of the most common options is Dutch lap. These are vertical vinyl siding panels that don’t touch but are laid parallel between small indentation gaps. Choosing this style creates depth and dimension to the front of your home.
However, you can opt for more visually appealing options like shakes, square shingles, or half-rounded shingles. These will add an interesting texture to the front of your home instead of a flat or stripped appearance.
Finally, you’ll have a near unlimited number of vinyl siding colors to choose from. You’ll want to ensure that the shade you select fits the style of your home and any other accent colors that might help elevate your home’s exterior color.
Consider Maintenance
Finally, you’ll want to consider the maintenance of your vinyl siding.
In any instance, vinyl is extremely easy to clean. In most cases, a quick powerwash can do the trick and leave your home sparkling like new.
However, if you choose vinyl with small grooves to create detail, these hold grime easily, making them difficult to clean. Luckily, you can take a soft-bristled brush to loosen the dirt before hitting it with a power wash.
You will also want to look out for cracks, warping, or other damage to your siding. If you notice these, investing in vinyl siding repair as soon as you detect issues is crucial to preventing further damage to your home.
Choose the Best Vinyl Siding With These Tips
When picking out vinyl siding, researching your options is essential to making sure you make the most intelligent investment for your property.
Though you may have uncovered how to choose the best vinyl siding with the help of this guide, there’s still more home improvement content on the rest of our blog. Check out those tips and tricks for more ways to enhance your property.