Aluminum Siding vs. Vinyl Siding: Which is the Best Choice for Your Home?

Look at your home’s exterior. Is your paint peeling? Do you have old, dated aluminum siding that’s dented and damaged? Is your wood siding rotting? Is your stucco finish chipping and dated?

If it’s time for an exterior update, siding is a wonderful option. But what kind of siding should you choose? Between aluminum siding and vinyl siding, what’s the best choice?”

Years ago, aluminum siding was the gold standard for exterior finishes. In fact, when it first arrived on the scene in the 1940s, homeowners loved the durability and ease of installation. Throughout the next several decades, aluminum siding was favored by homeowners as a great option for updating damaged wood, unsightly plaster, and other aging exterior finishes.

Then in the 1970s, advances were made in manufacturing vinyl. Over the last 40 years, vinyl has become an increasingly popular and superior siding option. Vinyl is as affordable as aluminum siding but offers many distinct advantages. If you’re considering updating the exterior of your home, here’s how to weigh the merits of aluminum siding vs. vinyl siding.

Aluminum Siding vs. Vinyl Siding: The Many Advantages of Vinyl

If your paint is peeling, wood is rotting, or your current siding is damaged, you may be considering the merits of siding replacement. Is it worth the effort to paint over the wood or siding, only to have it crack and peel in a few years? Is it better to take off your exterior finish and start fresh, or install siding over your existing exterior?

When your home’s exterior shows signs of wear and tear, it’s typically best to remove the wood or aluminum siding and start fresh. A lot of times, there may be underlining issues that you may not be aware of, causing the reoccurring challenges to your siding. When Weather Tight replaces siding, we usually advise the homeowner to remove the damage and rot, apply a Tyvek house wrap, and update their home with beautiful new vinyl siding. Removing the old, damaged exterior finish helps us determine any issues such as pests or wood decay, usually from water seeping in, and find solutions to ensure your new home’s exterior is secure and weather tight to the elements.

Why is vinyl siding an ideal choice for most home exteriors? Vinyl siding has many advantages over aluminum and other exterior finishes, beginning with cost-effectiveness. Installation, including removal of the old materials, is typically as affordable as aluminum siding, but vinyl is a superior, longer-lasting choice. Vinyl offers energy-efficiency, durability, and lower maintenance, with a lower total cost of ownership over the years.

Vinyl is four times more energy-efficient than ordinary siding, so you’ll see savings on your energy bills. As you may remember from science class, metal isn’t a good insulator—it’s a conductor. Meaning, aluminum siding conducts heat and cold (right into your home). Vinyl, on the other hand, significantly reduces air infiltration.

When combined with a Dupont Tyvek wrap, vinyl siding is airtight. Tyvek is an innovative product that “breathes” with your home—allowing inside air and moisture to escape but keeping cold, wet air out in the winter and hot temperatures at bay in the summer. We add special weatherproofing tape at the seams and around windows and doors to keep your home extra sound.

Our vinyl siding is foam-backed for even better insulation. Because each piece of vinyl siding is thick and durable, it stands up to the weather and the outdoors. The foam-backing and properties of vinyl also reduce noise by up to 50%. In fact, many homeowners tell us they’re surprised at how much warmer their house feels in the winter and how much quieter it is, even near busy roads!

The other advantage of foam-backing is that the vinyl siding is 400% more impact resistant than ordinary siding. Vinyl siding won’t easily dent and can handle a significant impact—so if you have children who like to play ball in the yard, a stray rock from a lawnmower, hail damage, a pesky bird who maybe wasn’t looking out, or just a little clumsy accident, vinyl can take a bit more of a beating than aluminum. Our vinyl siding has a lifetime warranty protection against hail.

Discover the Convenience and Beauty of Vinyl Siding

As a homeowner, you know that safety, comfort, and protection are essential for your home—but let’s not forget about beauty. After all, new siding can give your home a facelift, increase your value, and improve your curb appeal.

At Weather Tight, our siding isn’t made from “regular every day” vinyl. Our thermal composite material is extremely weather-resistant and exceptionally beautiful. Because color goes through the material, vinyl siding never requires painting or updating. It will look newly installed well into the future.

Vinyl siding won’t fade, even after enduring years of the hot summer sun and cold Wisconsin winters. With 21 color options available, you can select siding that will complement the rest of your exterior. Select your preferred trim and create a look that’s unique and gives you that “new home” feel.

Better still, vinyl siding is resistant to pitting, dents, and ripples that are common with aluminum siding. Over the years, there’s only so much you can do to update and fix aluminum siding—corners pop off and get dented, paint starts to peel, and dents and holes are impossible to cover.

The beauty of vinyl siding will last for decades. The lifetime of aluminum siding is around 35 years (and even less if you’re concerned about those dents and dings). Aluminum siding is pre-painted, and after several years the finish oxidizes and turns powdery. You can see an example in the Home Improvement Tips from Tod & Todd video below.

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How do you know when its time to replace your siding? Tod & Todd show you the wear and tear on aluminum siding over the years:

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Once the paint on your aluminum siding has oxidized, it will fade and appear chalky. Often you can even wipe it off with your bare hand. It’s possible to paint over the aluminum siding, but it frequently chips and bubbles, meaning you may be painting every few years. Vinyl siding typically lasts 50 years, with no painting or updating needed. It’s a low-maintenance solution.

Vinyl siding is a long-lasting exterior finish that any homeowner will feel proud of. If you’re ready to give your home a needed update to a new look, consider vinyl siding. It’s a truly stunning exterior finish. Contact us today for a free consultation and estimate. Discover the beauty and affordability of vinyl siding from Weather Tight.