Types of Vinyl Siding

Vinyl siding is perhaps the most popular exterior building material in the country due to its resemblance to real, natural wood but a fraction of the cost. It is made of a type of plastic (polyvinyl chloride, or PVC) and is engineered in a wide assortment of different styles to suit a variety of combination of styles and colors.

One major advantage of vinyl siding is that since it already comes in a variety of colors, it doesn’t require any paint job. It is also virtually maintenance-free, which means it does not need repainting. Hosing it down will do the trick.

There are three general types of vinyl siding available in the market, with a variety of different styles under each type to provide you with a variety of options for styling the exterior of your home. They are also available in different lengths, colors, textures, and thickness so it’s best to study them carefully in order to have a better understanding of each style and make your dream into a reality.

Three Basic Types of Vinyl Siding

Horizontal or Clapboard Siding

As the name indicates, it is a siding that runs across the house, horizontally. It is also sometimes referred to as traditional lap siding because of its long history. There are several styles available as well as a variety of different colors and textures that look just like real wooden planks. The main types of horizontal siding include Lap, Dutch Lap, and Beaded.

Vertical or Board and Batten

Contrary to the horizontal siding type, the vertical type siding runs up and down the house, or vertically. It is a popular type of sliding because of its ability to withstand heavy weather and strong winds. It is made up of wide boards, with small boars used to seal the crack in-between boards, giving it its weather-tight ability. Its styles may vary across different manufacturers. These variations may come from the difference in thickness and width.

Cedar Shake Siding

Cedar shake siding is a very popular choice for those that prefer to have a more rustic look for their home exterior. Vinyl cedar shakes are made to look like authentic cedar and comes in a different heights or profiles. They are available in two styles, namely straight-bottom and staggered bottom. The straight bottom style is as the name implies and is made to give a neat appearance whereas the staggered bottom style is made to give out the impression that the panels are made out of hand-cut wood.

OTHER TYPES OF VINYL SIDING

Insulated Vinyl Siding

A good energy saving material, insulated vinyl sidings are premium-grade vinyl sidings that have foam insulation factory applied on the back side of each piece. Although they are generally more expensive than other vinyl sidings, homeowners are still able to save on energy costs over the years by increasing the heat retention capabilities of external walls. They are also more rigid than regular siding and generally look better.

Vinyl Log Siding

A type of vinyl siding that is made to look exactly like a log cabin, vinyl log sidings offer the opportunity to recreate the rustic feel of log cabin constructions without the cost and high maintenance of wood. They provide your house with a distinct look at a fraction of the price of real logs and with the ease of installation of vinyl sidings. They are also a more eco-friendly choice because you can achieve the same look without having to cut so many trees just to get the same log cabin look.

Styles of Clapboard Vinyl Siding

Dutch Lap

designed to replicate the look of hand-carved wooden planks and are made to overlap at sharp and steep profile angles. The wooden illusion is achieved by a bevel cut near the top of the panel to give it an appearance of depth.

Traditional or Clapboard Lap

Designed to overlap one another so that each piece covers a portion of the one below. It appears to widen toward the bottom as it extends to cover, or overlap, the narrow top portion of the lower plank.

Beaded Lap

Each panel has a rounded rove or notch running along the bottom, creating a unique shadow line.

Half-Round or Scalloped Shakes

The molded cedar texture and low-gloss finish mimics the appearance of authentic cedar shingles. Half-round shingles are often used on gales or historic homes and provide homes with a distinctive charming look.

Cedar Shakes

engineered to look like natural cedar shake surfaces, the rough surfaces provides homeowners their desired look without the challenges of uneven weathering and expensive maintenance.

Decorating Your Exterior with Vinyl Siding Material

Because vinyl siding is manufactured to imitate real wood, it provides many different opportunities to style your home exterior through a variety of different styles, colors, and types. The different types of vinyl sidings can be used in various combinations to create special looks and bring your dream into reality.

For instance, beaded clapboard can be used on the main walls of your home exterior on the first floor and board and batten vinyl sidings can be used on the second floor with cedar shingles used for accents.

Aside from a combination of different types and styles, they can also be used in a variety of different colors without any need to paint them.