Why Should You Consider an Alternative to Vinyl Siding?
Are you thinking about renovating the outside of your home and looking at vinyl siding as an option? While this may be a solution that has been in existence for years, it doesn't mean that it should be your first choice, especially as there may be a better solution for you. What are some of the drawbacks of vinyl siding and what type of alternative should you think about?
Dealing with Heat
Vinyl siding is quite susceptible to extreme weather conditions and, therefore by definition, the Australian climate. To a certain extent, it will expand and contract in different temperature environments and will have a tendency to move on your walls as it does so. This means it has to be very carefully installed, with each nail introduced at a specific angle to allow for this movement without issue. Special fixtures have to be used as well to cater for this potential movement, and these have to be placed in large number around the edges of your home. Consequently, all of this work has to be done by hand rather than by using an automatic nail gun and it's not surprising that errors can occur.
Strength
Of course, vinyl siding is applied to the original material on the home, which is not necessarily built to accept it. After all, the original wood may be relatively soft, and when this type of siding is fastened on top, it may not be as secure as it should be. This can make your new siding very vulnerable in the event of high winds.
Look and Feel
As previously mentioned, special tools and fixings have to be applied to take into account contraction and expansion, and these features may be somewhat obtrusive. If you're not too worried about the "look" of your home, this may not worry you extensively, but if you care about aesthetics, then it may not be the best result.
Deterioration
There is one other potential drawback associated with vinyl siding, as well. It has a tendency to fade in direct sunlight. Therefore, those areas that are in contact with the midday sun may take on a completely different appearance to those areas that are typically in the shade.
A Better Approach
As an alternative, perhaps you should consider fibre cement siding. This may be a more extensive job, but this material is effectively a completely new style of exterior cladding made from cement, wood and sand. It's more hard wearing and more environmentally friendly and will certainly make the appearance of your home something to be proud of.
For more information on James Hardie products, contact your local professionals.
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