Siding is one of the crucial components of your home’s appearance and functionality. Sidings or cladding systems give your house a particular style while protecting it from exterior elements. Vinyl cladding and aluminum siding are two of the most used cladding systems that offer various benefits while having their differences. So, to choose between vinyl and aluminum siding, you need to know their primary differences.
Vinyl cladding and aluminum sidings offer low-maintenance exteriors or home facades with all the beauty that you need on your facade. While they are both different materials, you can use them on your building depending on your requirements.
Let’s check out the main differences between the vinyl cladding and aluminum siding.
What is a Vinyl Cladding?
Vinyl cladding systems are widely used building facade materials in Canada. These durable cladding systems have been around since the 1950s and have been used as an attractive and low-maintenance alternative to wood siding.
Vinyl sidings are made of polyvinyl chloride, which is durable plastic. These sidings’ paint finish or color goes straight through the material, which means it will not peel, fade, or chip.
The Appearance and Maintenance of Vinyl Cladding
Vinyl cladding is usually formed to mimic the textures and the look of wood while being available in a wide range of colors and styles.
Generally, vinyl cladding is installed in a lap siding style which is popular in Canada. These durable sidings can be combined with other materials such as stone or brick, so you can customize the appearance of your house when building a new one or work with the existing features when replacing your home’s cladding system.
One of the best advantages of vinyl sidings is that they require low maintenance, and since they are not painted, they do not require scraping or sanding as wood sidings do.
Vinyl Siding Installation
Vinyl cladding is an inexpensive building material, and in moderate climates, it can last long. However, this cladding system needs to be installed properly.
Vinyl siding is available in various thicknesses, so you can choose thicker and more durable material if you live in very cold or hot climates.
The Durability of Vinyl Cladding Systems
High-quality vinyl sidings resist cracking and breaking from age. However, it can dent or shower minor marks from impacts during harsh weather conditions. This is an essential consideration for homeowners who live in areas with a lot of hail or severe weather events.
If you are a homeowner living in areas prone to harsh weather conditions frequently, checking your vinyl cladding panels after an event is crucial to ensure that everything is okay. If you find any damage, you need to replace the siding panel that is damaged very quickly so no water can infiltrate your building’s structure.
What is an Aluminum Siding?
Aluminum siding is another popular siding material in Canada that has been around since the 1930s. This material is also a perfect alternative to traditional wood sidings. Like vinyl cladding, aluminum siding is more durable than wood sidings and are lower maintenance building materials. Aluminum siding is also available in various paint and pattern finishes, including wood grains.
The Look of Aluminum Sidings
You can buy aluminum sidings in either smooth finishes or with a natural-looking wood grain. So, you can combine contemporary and traditional design styles with aluminum cladding.
Unlike vinyl cladding, aluminum siding does not have color that goes through. Instead, aluminum claddings have a finish that is backed on their surface, so the finish does not fade or peel easily, and you won’t need to spend your free time repainting them.
Using Aluminum Cladding in Various Climates
Aluminum cladding systems are tough and durable, and thanks to their physical properties, aluminum sidings are fire-resistant materials. With this said, you can say that aluminum cladding systems are suitable for homes in any climate.
Additionally, aluminum cladding systems hold up well in more extreme climates. They will not freeze or melt, so if you experience extreme cold or hot weather impacting your siding, you will not find the same problems with aluminum sidings.
The Durability of Aluminum Sidings
All aluminum cladding systems and sidings do not crack or break. So, if you install and maintain it properly, it will last for decades. Moreover, repairing aluminum sidings is more accessible than most metal claddings.
The Best Alternative for Aluminum Siding
When we talk about aluminum siding alternatives, we talk about more advantages and durability. Although they are many metals cladding available that you can choose for your home, the best options are ACM panels which have two layers of aluminum with a fire-retardant core.