Guide
Choosing a siding material for Vineland's weather
Humid summers, cold snaps in winter and wind-driven rain from passing storms: what each common siding material asks of you here, and where each one fits.
Material by material
- Vinyl
- No paint, sheds rain, moves with temperature. Needs loose nailing and room at the ends; can crack on impact in cold weather and warp near strong heat. More on vinyl.
- Insulated vinyl
- Vinyl with a foam backing: stiffer, straighter and better against knocks, with some added insulation. Needs deeper trim at openings. More on insulated siding.
- Fiber cement
- Doesn't burn or rot and holds paint well. Heavy, cut with dust control, and sensitive to water at bottom edges if clearances are skipped. More on fiber cement.
- Engineered wood
- Long, light, painted boards with a wood look. Durable when cut edges are sealed and clearances are kept. More on engineered wood.
- Wood and cedar
- Repairable board by board and right for older houses, but needs regular paint or stain and close attention to moisture. More on wood and cedar.
Moisture is the main enemy
Whatever goes on the face, the wall has to dry. In a humid climate, water that gets behind siding needs a way out: a barrier lapped the right way, flashing at every opening and, with some products, a small gap behind the siding. Most siding failures here trace back to water, not to the siding material itself.
Sun matters too. South- and west-facing walls take the most heat, which fades vinyl and wears paint faster. Darker colors absorb more heat, and vinyl makers limit which dark colors they warrant.
Choosing
Questions that narrow it down
- How long do you plan to stay in the house?
- Do you mind painting every several years, or do you want no paint at all?
- Does the house have older wood details worth keeping?
- Is the wall flat and true, or wavy enough to show through thin panels?
- Does an HOA or a historic district limit your choices?
Siding cracked, loose or worn out?
Talk to an independent siding contractor who works around Vineland
One call connects you with an independent siding contractor working in Vineland, Millville, Bridgeton, Newfield and Franklinville. Ask them to look at the walls and put the repair or the new siding in writing.
Cracked panels, a wall that let water in, or siding that has simply had its day?
Your call goes to an independent siding contractor serving the Vineland area who takes on repairs as well as full re-siding jobs.
Call (856) 269-8684Calls may be recorded. See the referral disclosure and privacy policy.