Seamless vinyl siding is an exterior siding choice that not only enhances the look of a home, but also adds to the durability and longevity of the siding itself. Seamless vinyl siding requires no seams (as with traditional vinyl siding panels), thereby increasing the overall aesthetics of the home, as well as reducing the chance for water, insects and wind to wreak havoc on your home.
What Is Seamless Vinyl Siding?
Traditional vinyl siding typically comes in 10 foot or 12 foot long panels that are installed side by side on a home to cover the entire exterior expanse. This creates many seams between the sections of siding that can detract from the overall look of the home. The seams can also create weak spots that allow water penetration, insect infestation, or the chance that a strong gust of wind will grab hold of the edge of a siding panel and cause damage. Seamless vinyl siding, on the other hand, is manufactured from similar materials and comes in similar designs, but it comes in rolls that can span up to 40 feet. This allows the seamless vinyl siding to be installed with just one piece running across the home’s expanse. There are no seams between panels and each panel ends at the home’s corners, or adjacent to windows or doors.
What Are The Benefits of Seamless Vinyl Siding?
The primary benefit of seamless vinyl siding is that it has no seams. This enhances the overall look of the home because seams from traditional siding break up the look of the finished product. When traditional siding is installed, there is also more chance that the siding panels don’t line up 100% perfectly, due to the large nail slots that offer room for expansion and contraction. While this space is needed for that purpose, it can make it more difficult to get a perfectly lined up set of siding panels. There is no need to worry about alignment since there are no seams running across the home. No seams also means less chance that water or insects can infiltrate past the siding panels and cause damage to the home’s exterior wall. It also makes it less likely that wind can cause breakage or can result in a panel being blown right off the house. The seamless siding also has great insulating properties and is made from fire retardant materials.
What Are The Disadvantages?
The primary disadvantage is due to installation and cost. Seamless vinyl siding typically costs about 10% more than traditional vinyl siding. Also, due to the large expanses of siding that need to be transported and installed, installation is best left to a professional. Although most people opt to have even traditional vinyl siding professionally installed, it can substantially add to the cost compared to those that would install the traditional siding panels themselves.
Are Design Options Limited?
Seamless vinyl siding is offered in a wide selection of colors and design finishes. While there may not be quite as wide a choice as that offered by traditional siding, homeowners still have many options to find the color and finish that they desire.
How Long Does It Last?
You can expect seamless vinyl siding to last longer than its traditional counterparts for a number of reasons. For one, the product itself is thicker (up to 40% thicker than basic quality traditional vinyl siding), so it is stronger and more durable. Another reason is that without the seams between panels, there is less opportunity for the usual culprits that cause damage – water, wind and insects.
Does It Increase My Home’s Value?
The value of any home is determined by a number of factors, but as a general guideline, you can expect the installation of to increase your home’s value more than traditional vinyl siding. This is because the home exterior’s appearance is improved due to the absence of seams, the increased protection against water, wind and insects, and the fact that it is virtually maintenance free, durable and long-lasting. There are products by different manufacturers that offer reinforced edges, superior rigidity, or features that help the siding better withstand harsh weather conditions, such as hurricanes, making the installation of this high quality siding product even more attractive to potential home buyers.