Siding is the first line of defence against wind and storms under the roof. It attaches to the sides of buildings as either cladding over frames, or as decoration to uplift a dated design. The earliest sidings we know were thatch in woven patterns. At some time in the past, someone stumbled over the idea of using overlapping planks. This was the day weatherboarding arrived. Today, vinyl siding is the most popular form in Canada, when meeting the Standards Council Specification.
How Wood Siding Evolved into Vinyl Siding
By the mid-19th Century, North Americans were accustomed to using pre-cut materials from timber yards for their sidings. Various patterns to deflect the rain and melt were popular including:
# Wood shingles also known as shakes in various shapes, sizes and patterns
# Clapboards comprising overlapping wood rows either flat or bevelled at the top
# Horizontal drop siding in either ship-lapped or tongue-and-grooved planks
# Vertical boards hung from top to bottom with battens covering the joints
# Sheets of plywood for closing in inexpensive buildings, or after severe storms
Although these methods progressively improved wind, rain, and weatherproofing, they all had one defect. All wood eventually rots unless maintained carefully, especially on the exposed exteriors of buildings. Vinyl siding works around this problem while preserving the classic striped effect.
Basics of Vinyl Siding and How It Works
Vinyl siding strips are about 80% PVC resin, plus other chemicals that add color, durability, flexibility, gloss, impact resistance, and opacity. Their natural attractiveness and easy installation make them a popular, cost effective solution
Vinyl emerged in the late 1950’s as an alternative to aluminum siding which scratched and dented easily, and appeared unsubstantial to some. By the 1970’s, new manufacturing methods had cut cost, and simplified colour mixing while driving manufacturing cost down. Modern vinyl siding is even more robust now, thanks to the addition of 15% limestone.
Replacing vinyl siding is also easy, thanks to the product being flexible while tough. Damaged strips can literally be ‘unzipped’ from their adjacent joints, and replacement ones squeezed in, and clicked into place before nailing fast.
Valiant Exteriors Ltd does repairs, and new installations of vinyl siding, eavestroughs, cladding, soffits, and fascias in the widest range of colours. We work quietly and unobtrusively to get the job done expertly with the minimum amount of fuss, and we clean up afterwards. Contact us for a job done properly at an exceptionally fair price.