Without leaving, vinyl siding makes a comeback

By the best estimates of the Vinyl Siding Institute, last year was the first year since 2004 that shipments of vinyl siding and soffit have shown a year-over-year increase.

For all that time — and longer — vinyl has remained the nation’s leading choice for exterior cladding. Census Bureau reports show that 110,000 out of 368,000 single-family homes sold in 2013 were built with vinyl siding as the main exterior material. Wood? A mere 11,000.

The strength of vinyl is no surprise to Jonathan Wierengo, VP marketing for the Tapco Group, who sees improved technology combining with customer tastes working in the favor of Tapco’s The Foundry division.

There are color options — more than 300 for vinyl — and a low-maintenance story that are gaining converts among younger (in other words, stylish and busy) homeowners. Also, siding technology has advanced to make more realistic grain patterns and better butt edges, he said.

“It’s not the vinyl siding I used to see on my parents’ house in the 1970s and ’80s,” Wierengo told HCN.

For instance, The Foundry’s Weathered Collection Shakes have been built with darker hues in deep grooves and lighter shades on the ridges and high points, to better imitate the real thing.

“Our goal is to make realistic products that replicate nature,” Wierengo said.