What kind of siding is suitable for low houses. What is the best vinyl siding? What is the best siding for a wooden house

Metal, vinyl, acrylic, fiber cement, wood - all these are varieties of siding. Which one to choose for finishing? What is the best siding for your home? It is rather difficult to give a definite answer. It all depends on the budget, needs and desired result. So, let's take a closer look at each type of siding.

metal siding

Metal siding is used for finishing private houses, cafes, shops, warehouses, office premises, etc. The properties of the finish depend on what metal it is made of.

Steel siding trim rooms that require increased fire resistance, as well as mechanical strength. It is resistant to aggressive environments - alkalis, acids, salts, etc. However, such panels are quite heavy and exert an increased load on the foundation and supporting structures.

Aluminum siding trim commercial premises, less often - residential buildings. Compared to steel, aluminum panels are lighter, but at the same time less elastic. Under mechanical stress, they can be deformed, after which they cannot be restored.

The structure of metal siding includes several mandatory layers:

base (metal sheet);
priming;
polymer coating;
protective covering.

As a polymer coating can be used:

polyester
plastisol
pural
and others.

The geometric parameters of metal siding may vary from manufacturer to manufacturer. But, as a rule, their length is from 2 to 6 m, and the thickness is from 0.4 to 1 mm. During the installation process, it is worth considering the rather large weight of the panels.

Benefits of metal siding:

resistance to temperature extremes;
strength;
fire safety;
resistance to mold, fungi and pests.

Disadvantages of metal siding:

low noise isolation (this can cause a rumble during rain);
susceptibility to corrosion in places where the protective polymer layer is broken.

A specific disadvantage of steel siding is its impressive weight. Aluminum panels are lighter, but also less durable. They are easily deformed.

wood siding

For the first time, siding began to be produced in the USA and it was from wood. Today it is used less and less - he lost the palm to the more practical PVC siding.

Wooden panels can be mounted overlapping or end to end. So, they are of three types: block house, shipboard and false timber. As a rule, for its manufacture, hardwoods are used that are resistant to humidity and temperature extremes: larch or hardwoods of exotic trees. In addition, heat-treated wood can be used - it can be pine, ash, etc.

Recently, composite material has been increasingly used as wood siding - compressed wood fibers mixed with polymeric substances. This composition makes wood siding more resistant to weather conditions.

Benefits of wood siding:

environmental friendliness;
a special texture that gives the panels an attractive appearance;
high heat and noise insulation.

However, you have to pay for beauty. Wood requires careful and regular maintenance. Therefore, this type of finish has many disadvantages.

Disadvantages of wood siding:

fire hazard;
the need for care (treatment with protective primers and painting);
high cost;
high risk of infection by fungi, mold and pests;
low resistance to moisture and temperature changes.

Wooden siding should not be installed in rainy weather and at low temperatures.

Almost all types of siding on the market imitate wood siding, but at the same time have better performance characteristics. Wooden panels are installed less and less.

fiber cement siding

This is one of the most modern types of siding. It is produced from a mixture of high quality cement and cellulose fibers with the addition of sand, water and special additives. The surface of such panels can be smooth or embossed. The thickness is somewhat greater than that of metal or vinyl siding - up to 12 mm.

The weight of fiber cement siding is impressive, so before installing it, you should consult with experts - whether the foundation and supporting structures will withstand, what kind of fastening system is needed. And for installation, you will have to turn to the services of a construction team.

Benefits of fiber cement siding:

does not support combustion;
does not rot and is not susceptible to mold infection;
does not need special care;
resistance to low and high temperatures, as well as their differences;
moisture resistance;
strength.

Disadvantages of fiber cement siding:

significant weight of the panels;
high cost;
installation complexity.

Vinyl siding for home decoration

more resistant to UV radiation
can be operated at temperatures up to +80°С
has reduced smoke generation under the influence of an open source of fire

Acrylic siding practically does not fade in the sun. Therefore, it is an ideal material for facades in dark colors. On the other hand, it is also more expensive than vinyl.

Advantages of acrylic siding:

UV resistance
wide selection of dark panels
light weight
moisture resistance
resistance to fungal infection and corrosion
does not support combustion
resistance to temperature extremes and aggressive environment

Unlike metal panels, acrylic siding can be used on the sea coast, where the salt content in the air is high.

Disadvantages of acrylic siding:

less strength than metal and wood panels
higher price than vinyl

We summarize - types of siding for home decoration

It is impossible to unambiguously answer which siding is better than others. In different cases, for different purposes, the answer will be different. Wooden panels are good for their naturalness, but in terms of performance they are inferior to plastic or metal imitation. And if it makes sense to install metal siding for industrial and commercial facilities, then vinyl or acrylic siding is more suitable for the facades of residential buildings. Moreover, if the facade is light shades, you can save a little and choose vinyl panels. And for those who prefer bright and saturated colors, acrylic siding is more suitable.

It is widely known that the construction of the foundation, box and roof of the house is only 30% of its total cost. At least 30% more funds are spent on internal work and, finally, 40% - the price of the facade. At the same time, the comfort of living in the house and its profitability largely depend on the exterior finish. Vinyl siding is one of the most successful facade materials for both a new building and the restoration of an old one. It is lightweight, does not increase the load on the foundation, is quickly and easily installed, and can also be part of effective home insulation.

The popularity of this facade material has led to the fact that there are several dozen large siding manufacturers on the domestic market. There are many booths of such companies with samples of materials in construction supermarkets, and all of them have an attractive appearance, a large selection of decors and, according to sellers, excellent characteristics. However, after several years of operation, it often turns out that the facade has faded, and the panels have deformed under the influence of temperature differences. Of course, in order for the siding to serve for a long time, it must be installed correctly, but the main thing is the quality of the material itself.

Therefore, the choice of the manufacturer is very important. There are a few simple criteria to distinguish a reliable company:

The period of work in the market of finishing materials. If a company has been producing siding for several decades, its facade panels have been used in real houses for the entire period. And their quality is well known to builders and ordinary buyers, whose reviews form the reputation of the company.
Availability of certificates of conformity, product test reports, implemented quality control system.
Wide choice of shades, decors and additional elements.
Large dealer network. It means prompt resolution of issues with delivery, marriage or return.

This review presents siding manufacturing companies with the best reputation in the Russian market, operating for decades and recommended by experienced installers. When distributing places in the ranking, the following were taken into account:

price-quality ratio;
customer reviews;
the presence in the assortment of the company of additional elements and fastening systems;
siding test results in independent laboratories.

Top 10 Best Siding Firms

10 U-Plast

Original decor
Country: Belarus
Rating (2019): 4.4

The Belarusian company U-Plast is one of the largest manufacturers of facade materials in the CIS market. The company purchases tooling and equipment for factories in the USA and Germany. Raw materials for the production of vinyl siding are predominantly European. Quality control at the company's enterprises is very strict, so the probability of marriage is minimal. The company produces several series of facing materials, which differ, first of all, in the type of relief. Timberblock siding imitates overlapping flat plank facade cladding, Spruce decor looks especially natural. The Stone House series are stone-like plinth panels with an original double lock that avoids the use of vertical joining strips.

According to customer reviews, U-Plast siding demonstrates good value for money. However, the frost resistance of the panels leaves much to be desired: it is desirable to mount the facade at positive temperatures. U-Plast produces not only siding, but also everything you need for cladding, thermal insulation of the facade and drainage of water from the roof: along with the panels, you can purchase a complete kit for their installation, an insulation system and a drain. The company even offers a specialized tool for cutting plastic.

9 fine-ber

Large selection of shades
Country Russia
Rating (2019): 4.5

Vinyl siding under the Fine Ber brand has been produced since 2001. The company's factories operate on American equipment, and the products comply with international ASTM quality standards. Sading is available in two versions: Standard (ship timber) and Blockhouse. The assortment of the company also includes facade panels with decor imitating natural stone and spotlights. The choice of colors is wide: there are pastel, natural shades, as well as a collection of rich, dark decors.

The first batches of siding produced by the company began to cause consumer dissatisfaction with poor UV resistance, especially its dark shades. Therefore, the company's technologists have made great efforts to improve the light fastness of products. And they succeeded - laboratory tests at the research center of the Russian Academy of Sciences "Polycert" proved that 2000 hours of heavy-duty light radiation do not change the color saturation of the siding.

8 Profile Vox

Extremely durable and frost-resistant siding
Country: Poland (Produced in Russia)
Rating (2019): 4.6

This company has been present on the European market of facade materials since 1992. Her credo is to provide customers with the most convenient installation and comfort during the operation of siding using innovative technologies. The company's assortment includes both ordinary good quality vinyl cladding and several premium lines. The KERRAFRONT series is a two-component siding with a particularly strong outer layer and a foamed inner layer, which has increased mechanical strength.

The MAX-3 line features a special development of the company - a three-layer material consisting of a durable decorative coating, a soft inner layer and a heat-stable substrate. This design guarantees the special resistance of the siding to temperature extremes and mechanical damage. Customers like the excellent appearance and variety of panel decors, as well as the opportunity to purchase everything for facade work in one place: the company produces material for finishing the plinth and soffits.

7 TEKOS

Excellent protective coatings
Country: Belgium (produced in Russia)
Rating (2019): 4.6

Tecos, whose production facilities are based in the Tver region, is part of a large international group of companies TECO, headquartered in Belgium. Therefore, it is not surprising that the company was one of the first to bring an innovative development to the Russian market - vinyl siding with acrylic coating. This technology makes it possible to produce facade material with excellent resistance to fading at a cost that is only slightly higher than the price of classic vinyl.

According to customer reviews, Tekos siding retains color perfectly, even its dark varieties do not fade. For even better protection of the facade from ultraviolet radiation, the company offers customers its unique development - ProVinTec siding varnish. In addition to increasing the chemical strength of the facade surface, this agent increases its physical strength, which reduces the likelihood of chips and scratches.

6 grand line

High impact strength
Country Russia
Rating (2019): 4.6

This company produces a fairly large range of different building materials, including metal and vinyl siding. The company is characterized, first of all, by a serious scientific approach to product quality. In order to test their facade material in conditions closest to real operation and to test the SUNPROOF GL UV protection technology, the company's engineers conduct full-scale experiments at open test sites in the Kaluga Region and the Krasnodar Territory. The siding samples exposed to all environmental stresses at these research sites since 2014 show no visible color changes.

The excellent shock resistance of siding deserves attention. High strength characteristics are provided by the SHOCKPROOF GL system. The average value of the impact energy that the company's vinyl plastic can withstand is 10 J, at the level of the best American samples, while the standard requires only 7 J. The Grand line assortment includes three lines of vinyl siding: Tundra, Classic and Acrylic (panels with a particularly resistant surface) . The company provides a 50-year written guarantee for its products, subject to proper installation.

5 FOUNDRY

Best Design
Country: USA
Rating (2019): 4.7

This company produces facade panels for those who value individual design the most. Siding is a very practical, durable and convenient material, but its popularity leads to the fact that many houses look like twins and differ from each other only in minor details. The designers and engineers at TAPCO GROUP, the manufacturer of FOUNDRY siding, have worked hard to develop an unusual façade material that is as easy to install as classic cladding panels. The visiting card of the company is the collections "Schepa" and "Dranka". The texture of the plastic is chosen to create the illusion of a roughly sawn wood, and the color transitions of natural shades emphasize the relief.

The most important technological advantage of FOUNDRY siding is that it does not require vertical connecting elements. The facade turns out to be seamless and completely individual - for 14 meters the pattern on the panels is not repeated. Another advantage is the excellent fire resistance of FOUNDRY products. Thanks to a specially selected polymer composition, the siding of this company has class A for fire safety, which corresponds to the Russian standard G1. The only drawback that the front panels of the company have is the high price.

4 Nordside

Optimal price-quality ratio
Country Russia
Rating (2019): 4.7

Production of vinyl siding by Nordside is organized in St. Petersburg. The company has been operating on the Russian market for 16 years and has proven itself as a reliable manufacturer that takes the quality of its products seriously. Nordside facade materials are specially adapted to the harsh Russian winters and are resistant to fading. The company's assortment includes several successful lines of siding of various shades and textures: "Karelia" and "Classic" are distinguished by light, pastel colors, and "Lapland" - by more saturated colors.

The company's products are ISO certified, production is carried out under the quality control of the Finnish company Aditum Oy. The owners of houses sheathed with this siding are especially pleased with the frost resistance of the panels, and the most popular color among domestic buyers is sandalwood. In addition to vinyl facade materials, the company also offers drainage systems and spotlights, so consumers have the opportunity to complete the entire exterior of the house in the same style.

3 Alta Profile

Best Selling
Country Russia
Rating (2019): 4.7

The Russian company Alta-Profil is trying to meet the needs of customers in terms of pricing: the cost of vinyl and basement siding of its production is one of the lowest on the market. At the same time, the color scheme and the choice of textures are the richest. The Alta-Board line of foamed siding deserves special attention - this is a facade material with an increased sound insulation coefficient, increased strength and excellent decorative qualities. According to customer reviews, the Economy series is prone to rapid color loss under the sun, but the dark colors of the older lines outperform competitors in UV resistance.

Another advantage of the company is the fact that, in addition to siding, it also produces a system for its fastening of its own design, elements for organizing drainage, drainage, and roofing. Thus, the buyer can get the whole range of technical solutions for the exterior of the building, which saves time and money. It is the combination of excellent service and reasonable prices that is the reason why Alta-Profil siding is the leader in sales in Russia.

2 Mittens

Best color fastness
Country: Canada
Rating (2019): 4.8

Canadian company Mitten has been manufacturing vinyl siding for 60 years. The experience gained over the years and scrupulous attitude to product quality allow the company to give a 50-year written guarantee for all its facade materials. The company's technologists pay special attention to ensuring the panels' resistance to ultraviolet radiation: even the dark colors of the Sentry Mitten line will retain their color unchanged for at least 25 years.

The shades of Mitten vinyl siding are specially selected to look as natural as possible on the facade of the building - they are complex, pastel and natural. The surface structure imitates cedar wood. The thickness of the panels reaches 1.2 mm, and the strength is one of the highest among competitors. A very serious product quality control system has been introduced in the production, so marriage and color sorting are excluded. The cost of siding, of course, is quite high, but given the excellent performance characteristics, it is fully justified.

1 Dock

Buyers Choice
Country Russia
Rating (2019): 4.9

This company began its work on the Russian market of facade materials in 2005 and quickly became one of the largest manufacturers of finishing panels. The company offers customers vinyl and basement siding with a wide range of colors and a large assortment of additional elements. The company's plant is located in the Moscow region, but all equipment and raw materials are purchased in Germany, and the quality control system in production is distinguished by true German meticulousness. Buyers have the opportunity to purchase not only siding, but also to order its installation, therefore it is not surprising that Döcke constantly occupies the top lines in the ranking of the most successful facade panel manufacturers.

The company produces three series of vinyl siding: Standard, Premium and Lux. All of them are of excellent quality plastic and color fastness - the company gives a guarantee of 50 years for its products. But there are many more colors in the Premium line, as well as a reinforced anti-hurricane lock, which allows such siding to be used in areas where strong winds are a frequent occurrence. Lux is a design series that exactly imitates the texture of precious woods. Thanks to an extensive network of service centers, the company provides its customers with fast delivery of products and a wide selection of decors.

Siding has grown in popularity in recent years. Previously, 25-30 years ago, the inhabitants of our country could see beautiful and bright multi-colored houses, only leafing through magazines that leaked into our reality from under the Iron Curtain. Now siding can already be seen in our domestic magazines, and in hardware stores, and on real houses. And if you wish, you can see this wonderful material on the walls of your house.

Suffering from the inaccessibility of this material in a short time was replaced by the complexity of the choice, as the market offers siding from a wide variety of materials, colors, textures, fastening systems and prices. And from the whole ocean of questions that a person may have when choosing, we decided to consider only one: which siding is better - acrylic or vinyl? It is possible that having decided on this, the potential buyer will have at least two times fewer questions.

Why is siding being increasingly chosen as the exterior of a house?

Increased attention to the facing of the house with siding is not only a tribute to fashion, but only in part. And this facing material gained popularity due to a combination of its characteristics and qualities. What arguments does siding have in its favor?

Of course, people who buy siding, first of all, want to improve the appearance of their homes. Moreover, both new and already quite "old". For cladding with siding, it is not necessary to level the walls, all irregularities are compensated by the frame and crate. Sometimes you can watch how an unsightly house with all the signs of a noble old age suddenly turns into a “candy house” in a few days. Let this be just a bright wrapper, but still the appearance of the house greatly affects the mood of the owners of the house and the choice of potential buyers of suburban real estate.

Siding protects the walls of the house from external adverse influences. This is especially true for wooden houses. Under the siding, the walls are not threatened by either wind or precipitation, which can contain very aggressive chemical compounds in industrial areas that have a bad effect on building materials.
Siding itself is able to withstand the effects of natural factors. He is not afraid of precipitation, winds too, but subject to the installation technology. The only drawbacks are the susceptibility to ultraviolet rays included in the solar spectrum and the fragility of polymer panels in severe frosts. The first disadvantage is now almost overcome, thanks to the use of new materials and technologies. The second minus is also partially overcome by introducing special modifiers into the composition of the panels, but no one has yet canceled the careful attitude that should apply to any finish.
Siding allows you to hide a lot of interesting and necessary things underneath. First of all, it concerns heaters. To make the cladding of a house out of siding and at the same time not to place a heater under it is just a crime. In addition to insulation, vapor-permeable moisture-proof membranes are recommended for use, which protect against direct exposure to water, but allow water vapor to pass through. The walls of the house will not be sealed, but will be able to "breathe", but on condition that basalt mineral wool is used as a heater.

Facing from siding allows you to make a ventilated facade near the house. This approach significantly increases the service life of the insulation, increases its thermal insulation qualities, and allows you to quickly and without hassle get rid of excess moisture that has appeared on the walls.
The use of siding in the cladding allows you to get away from the traditional troublesome and wet plastering processes. The speed of finishing increases significantly, costs decrease, and ease of installation allows you to do everything yourself.
The service life of siding cladding allows you to do it once and for many years or until you get tired of it. According to manufacturers, the service life of some types of siding is at least 50 years.
Siding is very easy to care for. Most often, it can simply be washed with a stream of water without the use of any special detergents.

Siding has an affordable price, is presented in the widest range, installation technologies are available both in terms of the availability of the necessary information, and in the simplicity of self-execution without expensive special tools.

Enough arguments have been made in favor of siding to explain its widespread use. Undoubtedly, this wonderful material will continue to be widely used in individual housing construction, and in the middle, most massive class. It is clear that elite suburban housing will continue to use both facing bricks and clinker tiles for decoration, but for most residents of the post-Soviet space, siding will be just a salvation.

How to compare acrylic and vinyl siding

Let's imagine ourselves in the place of a buyer who came to a huge store, where siding is presented from all possible materials, any colors, any manufacturer and different price categories. And it is necessary to choose only one from all the variety. This task is, of course, not an easy one. Therefore, it is necessary to break it down into several simple ones. And each such simple task is, at its core, a question that buyers ask when choosing a siding.

Buyers, first of all, are interested in the appearance of the siding, and only then all its characteristics. With the current wide selection, this is not a problem, since both vinyl and acrylic siding can be selected in any color and texture.

The second issue is durability. Always and everywhere they ask the question of how long the siding will retain its “fresh” look, as at the time of purchase, and only then they are interested in the durability of the material itself.
Often, especially residents of the northern regions, are interested in how siding perceives temperature changes: does it become too brittle in severe frosts. Residents of the south are interested in the behavior of siding in extreme heat - whether it will “float” and whether it will emit unpleasant odors, which, in combination, are often harmful to health.
If the buyer is going to install the siding on his own, then the installation technology is of interest. There are no questions about this, since sellers are willing to provide information. Yes, and on the Internet you can always find both official information from manufacturers, and personal experience, which they are willing to share on construction and repair forums.
The level of environmental literacy and consciousness of the population of our country is growing and this cannot but rejoice. According to some sellers, there are buyers who ask not only about the harm to their own health, but also about how siding affects the environment.
Of course, you are always interested in what brand the siding is produced under and in what country, since this is also of great importance.
The price of siding is always of interest, but what is strange is that this question is almost never in the first place if people buy just for themselves.

Acrylic siding prices

acrylic siding

Characteristics of vinyl and acrylic. How do they affect the quality of siding

In many ways, the performance of siding is determined by the material of its base. In our case, vinyl and acrylic. However, it should immediately be said that good siding has not been made uniform in composition for a long time by monoextrusion, that is, pushing the molten mass through an extruder. Modern technologies make it possible to make siding two-layer: the lower layer provides mechanical strength, and the upper one has both a protective and decorative function. Therefore, there is equipment that makes it possible to obtain two-layer sheets bonded at the molecular level from the melts of two components. This process is called co-extrusion. And this technology is used to get the vast majority of siding.

Considering the multi-layer construction of the siding and the presence of many modifiers, dyes, stabilizers and other additives in its composition, it can be stated that one hundred percent "racial" purity of vinyl and acrylic siding does not exist in principle. We can only say that these materials form its basis and determine its properties.

Polyvinyl chloride (PVC, vinyl,PVC)

The most common is vinyl siding. It owes its name to its main component, which makes up more than 80% of its composition. This is nothing more than polyvinyl chloride (PVC) - one of the types of plastics that has found the widest application among its "brothers" in the class. The Russian name for this material is PVC, and in the rest of the world it is called PVC.

Polyvinyl chloride is a wonderful material and is the best suited for finishing. More than 60% of vinyl produced in the world is used specifically in construction - for the production of siding, finishing panels, window and door profiles, window sills and other products. Such a demand for polyvinyl chloride is easily explained, since with a relatively cheap manufacturing process, PVC has a number of good properties:

PVC has high mechanical strength, wear resistance, rigidity. Moreover, all these qualities are combined with a low specific gravity (density), which is 1.35-1.43 g / cm³.
Vinyl is weather resistant. All naturally occurring solvents, the main of which is water, have no effect on it. PVC does not "know" what corrosion and biological damage are.
The temperature resistance of polyvinyl chloride is also on top. Pure, without any additives, PVC can be used for a long time at a temperature of 60°C. it begins to melt at a temperature of 150-200°C, and begins to burn only at 500°C. Moreover, after the source of high temperature disappears, the combustion immediately stops. In other words, PVC does not support combustion.
PVC is a very good dielectric, and it is not for nothing that it is widely used for insulation in cable and wire products. The same property is very useful in finishing materials, the ability to conduct electric current is simply inappropriate here.
Vinyl building materials compare favorably with their durability.
PVC is very easy to process with a simple tool.

It is known that ideal materials do not exist, and PVC has weaknesses that must be considered:

When PVC is heated to temperatures up to 100°C, it begins to decompose and release hydrogen chloride HCl, known to us as hydrochloric acid, into the surrounding air. This can lead to irritation of the upper respiratory tract and mucous membranes of the eyes. But under standard operating conditions, such a temperature can appear only in extraordinary cases.
At low temperatures, PVC becomes more brittle, but almost all building materials have this unpleasant property. The main thing is that low temperature does not cause degradation of the material.
The main disadvantage of vinyl is photodegradation when exposed to ultraviolet light. With prolonged exposure to direct sunlight, high-energy photons of ultraviolet light break down PVC molecules. This phenomenon is fought and quite successfully with the help of special additives. Which ones we will tell below.

In its pure form, polyvinyl chloride is almost never used. It is always “customized” for the desired application by adding various ingredients to the composition. What is added to vinyl siding?

First of all, this is actually polyvinyl chloride itself, which makes up about 80% in the finished siding. But he is different. It is best if only primary raw materials are used for production, but in reality this is far from the case. In the chemical industry, secondary raw materials are widely used, which are obtained by processing products that have already been in use. This noble mission contributes to the preservation of the environment, but does nothing to improve the quality of PVC siding. The best manufacturers add no more than 5% recycled PVC to their products and honestly report it, while some other unscrupulous manufacturers can “sin” with a large percentage of gray-back PVC (recycled PVC) and not tell the buyer anything about it. In appearance, this difference can not always be determined. Therefore, it is worth buying only siding from a good, honest manufacturer from no less good and honest sellers.
Titanium dioxide is also the most common additive in vinyl siding. This compound is also called titanium white, and also as a food additive E171. It is added only to the top layer during the co-extrusion process and serves to give stability to the top layer, preventing damage by UV rays. As a result, the color of the siding is less prone to fading. But titanium dioxide works only with light and soft tones of the siding color, more expensive chemical compounds are used on brighter and darker ones. The top layer contains no more than 10% titanium dioxide.

Titanium white or titanium dioxide - an indispensable additive in the top layer of light-colored siding

Calcium carbonate - this compound is always used in the production of plastics, especially PVC. This component is introduced into the lower layer, and it is from 10 to 15% of its composition. It is a filler and in addition contributes to the uniform coloring of PVC throughout the volume.
Butadiene is a compound found in PVC used in siding. Its content is no more than 1%, but even such a small proportion makes it possible to stabilize PVC, and most importantly, to increase its elasticity and wear resistance. To be precise and honest, butadiene is not included in its pure form, since it is a gas. Styrene-butadiene thermoplastics are used, which are added to polyvinyl chloride. The same compound is necessarily used for the production of high-quality synthetic rubbers and road bitumen, which retain their elasticity over a wide temperature range.

vinyl siding prices

vinyl siding

Various modifiers that improve the impact resistance of the siding are also introduced into its composition. Their share is very small, but they significantly add strength properties. The specific chemical composition and content of these modifiers are the know-how of manufacturing companies and, for obvious reasons, are not disclosed.
To color the siding in the desired colors, concentrated pigments are introduced into it, which should give the desired color and shade and at the same time be resistant to fading from exposure to UV rays. Of course, their composition is also the intellectual property of the manufacturer and is not subject to publication.
Good siding is never glossy. Therefore, in the process of its production, matting additives are always added to the top layer, which remove the original gloss.
Antistatic additives are also required, since the properties of dielectrics are known to accumulate static electricity. Few people will be pleased to receive an electric discharge from the walls of their home.

Polyvinyl chloride siding dominates the market, primarily due to the fact that it began to be produced much earlier than the newer acrylic. This gain in time allowed vinyl siding to firmly establish itself as a leader. But its position becomes somewhat shaky, as a new material comes - acrylic siding.

Acrylic and its derivatives used for the production of siding

The concept of acrylic is very broad and includes a very large group of synthetic materials - both solid and liquid. For the first time, under the concept of acrylic, a fabric made of acrylic fiber appeared, and then various polymers began to appear. This name was “kindly shared” by acrylic acid, which has the chemical formula CH 2 \u003d CH-COOH. Based on this compound and others, a very large number of fibers, polymers in liquid and solid form are obtained. In order not to delve into the wilds of chemical synthesis, since most readers will still not understand anything, let's say that the material from which siding is made is called acrylic-styrene-acrylonitrile in the strict language of the scientific world. Another name is ASA plastic (the international name is ASA), and in the BASF concern this polymer is called in its own way - Luran S. It is completely clear that the siding is called acrylic, and not acrylic-styrene-acrylonitrile, for good reason, since sellers would have to develop diction, articulation and eloquence, and potential buyers would immediately be afraid of a tricky name.

ASA plastic is a thermoplastic polymer, and its melting and polymerization temperature is approximately the same as PVC. This allows, by co-extrusion, to make compositions of PVC and ACA polymer bonded at the molecular level. What this gives, we will consider below.

What are the properties of thermoplastic ACA copolymer (hereinafter referred to as acrylic)? Why can it be used for siding?

Acrylic has high rigidity, hardness and impact resistance.
Acrylic retains its strength at temperatures up to 80-90°C, perfectly withstands short-term heating up to 100-110°C. When heated, unlike vinyl, acrylic does not emit any volatile compounds. It has virtually no odor.
Acrylic products withstand low temperatures well. Acrylic becomes brittle only at temperatures from -25°C to -40°C (depending on the presence and amount of antifreeze additives).
Acrylic is resistant to water, acids, diesel fuel, mineral oils. Detergents can be used to care for the acrylic coating.
Acrylic has a density lower than that of PVC, it is in the range of 1.06-1.10 g / cm³.
Acrylic has excellent biological resistance, fungi or mold will never settle on its surface.
One of the main properties of the ACA copolymer is its resistance to ultraviolet radiation; it does not cause photodegradation. Thanks to this, acrylic can be painted in different, even bright colors that will not fade over time. In addition, opaque acrylic is a reliable barrier to ultraviolet light photons.
Acrylic is very easy to process and recycle without emitting toxic gases, as is the case with vinyl. When processed, recycled acrylic practically does not lose its properties.

The combination of these properties determines the widespread use of the ACA copolymer. It is used to make exterior plastic parts of cars, housings for household appliances, sports equipment, parts of sea and river vessels, toys, plumbing items and other things. In the recent past, siding has also been made. Obtaining acrylic in the form of an ACA copolymer is a complex and expensive technological operation, which is not available to all chemical concerns. Therefore, this material is much more expensive than PVC. This is its disadvantage. Perhaps the only one.

The most famous manufacturers of ACA copolymer (acrylic) are:

Saudi Arabian company SABIC produces an ASA copolymer under the brand name Geloy ASA.
LG Chemicals of South Korea manufactures this material under the name LG ASA.
BASF in Germany produces an ACA copolymer called Luran S.

All manufacturers of quality acrylic siding purchase raw materials mainly from these companies, as they are of excellent quality.

What is acrylic siding

Now we offer, together with readers, to understand such a concept as acrylic siding. And the first thing I want to say is that 100% acrylic siding simply does not exist. If there was such a thing, it would cost such fabulous money that no one would pay attention to it. Let's take an example. One of the best siding manufacturers is the Canadian company Mitten, which gives a 50-year written warranty on its siding, provided that original components are used. They report absolutely honestly about their siding on their official website, calling it vinyl. True, in the description of their Sentry Mitten collection, which has the richest color gamut, it is indicated that the thickness of the panel is increased to 1.2 mm, and Acrylic Color Technology (a.c.t.) is used for color stabilization and management. That is, acrylic is mentioned, and it is used specifically for coloring and ensuring color fastness. But there is not a single word that the siding is acrylic.

Now let's take one of the leading Russian siding manufacturers - Tecos. In particular, the siding from the Tecos - Ardennes collection, which has the most intense color palette, is very interesting. What is written in the description of this collection on the official website (quote): “Please note that products in Arabica and Burgundy colors are produced using acrylic polymer, which has the highest degree of UV resistance and, thanks to this, additionally protects the color from fading.” By the way, we forgot to inform you that this refers to the section of the site "PVC siding panels". There is simply no such thing as acrylic siding.

If you enter the query “Tecos acrylic siding” in any search engine (any other is possible), then in a split second an impressive list of sellers will be displayed who, without any twinge of conscience, indicate acrylic in the “material” column in the product description of this respected manufacturer. And this despite the fact that the manufacturer gave very correct information about his product. And unfortunately, a lot of sellers sin with such a violation as providing deliberately false information about a product. We decided to go further and find at least one certificate of conformity on the Internet, which would indicate that the siding is acrylic or ASA copolymer. And none were found. Where sellers proudly state that the siding is acrylic and there is a link to certificates, these documents state the following: “PVC wall panels of the Siding type, or just PVC siding. And nothing more.

The manufacturer's website states that this is acrylic siding, and the certificate of conformity says PVC siding. Who to believe?

It turns out that the statement that the siding is completely acrylic is not entirely correct? In other words, are the sellers lying? Yes, in fact it is. But we do not want to upset the readers of our portal and hasten to reassure that the ACA copolymer is really used in the production of colored siding as an outer layer. High-quality siding is painted throughout, including the outer acrylic layer, which itself does not fade under the influence of ultraviolet radiation, and also prevents its penetration into deeper layers. A thin outer layer of painted acrylic is enough to look presentable for decades and protect the full thickness of the panel. Therefore, a good manufacturer pursues a very noble goal - to save the buyer's money. And the name "acrylic" is a marketing ploy of sellers that does not detract from the merits of vinyl siding with an acrylic front layer.

Siding prices

How is acrylic siding produced? Given that both PVC and ACA copolymer are thermoplastic plastics, there is no fundamental difference in their extrusion. The outer layer is acrylic and the inner layer is vinyl. They are connected by co-extrusion, which makes the panel almost monolithic, which under no circumstances will delaminate. What links are included in the technological chain of siding production?

Raw materials (acrylic and vinyl) are melted, each in its own bunker. This is to ensure that the components do not mix until the sheets are formed. And the temperature regime of one polymer may differ slightly from another.
Dyes are introduced into the melts with special dispensers. In high-quality siding, coloring goes throughout the volume, so dyes are added to both PVC and acrylic. At the same stage, other components are introduced into the composition in strict accordance with the technology.
The melt of compounds (thermoplastics) with the help of screws is fed to slotted dies, and PVC has its own die, and ACA copolymer has its own. The dies have strictly calibrated holes, so the sheets come out of the desired thickness. The spinnerets are positioned so that after the formation of the canvases it is possible to lay them one on top of the other while not completely cooled down. This is done to ensure that different materials are reliably "sintered" with each other.

Next, the already formed two-layer canvas, which has not yet been completely cooled, must be given the desired texture and profile. To do this, the canvas first passes through the rollers that form the texture, and then is fed into the sizing mill, where the profile of the future siding is formed. This is done using shafts of the desired shape. The process of rolling through the shafts always goes with lubrication of their surface so as not to damage the workpiece.
The final stage is cutting holes for fasteners and draining condensate, and then cutting a continuous web into segments of the desired size.

We have shown the technological process schematically, in fact it is much more complicated. The siding production equipment is high-tech and automated. It costs a lot of money and requires constant maintenance by highly qualified personnel and periodic replacement. The best manufacturers care about their reputation, so they replace their equipment with a clear regularity. But, of course, they do not throw the old into a landfill, but sell it on the secondary market. And who buys it? Of course, these are other companies that also produce siding. Only their siding will be somewhat different. Therefore, we will never get tired of telling readers that siding should be chosen only from the best manufacturers. Unfortunately, most of them are not domestic.

Video: Siding Extrusion Line

Now we will try to answer the main question that was asked in the article: which siding is actually better - acrylic or vinyl. We use the information that we have read earlier and reduce everything for clarity in a tabular form. We will call the column in the table acrylic siding, but we already know that this is actually a vinyl “brother” with an outer layer of ACA copolymer (acrylic).

Index	Vinyl siding	Acrylic siding
Image
Mechanical strength, wear resistance.	It is at a sufficient level, subject to literacy installation. Also, a lot depends on the percentage of recycled materials in the siding, the presence of additives and modifiers, as well as the manufacturer.	Strength and wear resistance is largely determined by the characteristics of the vinyl base. Acrylic has high strength, elasticity and wear resistance. It also depends a lot on the manufacturer.
Chemical resistance	Inert to water, oils, alkalis, alcohols, technical gases, many acids found in everyday life. It is possible to use synthetic detergents, but only those approved by the manufacturer.	It has a slightly higher chemical resistance than vinyl. The range of detergents allowed for cleaning is wider.
Temperature resistance	It can be operated at temperatures from -40°C to +60°C. At low temperatures it becomes brittle, and at temperatures above +70°C it begins to “float”. Also, this indicator is highly dependent on the manufacturer and the presence of various additives in the composition.	Can be used over a wider temperature range than vinyl, but the overall durability of acrylic-faced siding is largely determined by the properties of the substrate.
Biological stability	High	High
Toxicity	When heated strongly, it begins to release hydrogen chloride. New siding may have an unpleasant odor that quickly dissipates with use.	Not toxic. Even strong heating does not lead to decomposition with the release of toxic components.
Dielectric properties	Does not conduct electricity, but is capable of accumulating static electricity, which leads to "sticking" of dust to the surface. High-quality siding from well-known manufacturers is less prone to the accumulation of static electricity due to the introduced antistatic additives.	Does not conduct electricity. Much less likely to build up static electricity than vinyl siding.
fire safety		Low degree of flammability (G2 group). Does not support combustion. When the source of ignition disappears, it self-extinguishes.
UV resistance	Vinyl is subject to photodegradation, but the use of special additives can slow down this process.	Acrylic is not subject to photodegradation, and its vinyl-based layer is a reliable barrier against the penetration of ultraviolet rays.
Durability	High-quality pastel-colored vinyl siding can last 50 years or more, and brighter shades can last 25-30 years.	The service life of vinyl siding with an acrylic outer layer is longer. This is especially true for samples that have a dark color and bright saturated shades.
Price	It is greatly influenced by the manufacturer and quality of siding. In general, it is significantly less than the more technologically advanced one. For 1 m² of vinyl siding, prices start at about 150 rubles.	More expensive than vinyl siding, but longer life over time eliminates unnecessary costs at a glance. For 1 m² of sideboard with an outer layer of ACA copolymer, prices start at 250 rubles.

The table shows that more technologically advanced siding - with an acrylic front layer, is significantly more expensive. And its main advantage is that there is no photodestruction of the upper layer. Otherwise, the characteristics are very similar in many respects. So is it worth spending extra money when you can get by with a cheaper option? Our set of recommendations will be as follows:

Both manufacturers and designers recommend using siding in soft pastel colors for home decoration. Such cladding will not get bored for a long time and the gradual photodestruction, which is expressed in the appearance of whitishness, will be almost imperceptible. It is known that pastel colors are obtained by adding white to some color. The process of burning out just manifests itself in the addition of white. In this case, the choice should be unequivocal - high-quality vinyl siding from a good manufacturer.
If the owners decide to use siding in dark colors and rich shades in the decoration and want the facade not to fade for a long time, then, of course, the choice should be in favor of siding with an acrylic coating of the front layer. True, at the same time it is necessary to measure the choice with your financial capabilities. The choice should also be only in favor of well-known manufacturers.
If the house that needs to be lined with siding is located in the southern latitudes and is located in a place constantly illuminated by the sun, then the choice in favor of acrylic siding will be fully justified.
If the siding is supposed to be washed frequently using household chemicals, then siding with an acrylic front layer will respond best to this. This may be in those regions where there is a large amount of dust and soot in the air due to natural causes or the location of some industrial facilities nearby.
It happens that when facing houses, a combination of light and dark siding is made to highlight architectural elements and emphasize uniqueness. Then you can buy vinyl siding in light colors, and acrylic siding for dark colors.

Unfortunately, not all domestic manufacturers reach the quality of their European and American counterparts. If in America vinyl siding began to be produced already in the 50s of the XX century, then in the post-Soviet space the traditions of production are far from being so rich. It is possible that the situation will improve over time, because we have learned how to make good pipes and window profiles. We learned how to make paving stones and facing bricks. Once the turn will reach the siding. True, analyzing the messages of the construction and repair forums, one can already find good reviews for Russian siding. We hope that every year there will be more of them.

A brief overview of prices for different types of siding

We felt that the topic of the article would not be fully disclosed without a review of siding prices in various online stores. We will try to consider different manufacturers, and vinyl siding, and with the top layer of ACA copolymer (acrylic).

Name, manufacturer, panel size	Description	Price in rubles (as of March 2017)
Vinyl siding Kaykan (Canada), Prova series. Panel length 3660 mm, working width 230 mm, thickness 1.3 mm.	High quality vinyl siding painted with high quality dyes throughout. There are 15 panel colors available in the series.	250 rub. for 1 panel, 22 pieces per pack.
Vinyl siding Kaykan (Canada), DaVinci series. Panel length 3810 mm, working width 200 mm, thickness 1.1 mm.	Vinyl siding in bright colors. Produced by co-extrusion, the outer layer is made using a special UV-protective compound Duraton. Available in 3 colors: Ivi Green (Green), Midnight Blue (Blue) and Colonial Red (Red).	420 rub. for 1 panel, 24 pieces per pack.
Vinyl siding Mitten (Canada), Oregon Pride series. Panel length 3660 mm, working width 230 mm, thickness 1.02 mm.	High quality vinyl siding painted throughout. The series is available in 14 pastel colors.	369 rub. for 1 panel, 22 pieces per pack.
Vinyl siding Mitten (Canada), Sentry Mitten series. Panel length 3660 mm, working width 230 mm, thickness 1.2 mm.	High quality co-extrusion vinyl siding in vibrant colors. The outer layer uses the exclusive Acrylic Color Technology, which gives the desired color and protects it from UV rays. The series is available in 10 colors.	720 rub. for 1 panel, 22 pieces per pack.
Siding vinyl American Siding (Turkey), Plus series. Panel length 3660 mm, working width 204.70 mm, thickness 1.1 mm.	Vinyl siding available in 10 pastel colors.	150 rub. for 1 panel, 25 pieces per pack.
Siding vinyl American Siding (Turkey), Platin series. Panel length 3660 mm, working width 204.70 mm, thickness 1.1 mm.	Vinyl siding in bright colors. Available in 2 colors: Brick (Tile) and Pine-Green (Pine green).	210 rub. for 1 panel, pack of 25 pcs.
Siding vinyl American Siding (Turkey), Private series. Panel length 3660 mm, working width 204.70 mm, thickness 1.1 mm.	Laminated vinyl siding. Available in 2 colors: Antic Brown (Brown), imitating wood (block house), as well as Paciffic Blue (Blue).	350 rub. for 1 panel, 25 pieces per pack.
Vinyl siding Tecos (Russia), series "Natural wood effect - rounded timber", panel length 3660 mm, working width 203 mm.	High quality vinyl siding imitating timber. It is represented by two types: "Canadian oak" and "Lebanese cedar".	320 rub. for 1 panel, 18 pieces per pack.
Vinyl siding Tecos (Russia), "Ardennes - ship timber", panel length 3660 mm, working width 230 mm, thickness 1.2 mm.	High quality vinyl siding painted in vibrant burgundy.	260 rub. for 1 panel, 18 pieces per pack.
Vinyl siding Alta Profile (Russia), Canada Plus series, panel length 3660 mm, working width 230 mm, thickness 1 mm.	Vinyl siding with an ACA copolymer outer layer. Presented in 12 colors.	250 rub. for 1 panel, 20 pieces per pack.

The choice of siding is huge and the above table does not reflect even a hundredth of what can be found on the building materials market. In any case, in each individual region, some types of siding will be available, but others will not be available. Or you will have to order in advance and wait for a while. The main thing is to make a choice, and this is very difficult.

Conclusion

Despite its high price, siding with an ACA copolymer (acrylic) coating in the front layer is still actively moving into the market. Every year its share in the total number is growing. But, as we have already found out in the article, its use must be reasonable and economically justified. We, as consumers, should be pleased that more and more manufacturers are using new technologies in their products. It still affects the price, and in our favor.

And finally, it's time to answer the main question of the article: which siding is better - acrylic or vinyl? And perhaps the best answer is that the best is the siding that lined the facade of your house!

Video: How to choose vinyl siding. Pros and cons of finishing material

Video: How to choose siding

Wizard's advice

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So that the oil paint does not dry out during storage and that a film does not form on it, place a mug of thick paper on the surface of the paint and fill it with a thin layer of drying oil.

"The polyethylene film covering the balcony or greenhouse will be protected from breaking by the wind of the string, stretched on both sides at intervals of 10-15 cm."

"To make it easier to work with the concrete mixture, clay is usually added to it, but clay reduces the strength of the mixture. Add a spoonful of washing powder to it at the rate of a bucket of water."

"So that the screw, the head of which is hidden behind the barrier, does not rotate with the tightened nut, you need to throw several turns of thread or thin wire on it and slightly tighten the ends. Due to friction, the screw is well held in place. The ends of the thread can be cut off after tightening. "

"It is possible to cut a birdhouse notch without a brace. It is enough to split the front side of the board in the center and cut half-holes of the required size with a chisel or hatchet, and then reconnect the halves."

Wooden plugs for screws crumble and fall out of the wall. Do not rush to cut a new cork. Stuff the hole in the wall tightly with nylon from an old stocking. With a red-hot nail of a suitable diameter, melt a hole for the screw. Ra fused capron will turn into a solid cork.

" A carpenter's level can easily be turned into a theodolite by providing it with a sighting device from a slot and a front sight. "

"In order for two strips of linoleum to lie end-to-end, it is convenient to use a self-adhesive decorative film, placing it under the base of the linoleum."

"In order for the nail to go in the right direction and not bend when driven into a deep hole or groove, place it inside the tube, fixing it with crumpled paper or plasticine."

Before you gouge a hole in a concrete wall, secure a piece of paper just below. Dust and fragments of concrete will not fly around the room.

"To cut the pipe exactly at a right angle, we advise you to do this. Take an even strip of paper and screw it onto the pipe along the sawing line. The plane passing through the edge of the paper will be strictly perpendicular to the axis of the pipe."

"Turning logs or wooden beams will help a simple device - a piece of a motorcycle or bicycle chain, supplemented with a hook on one side and attached to a crowbar on the other side."

"In order to be able to work with a two-handed saw alone, we recommend using a simple trick: move the saw handle from the top position to the bottom. "

You can cut a piece of slate of the required size with a saw, but it is better and easier to punch holes with a frequency of 2-3 cm along the line of the intended cut with a nail, and then break off the slate on the support.

" The best way to glue a tile to a wall is to take some bitumen, melt it and put just four drops on the corners of the tile. It sticks on dead."

Shaped holes in the manufacture of figured window frames are most conveniently cut with a hacksaw with a turned blade.

"Making stained-glass windows is a long and difficult task. You can make a quick imitation of a stained-glass window. To do this, they take thin slats or rods of a vine, glue them to a sheet of glass, and then paint the glass and varnish it."

"If there is no dowel at hand, it can be made from a piece of plastic tube. The body of a ballpoint pen may also be suitable for this. Having sawed off a piece of the desired length, make a longitudinal incision, about halfway, and the dowel is ready. "

" It is known how difficult it is to hang a door when working alone. But it is enough to shorten the bottom pin by 2-3 mm and it will become much easier to work. "

"A very strong, non-shrinking and sufficiently waterproof putty is obtained from bustilate mixed with any powder - chalk, gypsum, cement!, sawdust, etc."

"If you need to screw a screw into the end of a chipboard, drill a hole slightly smaller than the diameter of the screw, fill the hole with Moment glue (but not epoxy!), Screw the screw in a day. The plate does not delaminate. However, the resulting connection can only be put under load through day. "

"It is more convenient to fix portraits, photographs, paintings in wooden frames with glass not with carnations, but with pushpins bent at right angles. The buttons are gently pressed with a screwdriver. Compared to nails, the danger of splitting thin frames is reduced to a minimum."

"It is not so easy to wrap a screw in hard wood. If you prick a hole for the screw with an awl, and rub the screw liberally with soap, then after such an operation the work will go like clockwork."

To save time, the edge of the wallpaper can be trimmed with a sharp knife without unrolling the roll. To do this, you must first align the end of the roll and with a simple pencil circle the border of the Edge from the outside. Working with a knife, the roll must be gradually turned in the direction of folding.

For carrying large sheets of plywood, glass or thin iron at home, it is convenient to use a wire holder with three hooks at the bottom and a handle at the top.

IF you need to cut a round stick into the distance, this work is most conveniently done using a template. It is made of a metal tube with a groove in the middle. The diameter is chosen so that the template slides freely on the stick.

It will become easier to work with a hacksaw if in its middle part it is increased by 1/3 of the height of the teeth.

If you attach a weight of about a kilogram to the front of the bow saw machine, it will become easier to work. The load must be made removable so that the saw can be used to perform other work.

" A waxy finish can be obtained by painting the surface with diluted PVA glue. To get the desired color, you need to dilute the glue with water tinted with watercolor. "

"Making a cover for an ax blade is as easy as shelling pears. A piece of rubber tube is taken, cut lengthwise and put on the blade. A ring cut from an old car camera protects it from jumping off."

"A linen cord will help to do without clamps when gluing wooden frames. Put four short loops on the corners of the frame and pull the frames diagonally with two long loops. The corners are adjusted using sticks that twist the middle loops."

"How to silence a creaking floorboard? Between the floorboards, you need to drill a hole at an angle of 45 ° with a diameter of 6-8 mm, drive a wooden pin into it, smeared with wood glue, cut off the protruding end with a chisel and putty the floor surface. "

"To make it easier to scrape a floor covered with varnish or paint, iron it through a damp cloth - and it will become easier to work."

"Slight decay on wood can be eliminated as follows: the affected wood is removed from the healthy layer, and then impregnated with a 10% formalin solution. After drying, the area is puttied and painted over."

"Door hinges will not creak if they are lubricated in time - this is a long-known rule. But you can do without lubrication. To do this, you need to make a washer from a polyethylene cork and put it on the hinge pin."

"A failed door latch due to a broken spring can be repaired as follows: the role of a spring will be successfully performed by a piece of rubber tube with a diameter of 15 mm or a piece of elastic rubber installed between the bolt and the latch bodies. "

We offer a simple device for fixing the window frame in the open position: a wooden or plastic plate, in which a number of holes for the latch are drilled. The plate is fastened to the window frame with a screw.

"You can cut a large hole in a sheet material in a simple way: clamp a nail (it will serve as an axis) and a piece of a drill (this will be a cutter) in a vise. The circle is cut by rotating the sheet around the axis."

Until recently, siding was an inexpensive option for finishing the facade for unpretentious owners of summer cottages, non-residential premises, and office buildings. Today there are many who want to choose this material for the facade of the house. It is used alone or in combination with other finishing materials on the facades of private houses.

What kind of material is it, what kind of siding is better for cladding a house, what are its advantages, disadvantages, what varieties are on sale. All this is worth knowing before you make a purchase.

modern siding

Vinyl siding and later metal (steel, aluminum) siding is a finishing material for cladding the facade of buildings, which was first used in the 50s of the twentieth century in the United States of America. Siding came to Europe in the 90s, but eventually became popular.

Initially, siding was most often present on the market in the form of white plastic panels, which are the cheapest option for facade cladding. Plastic panels quickly gained a reputation as a masking material for old buildings, facades partially "eaten" by time, requiring repair. They hid any flaws in the plaster, allowing you to quickly give the facade a well-groomed look. However, plastic siding has both gone in and out of fashion quickly, helped by the small range available on the market.

The siding was made from modified PVC plates, supplemented during the production process:

titanium oxide,
stabilizers,
plasticizers.

Additives improve the quality of the siding material:

increased strength,
increased resistance to changing atmospheric conditions,
provide color stability.

The panels were produced by hot joining two layers:

the top layer was painted in light colors, sometimes decorated with various types of stamping, texture patterns,
the inner layer served as a rigid structure.

Currently, this method of finishing the facades of buildings is again becoming popular. This is because in addition to cheap white PVC panels, today there is a choice of other materials and solutions that are more attractive to potential buyers.

Advantages

Flaws

Low aesthetics- this is an artificial material, an imitation of a real tree, which is often striking.
Flammability- siding is not resistant to fire, can act as a dangerous factor in the event of a fire. Some manufacturers offer non-combustible panels, but you should pay special attention to confirming certificates.

Types of siding

The inner structural layer today is not necessarily modified with a PVC plate. In addition to this, you can choose:

composite with the addition of wood (WPC);
wood;
metal.

Siding for home decoration is single or double. There is also foam siding, which has several advantages:

greater resistance to weather conditions;
low thermal expansion;
the ability to better sound insulation compared to conventional types of panels.

Depending on the model, the panels have the following dimensions:

length 3 - 6 m,
width ranges from 20 to 40 cm.

Some manufacturers offer siding complete with connectors, skirting boards to facilitate installation. If some of the panels are damaged or there is a desire to update the facade, you can easily replace them with new ones.

How to choose siding?

The following factors should be considered before making a purchase decision:

A photo. Vinyl siding Timber Trend

Vinyl, metal or acrylic?

Different types of siding have their supporters. Panels made of acrylic, vinyl, metal will effectively protect the external walls of the building from wind, sun, rain, and give the facade an aesthetic appearance. Skillfully coordinated with the nature and shape of the building, it can act as an alternative to plaster. Which is better - vinyl, metal or acrylic? Let's take a closer look at these types of skins.

Vinyl panels are durable, do not require special care, maintenance. Such material is made of two layers of PVC, its advantages:

durable;
high-quality panels retain color stability;
resistant to weather conditions;
resistant to sunlight, rain, frost.

Manufacturers offer vinyl sheathing in many colors. Most often it is light, pastel shades. Panels are smooth or semi-matt. Most options are embossed to mimic the texture:

wood,
tiles,
wood chips,
stone,
mineral plaster.

Wall vinyl panels have a thickness of 1-1.2 mm, this coating is quite light (1 m² of cladding weighs about 2 kg). This thickness is sufficient to ensure adequate stability of the facades.

metal panels

Metal panels are similar to vinyl but have structural differences. Metal siding is made from:

galvanized steel;
aluminum;
Can be made to order panels from copper sheet.

The surface of metal panels is usually covered with:

acrylic paints,
polyester,
plastisol.

Metal panels can be installed horizontally and vertically. They do not have holes for nails, pins, they are fastened with fasteners (hooks).

Which siding is better metal or vinyl? Consider the advantages and disadvantages of vinyl and metal panels in comparison.

metal siding is stronger than vinyl;
metal panels are more durable;
metal is resistant to fire;
the cost of metal panels is almost twice as high as vinyl.

What heater to choose?

Siding can be laid directly on the walls - on wooden planks attached with dowels. It is possible to lay insulating material between the elements:

polystyrene,
mineral wool.

What is the best heater?

First you should consider which method of mounting the skin is chosen:

dry - nails, screws;
wet - on glue, mortar.

Under siding, a light dry method is usually used. The dry method is quite simple, affordable, it is advisable to use it for self-plating and insulation. If the dry method is chosen, the insulation is made without the use of adhesives, mortars, and other materials containing water. All layers are attached mechanically using nails, screws, paper clips. This method involves laying thermal insulation on the walls, between the structure of the lamellas on which the siding is attached.

Mineral wool

As a heater for siding, a mineral wool slab is most often used. These are soft elastic plates that fill the space between the elements of the supporting structure for facade panels.

Properties of mineral wool:

Mineral wool - a vapor-permeable product, gives the walls the opportunity to "breathe", letting water vapor out.
Does not absorb moisture from the air.
Easy installation.
Due to the elasticity of the mineral wool, it will densely fill the insulated space.
It is classified as a non-combustible material (class of reaction to fire - A1), the use of mineral wool increases the safety of the insulated object.
The low heat transfer coefficient guarantees good thermal properties. For example, for PANELROCK mineral wool, the heat transfer coefficient is 0.036 [W / m ∙ K].
The mineral wool slab has a thickness of 10-15cm. The plate is not glued to the wall, it is located between a wooden or metal grate, so surface preparation is not required. The grate is attached to the load-bearing wall with metal fasteners.

The plates are laid tightly in one layer, fastened with connectors. Leave a ventilation gap of about 1.5 cm between the insulation and the vertical siding.
To ensure the effectiveness of thermal insulation, the next step is to perform wind insulation. The insulation must be made of polyethylene film with high vapor permeability (1300 g/m²/24 hours).

Polystyrene

Polystyrene can be installed as thermal insulation. However, even the precise laying of rigid thermal insulation boards between the planks of the wooden lattice can be complicated by the creation of thermal bridges. But even in this case, there are effective solutions.

Siding captured the market in the 90s of the last century, but then it was quickly replaced by more modern solutions. Now it is back in fashion. Increasingly, there are unusual, original ways of finishing, giving the buildings an aesthetic appearance. This durable, weather-resistant façade can be used for many years without the need for repair. Modern siding has great aesthetic value. "Dry" technology allows you to mount the panels throughout the year, regardless of weather conditions.

The technical parameters of modern siding from leading manufacturers have been verified by extensive tests. The check includes:

impact strength,
shrinkage
color uniformity,
shine,
flexibility at low temperatures,
thickness of the outer layer.

The resulting final product is characterized by high quality, has a guarantee of up to 50 years.
The facade of the siding does not rot like wood, does not rust like metal. The shape and design guarantees the tightness of the connection, the absence of moisture inside, allowing the walls to "breathe".

Modern siding - photo