"After speaking with you personally for the first time, I was 100% convinced that I had finally found the right company to trust and use"...

"Mr. Kanakis, you and your staff have exceeded my expectations by far, throughout my entire ordeal.  I'm so thankful for all of your assistance and expertise that you have so kindly and professionally shared"

Joyce Cohen -
Manhattan, New York

In North Carolina is a small village known as Pinehurst that attracts thousands of visitors each year, one street in particular draws these visitors:  Carolina Vista Drive, because of the buildings that line the street, which still reflect the look and architecture of the early 20^th century--and yet all buildings are in a pristine condition.  Especially noteworthy is The Carolina, a hotel that is striking in its beauty and 1900s charm.  You'd never guess that the primary part of the beauty comes from the fact that it is covered on the exterior with vinyl siding.

That's right:  vinyl siding, a staple of 21^st century homes, has proven itself a worthy covering for even the most distinguished structures.  Vinyl siding has been selected often because it does an outstanding job at preserving the structure (something that's important for historic sites such as The Carolina).  But it's also selected because, done right, vinyl siding can be made to be quite beautiful.

Indeed, it's not just historical establishments, but many home remodelers are discovering more and more the benefits of using vinyl siding for their client's homes and other buildings. Vinyl is available in a wide range of colors, with more than 200 certified as able to resist color changes in many different climates.  So the idea of vinyl meaning plain, and white, is largely false--although even white can be quite striking.

Vinyl siding is certainly not new in the 21^st century.  It was the 1960s when it was originally introduced into the exterior cladding market.  Over the ensuing decades, its popularity steadily grew because of its versatility, durability and because it's easily maintained.

Vinyl siding is made primarily with polyvinyl chloride, or PVC, which gives the siding its rigidity and strength. PVC begins with two primary building blocks: 43 percent ethylene and 57 percent chlorine.

Across North America, vinyl siding has become the top choice for exterior cladding. Indeed, according to recent numbers from the U.S. Census Bureau, there are twice as many people who use vinyl on their houses than those who use any other material.

There are lots of reasons for this, of course.  For one, it's often said that if you install vinyl siding, you'll never again have to paint your house.  While this might be a slight exaggeration, there's no disputing that vinyl will keep the paint roller out of your hands for a lot longer than other cladding materials.

One thing that's making vinyl more popular is that, today, it can simulate wood quite effectively.  There are types of vinyl that mimic wood details with amazing accuracy.

Another popular aspect of vinyl siding:  its durability.  In fact, one of the most commonly cited reasons for using vinyl siding is because it is so durable and long lasting.  Vinyl siding can withstand just about any kind of external weather conditions, and if it's installed correctly, there won't be any major damage from the outside conditions. Better still, newer vinyl is stronger than ever before, and it cracks less often, because it's not as brittle.  And it's not just the wind and rain that have little effect on today's vinyl siding.  The sunlight too, which might take its toll on other cladding, does little damage to vinyl siding, and does not cause it to fade.

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Vinyl siding is also pretty much maintenance-free.  You'll likely never have a need to paint it, and as mentioned, the elements will not cause it to fade. The primary maintenance that will be needed is the need for it to be washed a couple of times a year.

Vinyl siding has a new look year after year. If moisture becomes an issue, you will need to re-caulk the joints between the siding and trim.

Cost Effective: Over the long term, vinyl siding can be cost effective. Siding is much more inexpensive than repainting and repairing wood on a home. The initial cost of vinyl siding will vary depending on the size of the home and the quality of the siding.

Vinyl siding comes in many grains and thickness that will affect the total cost. Most also agree that vinyl siding will reduce energy bills by serving as an extra layer of insulation.

Looks: Vinyl siding comes in many grains and colors to suit most homes. The good news about newer siding is that the color is baked through the vinyl instead of applied. This means that the color stays true over a long period of time and will not show scratches or small imperfections.

While vinyl siding is becoming more popular, there are many misconceptions about siding. Some of those misconceptions are that siding is indestructible and maintenance free. This is not always true. There are some precautions to be aware of before choosing vinyl siding.

What is vinyl siding?
It's a second skin for your house: long strips of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) fashioned to look like traditional wood siding.

Do I need to remove my current siding first?
You can do this, but for renovation projects installers often install it over existing siding.

Vinyl siding just comes in beige or wimpy pastel colors, right?
Traditionally, this has been the case. More recently, though, techniques have been developed to infuse vinyl siding with richer, deeper colors.

Does it last forever?  No. Nothing applied to a house exterior can be expected to last for decades. The color in vinyl siding does retain for quite a long time, though. Compared to traditional exterior house paint, the color in your vinyl siding will last much, much longer.

But isn't vinyl siding tacky?
In recent years, vinyl siding manufacturers have really stepped up to the plate to offer much more than the "plain vanilla" product we have become accustomed to. Even old homes can be sided with vinyl and retain their historic appeal. Really. It's worth investigating.

Will high winds rip off vinyl siding?
Most siding installation is rated for winds up to 110 mph. If wind does rip it off, note that vinyl siding is much easier to re-install and or repair than other types of siding.

What does it mean when the salesperson talks about a "square?"
A square is 100 square feet of siding (10 feet by 10 feet). Individual square footage is not used.

I hate power washers. Do I have to use one to clean vinyl siding?
No. Actually, you're better off with less water pressure. Just use a garden hose, a soft-bristled brush, and diluted solutions of Fantastik or Windex. Solutions of vinegar (30%) and water (70%) will also do the job.

It's the cheapest siding option around. Try this test. Get a quote for having your house professionally painted. Chances are, the vinyl siding installation quote will come quite close, if not better. And with vinyl siding, depending on the installer, you might get a lot of extras thrown in--gutters, window cap, insulation under the siding, etc.

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