If you follow the home improvement industry closely, you’re probably aware that insulated vinyl siding is the king of exterior materials. In fact, a recent survey by the Hartnett Group confirmed this, asking 100 homeowners which siding they would purchase for remodeling their home, and which they would use for either a remodeling job or new home construction.

The results showed that insulated vinyl siding was the most popular choice for a home remodel, placing first with 50 percent of participants picking it. For either a home remodel or a new home construction, it placed second behind brick with 68 percent of participants choosing it.

However, despite its popularity, many homeowners are unaware of what to look for when purchasing new insulated vinyl siding. Because of this, they end up with a home exterior that is vulnerable to decay and color fade, and less energy efficient.  

When shopping for insulated vinyl siding, a homeowner should solely purchase products certified by Vinyl Siding Institute of America (VSI). For starters, it holds color. Regardless of how extreme the weather is or how heavily the sun beats on VSI-certified siding, its color remains full and vibrant. The last thing you want is for your home to end up like the one in the below images.


This homeowner didn’t choose a product with Color Hold protection, a feature found in all VSI-certified products. As a result, the light blue color of their house has faded in several areas, severely hindering the aesthetic appeal of the structure.

Another benefit to VSI-certified siding is it’s protected against rot and decay. Its polymer base does not absorb water and its rainscreening design ensures moisture isn’t trapped behind it. Because of this, you need not worry about the degradation of your home exterior.

Additionally, all VSI-certified siding is incredible energy efficient. It blankets your home in continuous insulation, trapping heat inside during winter and keeping the cold air out.


So how do you know whether a product is VSI certified or not? The easiest way to do so is by going to the following url:

http://www.archtest.com/vsi/


From there, all you need to do is search the product, company or brand in question, and the results will tell you whether or not it’s VSI certified.

Despite their high quality, many people stray away from VSI-certified products because they tend to be more expensive than others. When making your purchase, remember that the amount you’re paying up front is far less than what you will pay once you need to replace your siding in a few years.

At Midwest Construction, all of our siding options are certified by the Vinyl Siding Institute of America, making us a VSI-certified Gold Installer. To learn more about the benefits of fortifying your home’s exterior with our quality siding options, give us a call or fill out our online quote form to schedule a free consultation!