The house contains many components that all work together to provide an aesthetically pleasing protective barrier between you and the outside world. While everything works in concert with each other, one of the most important elements is the siding material chosen for the house. Many siding options are popular, but vinyl siding has been one of the most widespread materials used in homes across the United States.

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Vinyl siding was introduced in the s, and steady improvements to the material and its production have made it the siding of choice. The overwhelming preference for vinyl over the years is due to its well-made construction, low maintenance needs, and above all&#;its lower overall cost.

However, there is another option that is rapidly growing in popularity. This option is simply known as insulated vinyl siding. Insulated vinyl siding was first introduced back in and has gained traction with homeowners thanks to its purported benefits and more rigid construction. Despite its popularity, this option is less understood than the traditional vinyl siding. In this article, your preferred Kansas City expert home remodelers at Smart Exteriors will reveal some of the important issues homeowners should know before choosing insulated foam-backed siding for their siding replacement or new installation.

What&#;s the Difference?

While at its core, insulated siding is the same as traditional vinyl siding, and it&#;s still made through the utilization of two PVC layers for continuous extrusion. Where the difference lies is in the additional step of the fabrication process. After the regular panel is made, the panel is reinforced with solid, rigid-foam insulation attached to the back of the panel to increase its insulating capability.

Why Insulated Siding is Popular

The rise in the popularity of insulated siding can be attributed to a few factors. The first factor is simply the fact that vinyl siding itself is popular. To an extent, this created a built-in consumer base. However, there are a couple of very specific reasons for the rise of the insulated siding as a popular choice for homeowners. These reasons include:

• Consumer Demand: Back in the 70s and 80s, wood was the primary siding material used thanks to its durability and insulating ability. The problem is that wood siding is high maintenance and expensive. This resulted in a demand for siding that was lower maintenance yet still durable and most of all cost-effective. While the solution began with vinyl siding, the development of insulated vinyl siding is being heralded as the ultimate solution.
• The Onset of Energy Efficiency: Going green, lowering energy bills, reducing your carbon footprint&#;however you see it, today&#;s newest trend in home remodeling and construction is to modernize the home with truly energy-efficient products and features. Insulated siding is reported to offer an R-value of R-2 to R-5. This is a step up from traditional vinyl siding, and it&#;s on-trend. In light of this, it&#;s not surprising that insulated siding has grown in popularity.

In addition to these specific reasons, it also helps that there are a number of color, texture, and style options available for homeowners making it easy to develop a new style for the home.

The Benefits of Insulated Siding

At this point, we know why insulated siding is popular, but let&#;s take a moment to explore the actual benefits of insulated siding so we can help you to determine whether this relatively new option lives up to the hype.

• Energy Savings: Let&#;s start with the first reason people think of it. It&#;s true this option delivers improved energy efficiency. For houses in colder climates, the insulated option really shines when it comes to its performance. Add an already insulated house and you have a more energy-efficient house.
• Noise Reduction: The addition of insulation to the vinyl panel creates an excellent source of noise reduction. While new windows can accomplish this as well, the truth is that insulated siding takes this benefit much further than windows on their own. If you don&#;t like hearing everything that goes on outside the house, then this is the siding for you.
• Greater Durability: Normally, vinyl siding can&#;t handle extreme cold or extreme heat. This is because it becomes brittle in the cold and melts/warps in the heat. With the added insulation, this concern is greatly reduced if not nullified.
• Pest Control: The insulation actually acts as an additional layer of protection against pests such as termites and other bugs. However, vinyl siding is naturally resistant to pests anyway.

The Downsides to Insulated Siding

Just because there are some legitimate benefits to insulated vinyl siding, that doesn&#;t mean that it comes without its own set of downsides. Some of the most prevalent cons of insulated siding include:

• Cost: Compared to traditional vinyl siding, this option is not cheap. In fact, the cost is quite a bit higher. Most homeowners see an increase in the cost of 50%-100% when they select insulated siding over traditional siding. While the installation process is similar to traditional vinyl installation, the labor costs are higher as well. This is largely due to the panels being thicker, which requires more effort to cut. Plus, the panels must be installed perfectly. One incorrectly installed panel compromises the entire installation, which translates to needing an installer that is trained and experienced with insulated siding specifically.
• Expansion & Contraction: The siding and the insulation expand and contract with freezing and thawing at different rates. Having the insulation glued to the back of the siding creates many problems including buckling, breaking, leaking issues.
• Trickier Installation: It&#;s true that the overall process is similar. That doesn&#;t mean it&#;s the same. Installing insulated siding requires additional steps and tools. To start, table saws or handsaws are required just to cut the panels. Normal siding only requires hand snips. For the installation itself, preparation around the doors, windows, and other openings is required before installation can begin. This is basically to accommodate the thickness of the insulated panels. Shipping and delivery of the pieces are trickier as well since it takes twice as many boxes to ship everything. This can effectively delay the project start date if it occurs.

Consider Premium Vinyl

Some homeowners may not have the budget for insulated siding, or they are turned off by the main disadvantages of insulated siding but still want something stronger than traditional vinyl.

In this case, the best compromise is premium vinyl siding. Premium vinyl siding is considered a step up from regular vinyl siding. The reasons for this are as follows:

• More wood-like appearance
• Thicker than regular vinyl
• Stronger and more durable
• A longer lifespan
• Customization options

In addition to these benefits, premium vinyl siding is generally cheaper than insulated siding while still offering some insulation benefits. The best thing you can do is work with a qualified siding contractor who can help you determine the exact siding you need for your new home and budget.

If you&#;re ready to check out siding options, give us a call to speak with one of our agents about our siding installation services or fill out our online form to schedule your free, in-home assessment.

As the inventors of insulated vinyl siding (also known as foam backed siding), you may be surprised to hear us say that insulated vinyl siding isn&#;t for everyone. As much as we think insulated vinyl siding is the best product for most applications, there may be some situations where other products could be a better fit. We want to make sure you have accurate information at your fingertips to make the best decision for your project. This post was written to discuss vinyl siding vs. insulated vinyl siding 

Vinyl Siding vs. Insulated Vinyl Siding

If you&#;re considering vinyl siding, you can choose between insulated vinyl siding and non-insulated vinyl siding. Let&#;s go through how these two siding types compare in the following categories:

• Cost

• Appearance

• Energy Savings

• Installation

• Durability

• Moisture Management

• Resale Value

Cost (initial and lifetime)

There are many factors that can impact the initial cost of vinyl siding, depending on what features and benefits you select.

For instance, the location and size of your home, the number of windows and doors that must be worked around, lighter shades or premium dark colors, which accent trim will be used, and much more can change the price, all of which we will discuss more in the paragraphs below. Whether you install it yourself or use a qualified contractor with trained crews, insurance, and more can also impact the job cost.

Insulated vinyl siding costs anywhere from $4.00 - $12.00 per square foot installed, although some projects might fall outside of this range. In general, insulated vinyl siding is going to be more expensive than non-insulated vinyl siding simply because there is more material in the product, it is bulkier and therefore more expensive to ship, and it can require additional steps for installation. Insulated vinyl siding also comes in more premium colors and profiles to create a beautiful exterior, but that makes it more expensive to manufacture.

Luckily insulated and non-insulated vinyl siding are both the lowest maintenance siding products available on the market today, reducing their lifetime costs compared to other products. While sidings like fiber cement and wood require regular scraping, painting, and caulking, vinyl siding only requires an occasional cleaning with a standard scrub brush, soap, and water from the house.

Insulated vinyl siding is the only product that can reduce utility bills through energy savings, reducing its total cost over time. And because it helps protect the home from impact damage (read more below), it can reduce the number of repairs that must be done to the siding over time.

For more information on cost, check out our article Insulated Vinyl Siding Cost: A Guide to Pricing, Estimates, and ROI >

Winner: Non-Insulated Vinyl Siding (initial cost), Insulated Vinyl Siding (lifetime cost)

Appearance

Considering exterior walls are a huge part of the curb appeal of a home, replacing old, worn out siding is a great way to significantly improve appearance almost instantly. Dark, bold colors like navy blue, barn red, and even charcoal have become very popular in recent years, adding a rich pop of color to homes.

Whether you want your house to stand out on the block or blend into the surroundings, there are tons of options, whether using insulated or non-insulated vinyl siding. However, there are some differences in the appearance of these products.

For starters, insulated vinyl siding features contoured foam that provides support to the siding panel. This added support allows vinyl siding manufacturers to not only make products in the dark, rich colors that previously struggled with extreme temperatures from the sun, but also in wider, flatter profiles than ever before. The supportive foam helps maintain sharp, crisp profile lines that best emulate the appearance of real wood.

The foam insulation also helps level the wall under new siding. Homes settle and walls shift over time, creating imperfections that can be seen through thin siding products. By adding a cushioning layer of insulation, insulated vinyl siding can help eliminate the appearance of imperfect walls.

Finally, contoured foam insulation helps protect insulated vinyl siding from impact damage. Traditional, non-insulated vinyl siding creates a hollow void between the siding and the wall, leaving the panel susceptible to impact damage from baseballs, rocks thrown from lawnmowers, or other projectiles.

By significantly increasing impact resistance, insulated vinyl siding will protect a home from damage and maintain the beautiful like-new appearance for many years.

Winner: Insulated Vinyl Siding

Energy Savings & Comfort

It&#;s safe to assume that an insulated vinyl siding product is going to provide more energy savings over time than vinyl siding without any insulation. In fact, third party studies show that an existing 2-story home without cavity insulation can reduce heating and cooling costs by an average of 14.2% by adding insulated vinyl siding.

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Even if you have pink insulation in your walls, you are still losing energy through a process called thermal bridging. The U.S. Department of Energy recommends insulation to be installed on the outside of a home when new siding is installed.

Check out our previous article, Is Insulated Vinyl Siding Right for You?, to learn more about this energy loss and how insulated vinyl siding helps reduce utility bills.

Aside from monetary savings, you can also improve the comfort level of a home by adding insulation to new siding. Are there rooms in your home that are too cold to enjoy in the winter, or too hot and uncomfortable in the summer?

Adding insulated siding is like wrapping the whole home in a blanket that helps keep heat inside in the winter, outside in the summer, and money in the bank all year.

Winner: Insulated Vinyl Siding

Installation

Installing insulated vinyl siding is not a far departure from non-insulated siding for those that are experienced. However, the additional thickness of the insulation adhered to the siding does create some challenges that must be understood prior to installation.

While traditional vinyl siding can be cut with a pair of hand snips, it is best practice to cut insulated vinyl siding with a saw. You must use a fine tooth blade or a siding specific blade, installed backwards in the saw to help prevent chipping or cracking while cutting.

The trickiest part of installing insulated vinyl siding is trimming out windows, doors, and other openings. Special accessories with larger receiving pockets are required to accept the full thickness of the siding and the foam. Sometimes the trim around the wall must be built out prior to the siding being installed to accommodate the insulation component.

Although an experienced siding installer will be able to easily to transition to insulated vinyl siding after one or two jobs, it is important to pay attention to the details and spend time understanding the required accessories and prep work.

Winner: Non-Insulated Vinyl Siding

Durability

Over the years, traditional vinyl siding has acquired a reputation for not being the most durable siding option available on the market. Many advancements have been made in the manufacturing of vinyl siding to improve it&#;s durability and resistance to ailments like fading, cracking, and warping.

Although vinyl siding serves as a great barrier between your home and mother nature, the hollow void created between the siding and the wall still leaves the panel susceptible to damage. Take a look around your neighborhood and you&#;ll probably be able to find signs of vinyl that has been damaged from hail, rocks thrown from the lawnmower, the neighbor&#;s baseball, and more. Vinyl siding has many benefits such as low maintenance, long-lasting life, and affordability, but resistance to impact has not been it&#;s strongest feature.

That is, until insulated vinyl siding came into the market in the &#;s. By adding a layer of contoured foam insulation that completely fills the gap between the siding and the wall, the impact of the panel significantly improved. The foam insulation and vinyl siding are permanently adhered together, creating one complete, durable panel.

Many torture tests have been done on insulated vinyl siding to show the significantly improved impact resistance of insulated vinyl siding. Check out this high speed video showing an ice ball shot from a cannon at traditional vinyl siding, then insulated vinyl siding.

If that weren&#;t enough, the foam component of insulated vinyl siding features a built-in insecticide which is safe for people and pets, but protects the foam from termite damage. If your home has any termites burrowing into the foam looking for shelter, they will be killed by trying to bite the foam. Just another layer of protection for the siding and your home.

Winner: Insulated Vinyl Siding

ReSale Value

When making a major improvement to your home, such as having new siding installed, you want to be sure it improves the value of your property, and that if the time comes to sell your home, you will get more from it.

Every year Remodeling Magazine puts out a report stating how much a homeowner can expect to recoup from their investment in new siding. According to the study, 76.4% of siding replacement costs are recouped, which is significantly higher than a major kitchen remodel at 65.3%, roof replacement at 68.8%, and even a window replacement at 73.9%. As an example, if you spend $20,000 on a siding replacement, you can expect to recoup $15,280, leaving the true cost of your siding around $4,720.

The final factor to consider when calculating return on investment is long term energy savings. By installing traditional vinyl siding without insulation, you will never gain money back over time.

With insulated vinyl siding, the average 2-story home without cavity insulation experiences an average savings of 14.2% on heating and cooling costs. Let&#;s say you&#;re spending $250 per month on heating and cooling. If your home is similar to the test house, you could be saving $425 per year, every year you are in the home. This reduced utility cost can also make your home more appealing to potential buyers in the future.

It&#;s also important to make sure the siding you select will maintain its appearance until the time comes to sell your home. If you select the cheapest vinyl siding that cracks, dents, or fades over time, it&#;s likely you won&#;t recoup the full 76.4% anticipated by Remodeling Magazine. You need to be sure to have a product on your home that will look as good as the day it was installed.

Winner: Depends on your situation; Non-Insulated Vinyl Siding can provide a quick return on investment, but Insulated Vinyl Siding can have a better ROI if you&#;re staying in the home for awhile.

Final Thoughts

Non-Insulated Vinyl Siding Works Well If You:

To tie it all together, non-insulated vinyl siding tends to work well if you...

• Have a lower budget for the siding project

• Aren&#;t concerned about the long term appearance / durability of the siding, like when flipping a home for quick sale

• Plan to install it yourself but have limited installation experience

Insulated Vinyl Siding Works Well If You:

On the other hand, insulated vinyl siding works well if you...

• Plan to stay in the home and want to protect it from impact or other sources of damage.

• Have some room in your budget to pay for the energy saving insulation up front and earn it back with reduced utility bills.

• Understand the additional installation steps required to do a quality insulated vinyl siding installation

Need help deciding is Insulated Vinyl Siding is right for you? Check out this article to see if you can benefit from selecting insulated vinyl siding for your specific project.

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