Vinyl siding and assumption

[sputnam]

I was taught early on that when I see vinyl siding, property owner is hiding something behind. That's still my initial view when I first see vinyl siding.

Sometimes all they are hiding is that they got tired of painting.

 

[J Grant]

Just comment that the condition under vinyl siding unknown as it was not visible and a home inspection is recommended.

Often, other visible aspects of the home might give a clue to the condition under the siding - overall neglect, old soffits, and peeling wood around windows or door frames. People who maintain a house tend to maintain it overall and people who neglect a house tend to neglect it overall. And siding quality and installation vary from good quality to thin and cheap - another clue.

 

[Airstream]

I was taught early on that when I see vinyl siding, property owner is hiding something behind. That's still my initial view when I first see vinyl siding.

Yep. It hides OSB and tyvek

 

[Terrel L. Shields]

Vinyl siding here is popular. It is cheap and durable. It will withstand hail when it is relatively new (gets brittle with age.) Aluminum or steel siding dents easily regardless age. Locally a lot of people are now going with corrugated 24 g. steel but again, it can be dented. The very best vinyl is a thick virgin vinyl as it takes hail readily without cracking. No one here uses stucco anymore. Many better quality homes are brick. My favorite siding is called Miami stone a sort of faux stone brick. Not used much as it is expensive locally.

And 30 year shingles here are expensive. $400-500 per square just for the shingles. Used to be shingles were half the cost and labor the other half. Today the labor is only a quarter the total cost unless awfully complex roofline - which baffles me why so many want dormers and corners as it literally doubles and triples the cost of a roof replacement.

 

[Fernando]

That's the point. Vinyl Siding is cheap looking. It's practical but buyers rather have tile or stone ore even engineered hardwood flooring than vinyl floors.
I don't see many new or remodeled homes having vinyl siding around here. People like good curb appeal than out of date materials.

 

[Tom D]

i always liked the early asbestos shingles, especially the ridges giving it texture. they never seemed to wear out, but always had some chips at the corners. i don't think they ever even pulled them off, just covered up with new siding.
with row homes here mostly brick, stucco. but with a contemporary front the steel panels look very nice, and come in assorted shapes & colors.

 

[Fernando]

i always liked the early asbestos shingles, especially the ridges giving it texture. they never seemed to wear out, but always had some chips at the corners. i don't think they ever even pulled them off, just covered up with new siding.
with row homes here mostly brick, stucco. but with a contemporary front the steel panels look very nice, and come in assorted shapes & colors.

So true. They were hardy and did their job.
I was passing by this new huge apartment complex and already repair work on the exterior walls.
Not stucco but those easily nailed plank shingles/hardboard (don't know what to call them) having problems. I never like those exterior materials which are not durable against the elements.

 

[Terrel L. Shields]

i always liked the early asbestos shingles

They still make a fiberglass-cement shingle that looks much the same. Brittle but very durable.