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'Vinyl siding', first introduced to the exterior cladding market in the late 1950s, is an alternative to aluminum siding, fiber cement siding, and timber siding. It is an engineered product, manufactured primarily from polyvinyl chloride, or PVC, resin, giving vinyl siding its name. In the UK and New Zealand a similar material is known as uPVC weatherboarding.
Approximately 80 percent of its weight is PVC resin, with the remaining 20 percent being composed of other ingredients that establish color, opacity, gloss, impact resistance, flexibility, and durability. It is the most commonly installed exterior cladding for residential construction in the United States and Canada. There is controversy concerning the use of this product within the building industry, especially within the growing green building industry, due to environmental concerns in the processing, manufacturing, and disposal of the product.^[1]

Contents

Manufacture

Overview

Environmental Aspects

Certification - Product

Certification - Color Retention

Installer Certification

History

Films

Manufacture

Vinyl siding is manufactured by coextrusion: two layers of PVC are laid down in a continuous extrusion process. The top layer (weatherable capstock), which comprises about a third of the siding thickness, includes about 10% titanium dioxide, which is a pigment and provides resistance to breakdown from UV light. The lower layer (substrate) is typically about 15% calcium carbonate (ground limestone), which reduces cost and balances the titanium dioxide to keep both extrusion streams equally fluid during manufacturing. A small quantity of tin mercaptan or butadiene (less than 1%) is added as a stabilizer to chemically tie up any hydrochloric acid that is released into the PVC material as the siding ages. Lubricants are also added to aid in the manufacturing process.^[1]

Overview

'PRINCIPAL TYPE OF EXTERIOR WALL MATERIAL'

All New One-Family Houses Sold

Source: 2006, U.S. Census Bureau Data




Vinyl siding products include several profiles, trims, colors, and accent pieces. Profiles can include horizontal and vertical panels, scallops, shingles, hand-split and rustic shakes, clapboard, Dutchlap, board and batten, beaded designs, and others. Products are offered in varying widths to accommodate multiple architectural styles. Finishes include smooth, replicating sanded, sealed and painted wood, as well as wood grain. Some products are designed to replicate historic home details requiring decorative accessories, such as fluted and beaded corner posts, crown molding, and lineals.

Vinyl siding resists heat, sub-zero temperatures, and moisture. Independently certified vinyl siding products that are installed properly can withstand the minimum requirements of the American Society for Testing and Material’s (ASTM) ASTM D3679 standard, which states siding must withstand tests under pressures that represent a 110-mph wind. Some manufacturers test their products to higher pressures, simulating wind speeds in excess of the 110-mph standard. Vinyl siding does not need painting, and when properly installed, requires periodic washing with water and mild detergent to maintain.

'NEW CONSTRUCTION INSTALLED COST'

Source: 2007 R.S. Means Residential Cost Data

Dollars per square. Square covers 100 sq. ft.	Vinyl Siding	Wood Siding	Fiber Cement	Stucco	Brick	Stone
'Materials'	$78	$113	$94	$75	$385	$620
'Labor'	$81	$63	$97	$253	$437	$891
'Paint/Stain'	$0	$42	$46	$40	$0	$0
'Total'	'$159'	'$218'	'$237'	'$368'	'$822'	'$1,511'

'2006 HOME IMPROVEMENT COST RECOVERY'

Source: 2006 Cost vs. Value Report. ''Remodeling,'' November 2006.



Home improvement projects overall…………78.3%

Vinyl siding…………………………………..87.2%

Environmental Aspects

From an environmental standpoint, vinyl siding offers advantages of avoided air pollution that results from painting or staining wood and hardboard siding. It is less energy intensive than aluminum siding but also less recyclable. Vinyl siding can be recycled, but current technology permits recycling only of new vinyl (factory scraps and job-site cutoffs), not old siding removed during remodeling or demolition. At least two companies produce vinyl siding with (pre-consumer) recycled vinyl, according to the Vinyl Institute.

In Section 2.1.5, of the NAHB ''Model Green Home Building Guidelines'', points are awarded for using building materials that require no additional finish resources to complete on-site application. [NAHB Research Center, Inc. ''NAHB Model Green Home Building Guidelines''. Version 1. Part 1. Section 2. Resource Efficiency. 2.1.5. December 13, 2004.]. Because vinyl siding requires no paint, stain, or caulk in its installation, it meets this NAHB requirement.

The production of PVC used to make vinyl siding has certain environmental concerns, such as the production of dioxin and other known carcinogens.

The PVC used in vinyl siding used to be produced in open vats, until 1971, when a rare cancer of the liver, angiosarcoma, was traced to vinyl chloride exposure among PVC workers, and strict workplace exposure limits were established by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). These changes required all vats to be tightly sealed, which led to greater capital costs and a concentration of the number of producers. ^[1]

Certification - Product

Recent building codes established by the International Code Council (ICC) now require all vinyl siding to be certified by an approved quality control agency to show it conforms to ASTM D3679 and labeled as such on shipping containers or product packaging. The Vinyl Siding Institute (VSI), the U.S. trade association for manufacturers of vinyl and other polymeric siding, has established a vinyl siding certification program. The program is administered by an independent, third-party, Architectural Testing, Inc. of York, Pa. and certifies products that meet or exceed the ASTM standard (ASTM D3679).

Certification - Color Retention

In April 2006, color retention certification was implented based on the ASTM performance standard for color retention, ASTM D6864. To qualify, vinyl siding products must first receive certification for overall quality and performance based on the industry standard ASTM D3679. The color retention certification process requires a two-year, outdoor weathering study conducted for each color being considered. Each certified color must demonstrate the ability to resist major changes in a variety of climates.

Installer Certification

In 2005, an installer certification program was instituted to test vinyl siding professionals on their knowledge of vinyl siding installation techniques, based on the industry standard ASTM D4756. The program involves a combination of classroom training, hands-on instruction, and a written test given by a certified trainer. Candidates must have at least one year of experience installing vinyl siding, and installers with at least three years of experience can become certified by passing a written test. All certified installers must apply for re-certification after their first two years of certification, and every three years thereafter. An installation manual for vinyl siding can be downloaded here.

History

Vinyl siding was first produced in the late 1950s at an independently owned manufacturing plant in Columbus, Ohio. The process was done through mono-extrusion, blending of colors was done manually, and the product was little more than a replacement for aluminum siding.
Those conditions made it difficult to produce and install a consistent, quality product. A transformation of the product started in the 1970s and into 1980s. The industry made engineered formulation changes affecting the product's production speed, impact resistance, and range of colors.

Films

★ ''Blue Vinyl'' (2002). Directed by Daniel B. Gold and Judith Helfand.