If you are choosing between aluminum and vinyl siding, the decision usually comes down to three things: what you can spend, how much hail your neighborhood takes, and whether you want the option to repaint later.
Let’s begin.
But first, What Is Siding, And Why Is It Important?
Also known as wall cladding, siding is a material attached to the exterior of the wall of a home. Siding plays a multi-functional role as it keeps the interior of the home insulated, protects from elements, and adds to the exterior’s aesthetic appeal. But not all kinds of siding have the same effectiveness, durability, and aesthetic appeal. Therefore, it is a matter of prime importance to choose the material for siding cautiously. Of all, there are two names that the general contractors will commonly recommend to you, such as aluminum and vinyl. Even if you browse the internet, you will just see a persistent rivalry between aluminum and vinyl siding. But in this blog, you will hopefully know which one is an ideal option for you.
Vinyl Siding:
Vinyl siding was introduced back in the 1950s as an alternative siding material to aluminum siding. It is made from polyvinyl chloride (PVC) plastic resin, a manmade material. Today it is a more popular and prevalent siding option due to its low cost and good strength. Although vinyl siding was not very strong in the early days, thanks to technological advancements, it is one of the most durable siding options today if you are looking to save money, as it can be installed over existing siding in some cases. Insulated vinyl siding is the better option for the vinyl siding family as it adds more durability to the siding panel and adds R-value to the building envelope.
Pros Of Vinyl Siding:
- Durability
Vinyl handles rain and humidity well and will not rot. In Colorado, the two things to know are that it fades faster under high-altitude UV than it does at sea level, and that it becomes brittle in deep cold, so a hail strike in winter is more likely to crack a panel than the same strike in summer.
- Cost-effective:
The best thing about vinyl siding and the main reason it has become a very common choice of homeowners is that it is very affordable. It costs even less than engineered wood, brick, stone, steel, etc.
- Vast options:
When it comes to vinyl siding, there are vast options to choose from in terms of colors and textures. Remember, one of the functions of vinyl is to advance the appeal of the house. So, you can pick a color and texture that enhances the beauty of your house from the outside. With other materials, you rarely get to choose a color or texture.
- Moisture and termite-resistant:
Vinyl siding is moisture-resistant, which means it does not absorb water and eventually does not get damaged. Also, it is termite-resistant.
- Requires less maintenance:
Another reason why you would like to choose vinyl siding is that it does not require frequent upkeeps to help retain its strength and robustness. While maintenance, per se, is a daunting task, it is a costly process to inspect regularly. Vinyl is not painted, so there is no repaint cycle. An annual wash and a look at the caulking around penetrations is usually all it needs.
Aluminum Siding:
Aluminum siding is made of aluminum coil stock which is backed at a high temperature to increase its strength and durability. Also, it is painted and polished with enamel to obtain a quality texture.
Pros of Aluminum Siding:
- Durability:
Aluminum will not rot, rust, or attract pests, and unlike vinyl, it does not become brittle in cold. The trade-off is that aluminum is a soft metal: it dents readily under hail, which is the main reason it fell out of favor in this market. Heavier gauges resist denting better than thin ones.
- Comes in different shapes:
When it comes to designs, aluminum siding comes in horizontal and vertical formats to choose from. You can choose whichever you like.
- Lightweight:
Although aluminum siding is thick, it is very light in weight and therefore is easy to install.
- Flexible:
One of the best things about aluminum siding is that you can paint and re-paint it with any color. When you want to change the color of your house, you would not need to remove it but paint it the color you want.
- Moisture and termite-resistant:
Aluminum does not absorb water and is not a food source for termites. Worth knowing that older aluminum chalks, as the finish oxidizes, showing as a powdery residue, and that is usually the point at which repainting or replacement is worth considering.
Does Vinyl Siding Insulate Better Than Aluminum?
Neither insulates meaningfully. Both have negligible R-value, and the insulation that matters sits behind the cladding in the wall assembly. The one exception is insulated vinyl, which has rigid foam bonded to the panel and adds roughly R-2 to R-3. For Colorado specifically: aluminum handles cold better and dents in hail, vinyl costs less, and becomes brittle in cold. Neither is what we would recommend first for a Front Range home, which is why most of our work is fiber cement and engineered wood.
Which is more expensive, vinyl or aluminum siding?
One of the common questions that people ask is whether vinyl siding is cheaper than aluminum siding or vice versa. As a rough guide, vinyl typically runs less per square foot than aluminum, though thickness, profile, and the amount of trim work move both figures considerably. We quote per project rather than per foot, because the trim and detail work is usually what separates two bids on the same house. But there are other elements that depend on their costs, such as thickness and design. The thicker the siding, the more expensive it will be.
Bottom line
Now that you are fully acquainted with each type of siding, you must make the choice suitable to you. To identify which one is suitable for you, select the category that best describes your situation.
| Choose Aluminum Siding if | Choose Vinyl Siding if |
| You want the option to repaint later | You want no repainting at all |
| Deep cold matters more than hail where you are | Budget is the deciding factor |
| Your existing siding is aluminum and you are matching | You need the fastest, lowest-cost refresh |
Still unsure? Most Colorado homeowners weighing these two end up looking at fiber cement or engineered wood instead, because both handle hail and altitude better than either option here. Get in touch, and we will walk through the differences for your house. Exterior Experts is a James Hardie Elite Preferred Contractor, serving Colorado since 1999.
