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Does difference in vinyl siding thickness matter greatly?

16K views 4 replies 3 participants last post by  jogr 
#1 ·
Went to a siding warehouse last week to determine what I would be looking at cost-wise to reside our house. I don't want to buy junk but at the same time I don't anticipate being in this house more than 3 years and I probably won't get the cost back out from sale price (yay for Michigan home values!). Is there a minimum thickness I should work from? A maximum that after which becomes no more functionally improved? They have everything from .038 to .048 and majority of the warranties are equal between them. The price difference is huge though, .04 = $52/sq and .042 = $63/sq, but the rep said if you hit either one the difference isn't enough to prevent breakage. (his recommendation was the thinner, cheaper, product)

Thoughts, experiences, or personal preferences?
 
#2 ·
When I bought my old farmstead the previous owner had resided an old barn with cheap thin white vinyl siding. Not only does hail punch holes in easier than thicker siding but the wind also rips it lose and tears it easier. After 10 years the siding looks really bad.

I can't tell you what thickness to get but I know the thicker vinyl siding on my house in town held up extremely well and the cheap stuff is junk. My philosophy is: you get what you pay for - or less - but never more. I'd put on the best siding I could afford, otherwise you might be doing it again in a few years with a higher total cost.

Since you won't be there long I can understand the desire to go cheap. But cheap vinyl often lmakes a house look cheap and the better stuff might get you a higher selling price that more than offsets the price difference.
 
#4 ·
Kinda figured the .038 was junky stuff like what you're talking about on trailers and pole barns. Any idea what the "suitable" residential siding thickness is? Its a difference of easily a grand so I don't want to go out and pick up top-of-the-line super rigid siding if its not necessary.
 
#5 ·
Look and feel the difference from the perspective of a homebuyer. The future home buyer will likely pay a lot of attention to the siding as it is a visually big part of the house. If the thicker material looks and feels noticeably more solid then it may increase the perceived value to the homebuyer by far more than a grand. A house with great siding will probably entice a significantly higher purchase price than a house with noticeably cheap siding even if the cost difference between the siding is only a grand or two.
 
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