the best replacement siding for a house, aluminum or vinyl ?

[Ouabache]

Those are the only choices for this poll, so I am not interested if you are a fan of stucco or any other possibility. Please explain any RECENT expertise or experience which leads to your answer. I would be especially interested in responses from people in construction or insurance.

[Nicole]

1. I don't know but

I bet you would have better luck asking this in the DU DIY, Home Improvement, & Crafts Group.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topics&forum=287

Lots of home improvement experience over there.

[ruiner4u]

12. Woah, check a 'sec... Theres a DU DIY????

I just found out about lounge last week.. Theres DIY??????

[AutumnMist]

2. I Have Had Both On Houses

and they each have their own pros and cons. Vinyl in nice for clean up and it tends to last longer then aluminum. Aluminum dents easily and its a bitch to repair. Cheaper vinyl siding can get damaged easily from hail, baseballs, etc. Research what you would like and what you need it for. Personally we now have shingles on our house that are ceramic coated and they have lasted forever. You can paint them as well. Siding, especially metal siding, doesn't do well with paint. Pick your color wisely. :) Hope this helps.

[eleny]

3. I can't find a link for ceramic coated shingle siding

Can you help me out a bit. The only links that turn up are for roofing shingles.

[AutumnMist]

4. I Will Research It For You

We live in a home thats older and the shingles were on the house when we moved in. But I will gladly ask around our neighborhood and see where and how our neighbors maintain/buy their shingles. Can you PM me so I can PM you back with the info? I don't want to lose the thread. :)Sorry to be a pain in the backside.

[Robeson]

5. Between those two options, I'd go with vinyl....

...a lost less upkeep, and easy to repair.

[Broken_Hero]

6. I'd take vinyl over aluminum....any day. nt

[NMMNG]

7. Vinyl

It insulates better, doesn't dent (though a very forceful blow will crack it), and the color doesn't scrape off as with aluminum.

[ScreamingMeemie]

8. Real estate appraiser checking in... Vinyl is always better.

There are no real pros and cons between the two that would make one decide vinyl over aluminum. Vinyl weathers better, doesn't dent (except for under extreme -think vandalism- circumstances) is easier to maintain and repair. That said, aluminum makes a great cover for overhangs and window frames. I give no value for aluminum siding. I give value for vinyl.

[trof]

9. Vinyl. Just don't fire up the grill too close.

Vinyl melts.

[Viva_La_Revolution]

10. wood

4) Wood Clapboard
Modern science has given us many synthetic wood-look products, and yet solid wood (usually cedar, pine, spruce, redwood, cypress, or Douglas fir) remain favorite choices for finer homes. With periodic staining or painting, wood siding can outlast vinyl and other pretenders. Many wood frame houses built centuries ago still look beautiful today.
http://architecture.about.com/od/buildyourhous1/tp/siding.htm

My personal favorite

edit: I'm a house-painter. :)

[Kali]

11. Stone

Sorry I am a dick and can't follow directions. Plus husband is a mason.

[Shakespeare]

13. Neither - go with "hardiboard."

It's almost ubiquitous by now, so you shouldn't have any problem finding it. It looks like real wood, ages better than wood, and is made from predominantly recycled materias (it's a concrete/plastic/etc. composite). It's more fire-resistant than any other siding product, too.