Why Does Vinyl Siding Bend?

Polyvinyl Chloride

• Vinyl siding is made of a compound called polyvinyl chloride (PVC). This is the same material used to make plastic plumbing. The plastic is rigid, but is flexible when it is formed into elongated sheets. Vinyl siding's thickness varies from .4 millimeters to about .55 millimeters and it comes in lengths up to 20 feet, but the longer pieces tend to be more flexible than the shorter pieces.

Flexible Advantage

• Being flexible makes vinyl siding useful in a variety of climates and on a wide range of surfaces. Vinyl siding can flex in windy conditions and resists dents and scratches. When vinyl siding does become damaged, it is much easier to replace than aluminum siding because the undamaged pieces can be flexed out of the way in order to access and repair the damaged section.

Careful Installation

• Flexibility has its disadvantages. Vinyl siding requires careful installation with nails to allow it to move slightly. Vinyl siding must be cut so it can expand and contract into special vinyl channels when weather conditions change. PVC tends to become brittle when frozen, so vinyl should not be manipulated in extreme cold.

Vinyl Siding Styles

• Vinyl siding was originally conceived as a replacement for lap-style aluminum siding. Today it is available in a variety of styles, some with impressive detail. Vinyl siding that looks like shake siding (but never needs scraping and painting) can be added to a cottage and trimmed with thick trim pieces. It also can mimic vertical lap siding, Victorian-style scale siding, and a variety of widths of traditional wooden Dutch lap.