The winter months are not usually the time most people decide to take on a home improvement project, especially not an exterior project. And yet, for some people, choosing to install or replace vinyl siding in the winter is the right choice. The cold weather doesn't make the vinyl siding more brittle, but the installation process in the winter months is different than during the warmer months.
In the winter months, many contractors see a steep drop-off in the number of clients and projects. For this reason, the installation of vinyl siding can often be subject to off-season pricing. If you have been putting off installing or replacing vinyl siding because the project was cost prohibitive, hiring someone to do the job in the winter can result in significant savings.
In some parts of the country, contractors will not install vinyl siding during the winter. In coastal areas that experience high winds during the winter, the process of installing new siding can be frustrating or even dangerous, as gusts of wind catch the siding and pull it up into the air. High snowfall can also be a cold weather consideration that complicates the installation process. If too much snow builds up quickly around your home, it can be hard to get access to the siding.
The installation process usually takes about two weeks to complete in warm weather. However, this process can take longer in winter because the siding is put into place on the exterior of your home in smaller sections at a time. This is done to minimize the cold air entering your home through the walls, as well as to prevent the elements from damaging the side of the house that is exposed during the installation process. Severe weather that occurs during the project timeframe can also increase the length of the project.
The installation process for vinyl siding is often much smoother in the winter months, assuming the weather is relatively mild. Because this project is most often done in the spring or summer, the average contractor is overscheduled during these warmer months, which can mean delays in starting or finishing the project.