Cladding takes many forms in the city of Chicago; vinyl siding is but one of several materials that can cover your home in the Windy City, but for many reasons, it is also one of the more popular. Durable, quick and easy to install, and extremely low maintenance, vinyl siding has made quite a name for itself over the last few decades. For homeowners in the Chicago-area looking to change the appearance of their property, and do it with style, vinyl siding is an option well worth considering.
Chicago Vinyl Siding Benefits
Most people who opt for vinyl siding do it for one of two reasons: it's affordable and it's easy to maintain. Unlike wood, fiber cement, or aluminum, vinyl siding doesn't need to be painted over its lifetime. When it gets dirty, a powerwasher, or even a garden hose, can be used to clean it. It doesn't scratch or dent. It is not an appealing food source for insects or animals. It stands up well in warm and cool temperatures, alike, and, if it is fitted with a backing, it will provide some extra insulation for your home. Basically, once you put up your vinyl siding, your worries, and your weekends of upkeep, are a thing of the past.
When it comes to the affordability of vinyl siding, Chicago residents will be hard-pressed to find a more cost-effective material over the long run. Cheaper to install than just about any other kind of siding, many manufacturers of vinyl siding guarantee their products and have a warranty to back it up. Long after cedar siding has gone to the dogs, and aluminum siding has been repainted several times, your vinyl siding will be bright and functional for years to come!
Drawbacks of Vinyl Siding in Chicago
One of the biggest drawbacks of installing vinyl siding is more cultural than it is practical. Opting for a more expensive siding material, even if it is less durable, can still be seen as making your home more luxurious. Though vinyl siding looks great and performs exceptionally, other materials are still considered more "posh". As some Chicago neighborhoods are pretty posh already, choosing vinyl siding may set a home in one of these areas apart from the rest of the houses on the block.
There are also a few practical reasons that vinyl siding might not be the best choice for every situation. Though it performs well in snow and ice, and it is dent and scratch proof, in very cold temperatures, a strong impact can crack vinyl siding. Chicago homeowners should be wary of climbing ladders propped up on vinyl siding during the winter months. Additionally, though you never need to paint vinyl siding, lower quality products, as well as siding manufactured many years ago, has a tendency to fade noticeably over time. Purchasing a high-quality product from a company you trust, however, will make this fading a near non-issue.
Chicago Vinyl Siding Prices
Here's the good news: most households looking to spruce up their property and increase curb appeal will be able to afford quality vinyl siding. In Chicago, vinyl siding installation averages a little less than $11,000. When compared to materials like brick, stone, or cedar, the difference is significant. Also, vinyl siding is a pretty good investment in Chi-town; on average, vinyl siding installation in the area recovers more than 100 percent of the construction costs in added resale value for your home!

Jon Nunan is a freelance writer who draws on his experience in construction, ranging from landscaping to log home building, for his articles on home improvement.