Although it avoids the wintry blasts of the arctic north, Houston homes still face a good amount of adversity due to consistent rain and summer storms. It may not be as exciting as a new backyard patio, but exterior siding is absolutely essential to protect your home and maintain a high level of curb appeal in these conditions. Vinyl siding has become the standard bearer for siding installations. While it's certainly not the only viable siding option, it's easily one of the best and most affordable.
Vinyl Siding: Houston, TX
So what's so great about it? To start with, the hard plastic of vinyl is surprisingly strong and difficult to dent. It should be able to withstand your kid accidentally throwing a baseball against your house, although you should be careful with your lawn mower and weed-whacker. The thicker the vinyl you install, the stronger it'll be. Vinyl is also pest and fire-resistant. Unlike steel and wood siding, you also won?t have to worry about rust, warping, or rot.
If you have more elegant tastes, you don't have to settle for the ordinary vinyl you see on your neighbors' homes. Vinyl siding can be painted any number of colors or even given a very realistic wood finish. Many homes with this type of vinyl siding are commonly mistaken as having actual wood siding. Paint will also help protect your vinyl siding from sun damage. Titanium dioxide will help protect your vinyl from any serious sun damage, but some fading is inevitable without extensive coating treatments.
Cost of Houston Vinyl Siding
ServiceMagic is constantly compiling information on each and every home improvement project we process. Projects from all around the country tell us the average for a vinyl siding installation is $7,500. Our Houston vinyl siding numbers suggest things are no different in Space City. This is only an average, however, and our vinyl siding numbers also tell us that the cost of your project can vary greatly depending on the thickness and quality of the vinyl, the size of your home, and the Houston vinyl siding contractor you hire.
Project Length of a Houston Vinyl Siding Installation
Of course, which Houston vinyl siding contractor you hire may also influence how long your project takes. This doesn't necessarily mean you should hire the contractor who promises to start on your project sooner, even if you're in a hurry. Better to choose a contractor who can be trusted than one who may or may not show up on time or give you a poor quality vinyl siding installation.
The average length for a Houston vinyl siding installation is two weeks. If you get lucky it might not take much longer than a week, but outdoor home improvement projects are naturally subject to weather conditions. Be patient with your contractor if prolonged rains decide to hit. There's nothing your contractor can do about this. On the other hand, when professional contractors can't work on your project, they should at least call you to let you know.
While you shouldn't abandon searching for someone who can quote you a more reasonable price, installing vinyl siding in Houston should always be done by a qualified professional. Improper installation can lead to panels peeling off your home during periods of high wind.
Tip for Vinyl Siding: Houston Homeowner
One useful tip we received from a Houston homeowner is to take down all the items on your walls inside your home. The vibrations during construction frequently knock pictures and other wall hangings from their place.

Marcus Pickett is a professional freelance writer for the home remodeling industry. He has published more than 600 articles on both regional and national topics within the home improvement industry.