Vinyl siding is a popular option for homes because it combines good looks, it provides freedom from the need to paint and repaint, and it comes at a lower cost than many other exterior siding options. As with all siding, vinyl does a great job keeping out the weather, it can also transform the look of a house and increase homes value. Sometimes called vinyl siding panels, this material is easy to install. To make the most of this for your business, and to win new work, you need to be able to clearly explain to clients the benefits of the best vinyl siding and impress them with your knowledge of proper installation and repair methods. Here are the three main benefits of vinyl siding to touch on.

1. Low maintenance: Cleaning with soapy water, a soft long-handled brush and a garden hose is all that's required to keep vinyl siding looking new. Vinyl is also less likely than other siding choices to develop mould and lichen growth in high moisture areas.

2. Long life: Vinyl siding lasts 20 to 40 years. In practice actual lifespan depends on quality of the product chosen, the amount of sun exposure and continued freedom from mechanical damage. Be sure to explain to your customers that vinyl siding installation life depends on protecting the surface from impact damage, falling tree branches and other physical hazards.

3. Style options: Be sure to come to customer meetings with photos of the different vinyl siding choices. This is key. The choices available for new siding offers a lot of creative control over the look of a house. Appealing to the emotional and visual side of siding choice is something that many homeowners respond well to during a sales meeting.

When vinyl siding first appeared in the 1950s, it was made to compete with more expensive horizontal aluminium siding. Sometimes called lap siding, horizontal vinyl is still a popular option, but today there are four main styles, each with variations in each of the main categories.

1. Vertical vinyl siding: These are made to look like traditional board-and-batten patterns, with panels that go up and down on a building. Vertical vinyl siding can be used alone or in combination with horizontal siding. This approach often looks best with the horizontal elements on lower parts of a wall, with the vertical panels up above, often in gable ends.

2. Cedar shake options: These look like wood shakes or shingles from a distance, but cost less, they're rot-proof, and go up faster than wood shakes or shingles.

3. Lap-style vinyl siding: This is another name for horizontal siding panels, but within this category there are different profiles available. Some mimic traditional wood clapboard siding, while others have a more curved profile. Beaded vinyl siding is particularly attractive and new to many homeowners. The semi-circular bead along the bottom creates a crisp shadow line that looks terrific.

4. Log-style vinyl siding: This is a form of horizontal panels, but with a rounded front profile and brown colour that mimics logs. It's amazing how good this looks when your customers want a rustic appearance, with freedom from the need to finish and refinish wood.

When vinyl siding first appeared, it came in white or light pastel colours only. But now your customers can choose from a wide range of colours, including deep, rich reds, browns, blues and greys. Explain that darker colours hide dust, dirt and cobwebs much better than lighter options.

The main thing about vinyl siding installation is to understand how this material expands and contracts quite a bit with changes in temperature. All vinyl siding products come with instructions for installation that allows for seasonal movement, and you need to follow these details with care. If you're installing a different brand or style for the first time, don't just do what you've always done before with other types. Read instructions and follow them. Allowing sufficient room for heat expansion is key, especially around panel butts where one piece of vinyl meets neighbouring pieces at ends. Leaving enough space for movement is essential to avoid waviness and buckling of the installation. This is especially true when you install vinyl siding during cool weather, and even more so when you're working with dark colours in locations that will receive lots of heat from sunshine. Dark vinyl siding picks up more heat from the sun than lighter options, so expansion details are even more important.

Very few exterior siding jobs involve plain runs of siding only. You'll typically be applying vinyl siding around doors and windows, and perhaps you'll need to deal with exterior light fixtures, street number signs, dryer or exhaust fan vents, and other details. The best manufacturers offer accessory products to enhance the look of windows and doors with trim surrounds. Decorative vinyl shutters can also greatly enhance the look of a home by highlighting windows as design elements. When you're choosing which vinyl siding products to present to customers, do some homework on brands and the accessory products that go with the siding itself. Vinyl soffit and fascia panels are also available and offer upsell opportunities for you that matches walls below.

If you have a client concerned about the possibility that vinyl siding could get damaged (or if you have a previous installation that has a hole or crack), explain that both vinyl siding panels themselves and corner posts can be removed and replaced. Details vary depending on design, but repair typically involves lifting the bottom edge of the panel above the damaged panel, removing the nails from the nailing hem, then replacing the panel with a fresh one before interlocking the new with the old above it.

Galvanized roofing nails are an excellent option for securing vinyl siding. Choose a 1 3/4-inch length and drive them so there's a 1/16-inch gap between nail head and the underly vinyl of the nailing hem. Pneumatic siding nailers are available for this work, but you can use a roofing nailer as long as the depth control allows that all-important gap under the head.

As a contractor looking to run a busy and profitable business, you should become an expert on vinyl siding. The popularity and economy of this choice can keep lots of good work coming your way.