4 Reasons You Don't Want
Cheap Vinyl Siding

Vinyl siding is the most popular siding choice in our area, and for good reason. Quality vinyl is affordable, low maintenance, and holds up well to Pennsylvania weather. But "vinyl siding" covers a huge range of products. At the low end, you'll find thin, flimsy panels that look fine on install day and start causing problems within a few years.

When you're comparing siding quotes, it's tempting to go with the cheapest number. Before you do, it helps to know what that lower price usually means. Here are the four biggest reasons cheap vinyl siding ends up costing more than it saves, plus how to spot quality vinyl before you buy.

Reason 1: It Fades and Starts Looking Tired Fast

Siding covers more of your home than any other material, so when it fades, the whole house looks older.

Low-grade vinyl often has weaker protection against UV rays. After a few summers, colors can turn chalky, dull, or uneven. You'll often see it first on south- and west-facing walls that get the most sun, which means one side of the house can end up looking noticeably different from the others. Because the color goes all the way through vinyl, there's no easy fix. You can't just repaint it like wood.

Quality vinyl is made to resist moisture, fading, and everyday wear, and it comes in a wide selection of colors and realistic textures that look like wood.

Reason 2: It Warps, Cracks, and Breaks

Cheap vinyl is usually thinner and less rigid, and that shows up in a few ways:

• Heat warping. Thin panels are more likely to buckle, wave, or sag in summer heat, especially on sunny walls.
• Cold cracking. In winter, vinyl gets stiffer. Thin panels are more likely to crack from a stray baseball, a ladder, a lawn mower kicking up a rock, or hail.
• Wind damage. Flimsy panels are easier for strong winds to pull loose, which can leave the wall underneath exposed.
• Wavy walls. Thin siding tends to show every dip and bump in the wall behind it, so the house never looks quite straight.

Pennsylvania's mix of hot summers, freezing winters, and spring storms puts siding through a lot. Thin panels just don't have the strength to handle it year after year.

Reason 3: It Can Let Water Get Behind Your Walls

This is the most expensive problem, and it's the one you can't see.

When cheap panels warp, crack, or pull loose, they create openings for rain to get behind the siding. Once water is back there, it can soak the sheathing, rot the wood framing, and lead to mold and mildew inside the wall. By the time you see peeling paint inside or soft spots outside, the damage has often been building for a while.

Cheap siding jobs also tend to cut corners on what's underneath. A quality installation includes an inspection of the sheathing for rot, replacement of damaged sheathing, high-quality house wrap to keep water out, and careful flashing around windows and doors. Skipping those steps saves money on day one and can cost a lot more later.

Reason 4: It Costs More Over Time

Cheap siding rarely stays cheap. Over its life, low-grade vinyl can add up to:

• More repairs for cracked, loose, or warped panels
• Earlier replacement, sometimes years before quality vinyl would need it
• Hidden water damage to sheathing and framing
• Lower curb appeal when it's time to sell, since faded or wavy siding can make a well-kept home look neglected

When you spread the cost over the years the siding actually lasts, quality vinyl is often the better deal.

Installation Matters Just as Much as the Material

Here's something many homeowners don't realize: even high-quality vinyl will fail early if it's installed wrong. And a lot of the problems blamed on "cheap siding" are really caused by cheap installation.

Vinyl expands and contracts with temperature changes. It has to be fastened so it can move with the seasons. If it's nailed too tight, it buckles in summer. If it's not secured properly, it can rattle or blow off in a windstorm. Our vinyl siding installations focus on secure fastening, moisture barriers, and clean finishing details so the siding performs the way it was designed to.

How to Spot Quality Vinyl Siding

When you're comparing siding quotes, look for these details:

• Panel thickness. Ask how thick the panels are and compare that number across quotes. Thicker panels are more rigid and resist warping and impact better.
• Rigidity. Hold a sample panel by one end. Quality vinyl stays fairly straight. Cheap vinyl flops.
• Color and texture. Look for realistic textures and colors designed to resist fading.
• Trim and accessories. Corners, window trim, and soffit pieces should match the quality of the siding.
• What's underneath. The estimate should mention house wrap, sheathing inspection, and flashing around openings.
• Warranty. Ask for the manufacturer's warranty in writing, plus the contractor's workmanship warranty.
• A written estimate. Look for a clear scope, materials, and pricing, not just a single number.

When Vinyl Isn't the Right Fit

Quality vinyl is a great choice for most homes. But if you want maximum durability, HardiePlank siding may be worth a look. Fiber cement is roughly five times thicker than standard vinyl, which helps it stand up to hail and impacts. It's also non-combustible and doesn't rot. It costs more than vinyl, so it comes down to your priorities and budget. Our post comparing HardiePlank vs. vinyl siding breaks down the tradeoffs.

Already Have Cheap Siding? Repair or Replace?

If your siding is showing problems, you don't always need to replace all of it. One or two cracked panels or a small area of loose trim can often be repaired. Widespread warping, frequent moisture problems, heavy fading, or rotted sheathing usually mean replacement is the better long-term choice. Our siding team will tell you plainly which situation you're in.

If your siding was damaged in a storm, your insurance policy may help, depending on your coverage. Our insurance restoration team documents damage with photos and works with your adjuster. For more on this, see our post on how much hail damage equates to siding replacement.

Can You Replace Siding in Fall or Winter?

Yes. Siding can be installed year-round when the weather is dry. Spring and fall are popular, and winter projects can often be scheduled faster since it's the off-peak season. If you want your home looking its best by spring, now is a good time to start planning. Most vinyl installations are completed within a few days.

Plan Your Whole Exterior Together

New siding makes everything around it more noticeable. Many homeowners pair a siding project with replacement windows so we can flash every opening properly while the walls are open, or with new gutters in a color that ties everything together.

It's also smart to check on your roof before investing in new siding. A complimentary roof inspection tells you how much life your roof has left, so you can plan projects in the right order and avoid disturbing brand-new siding with a roof project a year later.

Why Homeowners Trust RAM Roofing & Exteriors

Our roots go back to the early 1990s, when our founder started out as a carpenter. Today, our crews focus on the outside of your home: roofing, siding, windows, doors, and gutters. Read more about our story on our About Us page.

• Honest, repair-focused recommendations, with no unnecessary replacements
• Free, written estimates with a clear scope and pricing
• Fully licensed and insured in Pennsylvania and New Jersey (PA072883 and NJ 13VH11020800)
• A 4.9-star Google rating from 200+ reviews. See what homeowners say on our testimonials page.
• Certified Owens Corning Preferred Contractor for roofing, backed by manufacturer standards
• Around-the-clock emergency storm damage response

Quality Siding Across Montgomery, Delaware, and Bucks County

From our office in Doylestown, we install quality vinyl and fiber cement siding throughout the region. That includes homeowners in Havertown, Wayne, and Quakertown, where plenty of homes have older siding that's ready for an upgrade.

Get Siding That Lasts

The cheapest siding quote is rarely the best value. Schedule a free consultation with RAM Roofing & Exteriors, and we'll walk you through quality vinyl options, colors, and textures, and give you a detailed written estimate. If you'd like to spread out the cost, ask about our financing options. Have questions first? Visit our FAQ.

Call (215) 315-7700 or visit our office at 52 E Oakland Ave Ste 3A, in Doylestown.