Vinyl Sidings

The thickness, or gauge, of the vinyl is the key to its durability and cost. The thicker the vinyl is, the longer it lasts, the better it withstands damage, and the more stable it is. Of course, the thicker the vinyl is, the more it costs. The siding sold in most home centers is .040"-.045" thick. Premium brands are available up to .055" thick.

Since vinyl siding is intended to imitate wood lap siding, it is available in several profiles. Most common is a piece that imitates two courses of wood siding, with an exposure of four or five inches each. These are called D4 or D5 (the "D" stands for "double"). A variation is a "Dutch Lap" style (D5DL) which has the shape of a traditional dutch lap wood siding. A profile with three courses of 3-inch siding (T3) is also common.

Vinyl generally comes in a range of light to medium colors. Darker colors tend to fade and are generally not available.