Both materials offer several benefits that make them attractive to consumers. Vinyl siding requires little maintenance throughout the years and never needs painting. Wood siding is very durable and offers some level of insulation value unlike vinyl siding.
Vinyl siding is more cost effective than wood siding. According to costhelper.com, 1,800 square feet of vinyl siding can cost between $3,600 and $12,600 as of January 2010, depending on the quality of the siding. Depending on what type of wood is used, 1,250 square feet of wood siding can cost between $6,500 and $10,000.
Professional installation is a cost that will have a major effect on the overall price of siding projects involving either material. Some do-it-yourselfers may opt to install siding themselves to help curb project costs.
According to costhelper.com, buildings with wood siding in hot or humid areas should have a coating of fungicide or mildew retardant applied to them every three years or so to keep them from prematurely deteriorating. Such coatings undoubtedly drive up the overall costs linked with wood siding.
Maintaining wood siding is a hidden cost that consumers need to consider. Compared with vinyl siding, wood siding demands more in maintenance costs over the years. It is recommended that wood siding consumers apply paint or stains to their wood siding every four to six years to keep them from prematurely deteriorating.