Vinyl siding is house siding made of vinyl or similar plastics.
The most common form imitates wood clapboard, sometimes even with imitation wood
grain (though real clapboard is planed smooth). Each unit of vinyl siding
typically is two 'clapboards' high and 12-16 feet long.
Other forms imitate wood shingles, brick, and stone.
Vinyl siding competes with wood, composite, and (formerly) aluminum siding in
new construction. In renovations, is sometimes used to cover existing wood
siding.
Its advantages compared to real clapboard include price, ease of installation,
and decreased maintenance, as it does not need to be repainted periodically. Its
disadvantages include appearance and the need to be replaced periodically (every
30 years or so). In renovations, an additional disadvantage is that it hides
existing architectural detail and proportions.
