What is Synthetic Polymer Siding, and What Makes It Better?

Siding is Siding … Right?

In a word, no. In terms of both aesthetics and protective performance, siding is a very important feature of any home or business exterior. If you’re planning a needed siding replacement, you really want to look for a product that looks good, delivers reliable protection, and requires as little maintenance as possible. To that end, there are more types of siding available now than ever before, including everything from natural wood, to wood composites, to metal, to stucco, to vinyl, to fiber cement, and more. But one of the most exciting siding products to come along in a long time is synthetic polymer siding.

What Is Synthetic Polymer Siding, and How Is It Different from Vinyl Siding or Composite Siding?

No doubt you’re already well-aware of vinyl siding, as it’s the most popular siding material in America and one of the most popular across the globe. Vinyl is known to be a generally durable, low-maintenance material, but it does have its limitations. While vinyl is made from PVC, polymer siding is made from pure resins of polypropylene. This polymer is sturdier, more durable, more impact-resistant, and more tolerant of heat extremes than traditional vinyl. It maintains its look and shape better over time, too.

Composite siding is another popular siding solution, but it’s important to understand which materials are included in the composite you’re considering. The word composite literally means “combination,” and composite siding can be composed of any number of material components, including wood, wood fibers, cellulose, vinyl, wax, inorganic minerals, and various recycled materials. While composites like fiber cement siding certainly carry some performance and maintenance advantages over other comparable “natural” materials, they too have their own sets of drawbacks. Modern synthetic roofing, on the other hand, is produced from 100% pure, virgin polymer resins, and the results are really some pretty impressive siding solutions!

What Makes Synthetic Siding Worth Considering for YOUR Home Exterior

Let’s say you like the look and texture of real cedar shakes, but would like to find an alternative material that offers better performance while still maintaining the authentic appearance and feel of wood shakes. Folks around the world have been drawn to the timeless appeal of real slate tile and real cedar shakes for many generations. With modern synthetic siding like the Hand-Split Shake line from DaVinci, you really can have the best of both worlds!

Here are some benefits worth noting about quality polymer siding:

• Stunningly Beautiful

Synthetic polymer siding is modeled from actual hand-split wood shakes. The result is a natural-looking, non-repeating pattern which delivers what you love about cedar, while also being much longer lasting with much fewer worries.

• Colors That Are Basically Fadeproof

High-quality synthetic shakes are made from pure virgin resins, which are then fortified with modern UV stabilizers. What’s the result in terms of color longevity? Essentially, a fadeproof product! The original color you choose for your synthetic siding is the color you’ll get to keep, for the life of the product!

• More Durable, with Less Upkeep

Rotting, cracking, curling, cupping, and splitting are all potential issues you can have with any type of natural wood shake. That’s simply not the case with well-made, synthetic siding material. It holds its shape, doesn’t warp, doesn’t absorb water, and is practically immune to the typical effects of weathering. Oh, and it never needs painting or staining, either!

• Resistant to All Sorts of Threats

Real cedar is beautiful, but many of the positive attributes of cedar still tend to fade over time. DaVinci polymer siding tiles, on the other hand, are engineered to deliver reliable resistance to anything, and everything nature has to throw at them. Synthetic siding of this caliber is basically impervious to moisture absorption, water penetration, mold, algae, fire, pests, impacts, and even salt air. That’s a level of performance you simply can’t find in other available siding products!

• Impressive Product Warranty

Some siding product manufacturer warranties can sound pretty good, until you look at them side-by-side with the warranties that leading polymer siding manufacturers offer. Looking for the right siding solution to last you a lifetime? DaVinci Hand-Split Shakes come with an impressive 50-year warranty against breakage and deterioration under normal weather and usage conditions.

DaVinci Hand-Split Shake Siding

Wood shakes do carry a certain visual appeal, but DaVinci polymer siding actually performs better, and looks just as good if not better! Here are some features and options that come along with choosing DaVinci Hand-Split Shake Siding:

• Widths of 8” and 10”

• 5/8” tile thickness

• 18” tall

• Finished look can create the appearance of 4”, 6”, 8”, or 10” shakes, along with any combination of these

• Can be installed at 6”, 7”, or 8” exposure

• Modeled after real wood shakes with realistic grain patterns, deep grooves, and impressively durable construction

• Available in an impressive array of attractive colors

• Incredibly resistant to fading, rotting, cracking, pest threats, fire threats, impact damage, freeze-thaw cycles, and fungus/mold growth

• 50-year manufacturer’s product warranty

Why Choose Skywalker Windows & Siding for Your Synthetic Siding Solution

Modern synthetic siding products like the fine Hand-Split Shake Siding line from DaVinci are beautiful enough to make you stand up and take notice. But the real beauty of polymer siding is in how it’s engineered to stand up to whatever nature decides to throw your way. Even so, if you don’t partner with the right local siding partner, even the right materials can get wrongly installed. And regardless of which siding product you choose, the #1 cause of siding problems down the road is an improper installation in the first place!

Looking for the highest-rated, most-trusted local windows & siding company to serve your needs in NC or VA? Skywalker  Windows & Siding is a proud, preferred provider of DaVinci polymer siding, plus we also install other great siding products from makers like Norandex, Alside, and James Hardie. Basically, if you want to see it on the side of your house or business, we can make it happen for you!

We’re proud to serve the NC Piedmont Triad, Piedmont Triangle, Lake Norman area, and greater Roanoke & Southwestern VA region, and Skywalker would be happy to serve your residential or commercial siding needs. In addition, we do much more than just siding – we also provide windows replacement, roof replacements, gutter & gutter guard installations, blown insulation services, porch & deck additions, and more. If you have an exterior home improvement need, Skywalker has you covered! Reach out to us today at (336) 265-9595 we’d love to show you the Skywalker Windows & Siding difference!