Vinyl siding is more durable
Vinyl siding is made from about 5 hundredths of an inch of PVC plastic. The fact that it is nearly twice as thick as its aluminum counterpart (2 hundredths of an inch) makes vinyl siding stronger and less susceptible to scratches or nicks. Aluminum siding often dents or scratches without much effort. However, the plastic material can shrink or expand in extreme hot or cold temperatures allowing for cracks and splitting.
Vinyl siding holds color better
Vinyl siding also holds its color better than aluminum. The color is added to the plastic during manufacturing, so it permeates the entire siding sheet. In contrast, aluminum siding has just a very thin layer of enamel coating it. Its natural silver color will show through if the siding is scratched. However, fixing that scratch is much easier with aluminum siding: simply repaint it. Vinyl, in contrast, does not hold paint well--at least not to the point that it looks natural.
Aluminum siding is less toxic and fireproof
One of the main downfalls of vinyl siding is that it's made with potentially toxic materials, such as petroleum by-products. These components will let off harmful fumes if it ever catches fire. This is true when it's on the house and even after it's removed and disposed of. Alternately, aluminum is resistant to fire, and it's much more earth friendly.
Aluminum siding is more flexible
Even if a home has vinyl siding, you will often notice it has aluminum siding on the trim, such as around doorways, windows and vents. This is because the vinyl doesn't "give" enough to easily apply around corners and in tight spots. A contractor can readily bend the aluminum to fit where needed.
Vinyl siding is cheaper
In the end, though, it is the relative inexpense of vinyl that is ultimately leading to aluminum siding's demise. A siding project can run from $4,000 to $20,000 or more, depending on the size of the home. Any bit of cost savings will make a difference to those that comparison shop.
