If you've ever thought about getting new siding installed on your home, you know that there are many kinds of siding material available. Knowing the advantages and disadvantages of each of them are critical in making the correct decision for your home. If you're leaning toward vinyl, you might be wondering how this inexpensive siding material's colors will last without fading in the sun. We've checked with vinyl siding professionals to see what they have to say.
Vinyl siding material will fade in sunlight. This type of siding has colors that fade more quickly than other siding materials, and it grows more noticeable over time. There are several factors that contribute to the fading, including:
- Sunlight intensity
- Rain
- Snow
Now that we know that vinyl siding will fade in sunlight, you probably have other questions about this popular siding material. How long does vinyl siding take to fade? What color of vinyl siding fades the least? Can you brighten up faded vinyl siding? For answers to these questions and more, continue reading this post.
What Will Cause Vinyl Siding To Fade?
There are several variables that will cause vinyl siding to fade. We've broken them down here:
Sunlight
By far, the ultra-violet rays from the sun are the biggest contributor to why your vinyl siding is fading. Keep in mind that UV rays will make colors fade on any material, no matter how durable or expensive it is. While some types of siding are more fade-resistant than others, the reality is that, over time, they will all eventually lose their luster.
Sunlight will fade vinyl the most where it has the most direct contact for the longest period of time. Think of it like your house getting a suntan. If you have one side or one section of your house that is getting more sun than most, then it's reasonable to think that this area will be impacted the most.
Unfortunately, this will cause uneven fading on vinyl siding. Any landscaping or lawn accessories that you have along the sunny sides of your house that block sunlight in spots will make for uneven fading, too. But don't let this discourage you from getting vinyl siding installed. This fading doesn't happen overnight, and we'll explore how to brighten up faded vinyl siding later in this post.
Rain
Prolonged periods of rain will also cause your vinyl siding to fade. As the years go by, the protective layers on the vinyl will wear off, making the material more prone to losing its color. While the moisture from rain isn't nearly as much of an agent as direct sunlight, it will still contribute to the siding losing some color.
Snow
The moisture from snow will affect the vinyl siding material like the rain, but even more so. In cases where you have snowdrift along the side of your house, your siding will experience more fading. The sun's UV rays will bounce off the snow and hit your vinyl siding. This, coupled with the moisture, makes it fade more quickly.
How Long Does It Take For Vinyl Siding To Fade?
The amount of time it takes for you to notice any fading on your vinyl siding varies greatly. As direct sunlight is the largest factor in this material fading, you could reasonably expect vinyl to begin to fade after the first five years or so if your home is in an area that has lots of sun year-round. If your home is in the wide open with no tree cover, this can speed up the fading process. Keep in mind that this is when it begins to fade, and is probably not very noticeable at this point.
The type of siding material you select will also help determine how long it will take to begin fading. The more inexpensive, thinner vinyl tends to fade a lot quicker than pricier siding. A sturdy, thick type of vinyl siding will be more resistant to fading, as it has absorbed more color during the manufacturing process.
In addition, a better grade of vinyl siding will also be made with fade-resistant material, which can greatly increase the length of time the siding will retain its original appearance. Also, lighter colors of vinyl siding will have fading that is much less noticeable. In the past, darker colors of vinyl siding were largely avoided for this reason, but in recent years even darker colors have been made with more fade-resistant chemicals.
With all things in consideration, you can expect vinyl siding to begin fading noticeably ten to fifteen years after it's been installed on your home.
What Color Vinyl Siding Fades The Least Amount?
The lighter the color, the less you'll notice fading on your vinyl siding. White will certainly fade the least, while dark browns and dark reds begin to fade more quickly and noticeably.
In the past, darker colored vinyl siding faded much worse than they do today. Technological advancements have made even the darkest colors of vinyl more fade-resistant than ever, though they will still lose their color quicker than whites or tans.
How Do You Brighten Up Faded Siding?
Even though fading is inevitable over time, there are ways to brighten up your vinyl siding. Routinely washing it will do the trick, as it removes pollen, dust, and other agents that can damage UV coatings. Most manufacturers of vinyl siding recommend carefully power spraying the siding with a cleaning agent at least once a year.
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Click here to see this power washer on Amazon.
On another note, faded vinyl siding can always be painted. While paint on this siding type doesn't last as long as it does on some others, painting it when needed will certainly brighten up the exterior of your home.
In Closing
Throughout this post, we've learned a lot about how vinyl siding fades over time. While any siding material will experience fading, vinyl seems to be one of the most prone to do so.
The elements are what primarily causes the colors of your vinyl siding to fade, with direct sunlight being the most damaging. While there are ways to stave off some fading, you can expect vinyl siding to be noticeably faded within fifteen to twenty years, with a minimal amount to be noticed after five years.
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