A: Re-painting the house every couple of years is rarely listed among the joys of owning a home. That's one reason why more and more homeowners like you are considering vinyl siding for the first time to protect and beautify their homes and save them time and money.

Q: I'm sure I've resisted looking into vinyl siding because I remember growing up next door to a neighbor who had cheap looking, obviously non-wood siding in the ugliest color which dented when we accidentally hit it with a baseball. Have things improved since then?

A: Absolutely! I am sure you have seen many attractive homes in varying colors and styles of vinyl siding which looked like freshly painted wood. Vinyl siding never needs painting because its color goes all the way through the material and won't peel, flake or show scratches like painted surfaces. So it can save you either hundreds of dollars on professional painting, or a lot of aggravation and sore muscles if you do your own painting.

It will not dent like the aluminum siding your old neighbor had, even if hit with a stray baseball. Nor will it warp, rot or chip like wood. Other advantages of vinyl include the following:

1. Resists rain, sun, wind, air pollution and high humidity.
2. Does not attract termites like wood siding.
3. Holds up well over time and can retain its qualities for 40 years or more.
4. Can save on your heating and cooling bills; when used with a suitable backing material, vinyl siding is an excellent insulator that protects your home from extreme temperatures.
5. Vinyl is attractive! Manufacturers offer a broad range of colors in various shades.

Because it comes in different clapboard widths, horizontal and vertical styles and even different textures, from smooth to wood grain. This flexibility allows you to achieve the look that's just right for your home.

by Kathy Maynard, reprinted courtesy of HomeAdvisor.com