Insulated vinyl siding is one of the options that people have when they want to redo the outside of their home or business. However, many people may be unaware as to what this type of siding actually is. In fact, some people actually mix this type of siding up with regular vinyl siding or other types of siding, whereas this one is actually quite different from the others. The government’s energy website informs individuals as to the definition and the usages of this type of vinyl siding.
The green and environmentally friendly movements are becoming increasingly important, and this type of siding helps in those efforts. When properly installed, insulated vinyl siding is in compliance with both the United States Environmental Protection Agency Energy Star program and the Federal Trade Commission’s standards and has an acceptable R-value. In addition to protecting the environment by conserving energy, people who opt to use this type of side can also have their heating and air conditioning bills reduced by a significant amount.
According to the United States Department of Energy’s PowerPoint presentation entitled “The R-Value of Insulation,” an R-value is the measure of how much resistance a type of siding has against the flow of heat. When choosing a new type of siding for a home, individuals must consult with siding experts to determine what specific type of R-value would be best for them. The PowerPoint presentation goes on to explain that so many factors go into determining what is needed from the climate to the types of heating and cooling systems that are present in the home or business. According to Eco Evaluator’s article “Boost Wall Insulation with Insulated Vinyl Siding,” the R-values for such siding are usually R-2, R-2.5, and R-3.
Insulated siding, in general, is a fairly new type of development, which is another component that the PowerPoint presentation outlines. The slides show that this type of siding was field tested in the early 1990s and perfected into the middle of that decade. In 1997, the first commercial insulated siding came into existence, and improvements and developments have been made on it since that time.
Keep reading further information on the different types of siding that are best suited to a particular type of home or establishment. The only way to truly know whether or not vinyl siding is appropriate is to conduct thorough research and to take personal wants and needs into consideration.
For insulated vinyl siding estimate ranges, take a look at our Siding Calculator!