Homeowner Resources
Vinyl Siding - FAQS
1. As a homeowner, why can't I buy Norandex products directly from Norandex?
Norandex supplies a professional-grade product line designed with the trades in mind. As a subsidiary of ABC Supply Co., Inc., Norandex products are sold exclusively through ABC Supply.
Homeowners who would like the opportunity to purchase Norandex products at any of the ABC Supply locations nationwide may do so by purchasing through a qualified contractor builder, remodeler or trade installer.
2. Can vinyl siding be painted?
While vinyl siding was designed to do away with painting and costly maintenance, there are those rare occasions where painting is the only viable option available – especially when matching the existing color to an older panel as a last resort. The key to getting good results when painting vinyl is all in the prep work. Roughing all surfaces and making sure they are clean and free of dirt, dust or moisture is key to insuring that the paint will coat evenly, provide good adhesion and will bond with the panel surface.
Norandex recommends that, should you choose to paint your siding, which will in turn void your Norandex warranty, you use a high-quality exterior paint and apply with professional-grade painting tools under ideal weather conditions for best results. We also suggest that you check with your local paint store, hardware store or homecenter for professional advice on which type of paint – oil, latex or acrylic is best suited for coating a prepared vinyl surface in your particular climate.
3. Should my installer use house wrap or insulation board before siding, and if so, what thickness?
Norandex recommends that a whole house wrap or rigid insulation board be applied to the exterior prior to the installation of vinyl siding. Because vinyl siding is not waterproof, the installation of a wrap or insulated board between the existing wall and the vinyl siding acts as an auxiliary moisture barrier. Although a wall of interlocked siding will shed most water away, the presence of a barrier underneath helps prevent any damage that may result from moisture trapped between the vinyl siding and exposed, "un-wrapped" walls.
Along with moisture prevention properties, a layer of weatherproofing such as a house wrap/insulation board also provides an added insulation value and helps shield the home's original exterior from exposure to wind, weather and dampness. It can also act as a sound barrier by buffering outside noise. Most wraps are compatible in thickness, however insulation board ranges in thickness, and generally, the thicker the material, the more R-value the board provides. If there is insulation, check the manufacturers specifications as the depth of space allowed by the method in which the siding is applied usually dictates the thickness of the insulation board used.
You can also choose Norandex Polar Wall Plus! siding, with an insulating polystyrene board laminated to the back of our premium grade vinyl siding---it's an all-in-one application that gives you top quality siding AND thermalizing insulation board all in one product. Read about Polar Wall Plus! siding under the Vinyl Siding Products section.
4. Is vinyl siding waterproof?
Vinyl siding is not waterproof, despite common misconceptions. Thanks to its overlapping profile, a standard interlocking wall of horizontal vinyl panels will effectively shed most rain and water away, providing superior water resistance. However, no vinyl siding is completely impervious to outside moisture from dampness rain or snow. For that reason, Norandex siding panels are manufactured with "weep holes" located at the bottom of each panel projection edge. These small but important outlets help channel away water that might find its way inside the siding wall through the panel seams and around moldings, windows, door and fixtures.
Weep holes also allow the infiltration of air, which also helps to dry out the inner surface of the siding while promoting evaporation of any remaining moisture. The application of house wrap and or insulation board also provides for a secondary defense against outside moisture that might penetrate the siding and come in contact with the original sheathing.
5. What are the advantages of vinyl siding over other types of siding products?
Among all the siding products available to today's builders and remodelers, none compares with vinyl siding for its lightweight yet durable, maintenance-free features. Thanks to its solid composition, vinyl won't rot, chip, flake or blister the way wood siding can and often does. And thanks to new manufacturing innovations and technological advancements, vinyl grains, colors and capstocks are truer, richer and more authentic than ever before. When it comes to installation, vinyl is still the overwhelming choice of today's builders and remodelers thanks to its ease of handling, availability, durability and lasting good looks. To homeowners, vinyl is the sensible, good-looking alternative to the expense, labor and aggravation associated with whole house painting and yearly exterior maintenance.
Vinyl adds to the resale value of most any home, and no exterior cladding offers such a wide array of grains, finishes, embossing patterns or color combinations. What's more, Norandex now offers vinyl siding with exclusive ColorHold® technology that virtually eliminates fade and standard PVC oxidation concerns. More than ever, vinyl is the sensible choice that will add value to and beautify any home and make life easier for any homeowner.
6. Is the Norandex warranty better than most, or are all warranties pretty much the same?
All vinyl siding warranties do not provide equal protection because not all vinyl siding is created equal. You can be sure every Norandex vinyl siding panel provides certified quality not only because it adheres to the rigid standards of the Vinyl Siding Institute, it is the only siding manufactured by systems that are ISO-9001-2008 Certified by Underwriters Laboratories.
With that much built-in quality, Norandex can offer a strong non-prorated, transferable limited lifetime warranty on all of our vinyl siding.
Norandex also leads the industry by offering extended fade protection for our exclusive ColorHold® acrylic capping technology. For complete and specific warranty information, be sure to read our standard and ColorHold® vinyl siding warranties.
7. Does 'thicker' siding mean 'better' siding?
The thickness of a vinyl siding panel is important because it can add to the panel's overall rigidity, but thickness in and of itself does not assure quality, durability, performance or value.
Even more important than thickness are such features as nailing hem design, panel architecture and projection, locking mechanism, embossing grain, capstock formulations, chemical consistency, and UV inhibitors. All of these important features can help provide increased benefits, like wind and fade resistance, panel rigidity and tensile strength---and so ALL of them, in addition to thickness, are important to consider and ask about when choosing a quality panel.
8. Can siding panels made for horizontal installation be applied vertically?
No. Those Norandex siding panels specifically manufactured for horizontal installation cannot be hung in any other manner other than horizontally. Installing panels in a way for which they were not designed will negate their effectiveness and performance, and doing so will serve to void any and all warranty protection offered with the purchase.
Panels intended for horizontal application are designed so that the nailing hem, locking mechanism, profile functionality and water shedding features will provide optimum performance when installed properly. To accommodate those applications that call for non-horizontal applications, Norandex supplements its extensive line of horizontal designs with panels specifically designed for a variety of vertical applications as well as a complete line of Soffit, Beaded Porch, and Board & Batten. That's why the pros look to Norandex for quality panels and advanced designs to fit most every professional application imaginable!
9. Can vinyl siding withstand hot and cold weather extremes?
Absolutely! Excellent 'weatherability' is just one of the many reasons vinyl siding is the choice of professional builders, architects and homeowners alike. Technically advanced vinyl siding formulated of quality ingredients and manufactured within close tolerances within state-of-the-art, quality-controlled facilities such as Norandex brand siding, will withstand virtually any and all kinds of harsh weather or seasonal extremes.
Unlike other weather-sensitive claddings that can and do slowly deteriorate and wear from year after year of seasonal changes and temperature fluctuations, vinyl siding reacts and adjusts to thermal extremes by expanding and contracting as the temperature rises or falls. Whether your home is subject to a moderate climate, an unusually wet environment, frigid winds or hot, humid conditions, properly hung Norandex vinyl siding will continue to maintain its good looks and handsome design no matter what the weather.
10. My siding was not firmly attached to the wall, why?
Vinyl siding is never "attached to the wall," rather it is "hung on the wall." The difference is what separates a professional installation from a problematic one. One of the inherent properties of Poly Vinyl Chloride(or PVC as it is more commonly referred to) is its thermal expansion properties. PVC expands as temperatures rise and contracts as temperatures fall. If you measure the expansion from one extreme to the other, you'll find that a typical siding panel expands/contracts at a rate of approximately ¼ inch for every 12-foot vinyl panel.
For that reason, expert installers will always hang siding in such a manner that allows for just the right amount of "looseness" or "play" to accommodate movement of the siding during thermal expansion. It is crucial that vinyl siding be cut, lapped and attached with fasteners at just the right depth and with the proper spacing and layout to insure the installation will look its best regardless of the outside temperature. That is precisely why Norandex recommends that all vinyl siding installations be professionally hung by experienced, quality-conscious installation contractors. Your home deserves no less than a quality product and a professional installation.