Low-maintenance vinyl siding offers great value and comes in dozens of colors and styles. Protects your home while keeping costs reasonable. Fast installation and lasting durability.
Affordable Installation
Vinyl siding is the most affordable exterior siding option. Lower material costs and faster installation mean budget-friendly curb appeal improvement.
Low Maintenance
No painting, staining, or regular upkeep. Just occasional rinsing removes dirt and pollen. That's it.
Color Selection
Dozens of colors available, from classic to contemporary. Wide range of profiles and styles to match your home's design.
Quick Installation
Vinyl installs faster than metal or fiber cement, meaning less disruption to your home and neighborhood.
Acceptable Durability
15-25 year lifespan is respectable for the low cost. When the time comes to replace, you know you got good value.
Energy Efficiency
Modern vinyl with foam backing provides good insulation value. Light colors reflect heat, reducing cooling costs.
Decent Weather Resistance
Modern vinyl resists fading much better than vinyl from 10-20 years ago. UV-resistant formulations are standard.
Vinyl Thickness
Foam Backing Options
Color Through vs. Surface Color
UV Protective Formulations
Profile Options
| Profile | Look | Cost | Durability | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Colonial | Traditional, simple | $ | Excellent | Classic homes, traditional style |
| Dutch Lap | Wood-grain appearance | $$ | Very good | Homes wanting wood appearance |
| Smooth | Modern, clean lines | $ | Excellent | Contemporary homes |
| Shake | Wood shake appearance | $$ | Good | Specialty, decorative effect |
| Board & Batten | Vertical board pattern | $$$ | Excellent | Modern farmhouse style |
Our Recommendation for Ottawa:
Foam-backed premium vinyl with color-through formulation and UV protection offers best long-term value. Standard vinyl works if budget is the priority, but premium vinyl lasts longer and looks better.
We inspect your home's exterior, note any existing issues, and prepare materials and work plan.
Carefully remove existing siding. We inspect sheathing and framing for any underlying damage.
Proper house wrap or felt paper creates secondary moisture barrier. This step is critical and often missed by cut-rate installers.
Flashing around windows, doors, and corners is installed before vinyl panels go on.
Starter strips at foundation establish proper alignment and allows for expansion.
Panels installed from bottom up with proper overlap. Critical: Fasteners must be loose enough to allow panel movement.
All joints, transitions, and connections are sealed to prevent water intrusion.
J-channel, corner posts, and all trim pieces installed and sealed.
We verify proper installation, alignment, and customer satisfaction.
All debris and old materials removed. Your home is left clean and ready.
Vinyl Expands and Contracts
Vinyl expands when warm and contracts when cold. Ottawa's temperature swings (-30°C to +30°C) create significant expansion/contraction stress.
Fasteners Must Allow Movement
Proper Fastening Technique
Why This Matters
Cut-rate installation with improper fastening leads to:
Buckling or Warping
Caused by improper fastening or sun exposure. Indicates fasteners are too tight or panels can't expand. Can lead to water intrusion if severe.
Cracking or Breaking
Extreme cold makes vinyl brittle; excessive impact causes cracking. Few cracks can be repaired; widespread cracking suggests replacement.
Separating or Loose Panels
Fasteners failed or pulled out. Water can get behind panels. Panels need to be reattached or replaced.
Fading or Discoloration
Normal UV exposure over 15-20 years. Not a functional problem but affects appearance. Doesn't mean replacement is needed immediately.
Water Damage Behind Panels
Indicates water barrier failure or improper flashing. May require removal to address underlying issue. Don't wait to fix—damage compounds.
Gaps at Corners or Trim
Sealant degradation over time. Can be resealed without panel removal. Prevents water intrusion.
Age (15+ years)
Vinyl reaching end of typical lifespan. Still functional but nearing replacement time. Plan replacement before widespread problems occur.
Spot Repair
Section Replacement
Full Replacement
Note on Matching
Vinyl colors fade over time. Replacing only some panels may show new vinyl next to faded vinyl. This is normal but something to discuss with us before starting work.
Annual Rinsing
Never Use Power Washer
Inspect Caulking
Avoid Painting Over Vinyl
Dealing With Stains
Winter Challenges
Extreme cold makes vinyl brittle; impacts cause cracks more easily. Snow load: Vinyl doesn't handle as well as metal or fiber cement but is adequate. Ice dams: Smooth vinyl surface sheds water reasonably well but proper installation is critical. Freeze-thaw cycles: Modern vinyl is formulated to handle this.
Spring/Fall Wind Storms
Vinyl resists wind well if properly fastened. Improper fastening leads to panel separation. Professional installation critical for wind resistance.
Summer Heat & UV
UV exposure causes fading over years. Modern vinyl resists fading much better than older formulations. Color choice matters (dark colors fade faster).
Performance Assessment for Ottawa
Vinyl is adequate for Ottawa climate but not ideal. Metal or fiber cement perform better, especially for long-term value. But vinyl works fine if properly installed and maintained. You'll just replace it sooner than metal (15-25 years vs. 25-40 years).
Vinyl vs. Metal
Vinyl vs. Wood
Vinyl vs. Fiber Cement
Thousands of vinyl siding installations on Ottawa homes. We understand proper fastening and installation for our climate.
We understand the critical importance of loose fasteners allowing panel movement. Many installers cut corners here; we don't.
Vinyl's water protection depends on proper barriers and flashing behind panels. We never skip this step.
We source premium vinyl with foam backing and UV protection. Better vinyl means better longevity and appearance.
We warrant our workmanship for 10 years against installation defects.
Full insurance protection for your home and project.
Contact Burnham Brothers for professional service and expert assessment.