Lately, manufacturers have been introducing vinyl siding lines with traditional profiles—with board-and-batten, beadboard, and shingle styles dominating—and with features that offer performance improvements over products of the past. Deeper, darker color palettes and insulated panels also continue to proliferate.
Cedar Discovery double 7-inch shingles are now available in Alcoa Home Exteriors' DreamColor palette of more than 700 colors and custom-color matching capabilities. The polypropylene siding is designed to give the look of hand-installed cedar shingles, and it features the Tornado-Tough nailing hem, a full-panel side lock, and the C-Lok continuous locking system. 800.962.6973. www.alcoahomes.com.
Available in two profiles that give the look of milled cedar shingles, CertainTeed's Northwoods vinyl shingle panels come in a 10-foot length for faster installation and fewer laps. Single 7-inch straight-edge rough-split shakes feature a ¾-inch panel projection, detailed grain texture, and tapered gaps for a natural look. Single 10-inch random hand-split shakes offer random gaps, a 1-inch panel projection, and grain texture on full overlap for a seamless look. 800.233.8990. www.certainteed.com.
Cedarway 8-foot cedar-shake vinyl siding panels from Atlantis Plastics offer a thick, true cedar-grain profile with a 7-inch exposure and more staggered seams for a natural wood appearance. The long-length panels feature variable-width keyways that are designed to expand and contract without opening or buckling, and special temperature lines are molded into the panels to guide fast, accurate installation. 888.501.7977. www.atlantisplastics.com.
Featuring a “true flat” design, Mitten Vinyl's InsulPlank Double 6-inch Horizontal siding incorporates a top-locking feature that helps keep joints and seams tight and uniform and allows for fast installation. A foam backing permanently bonded to the panel's polymer exterior profile provides for an R-4 insulation value and reduces noise. The siding will not crack, break, or rot and never requires caulking or painting, according to the company. 800.265.0774. www.mittenvinyl.com.
Crane Performance Siding's CraneBoard Double 6½-inch Beaded features wider, straighter planks with a panel face and bead that replicate the detail of hand-milled beaded cedar planks, the maker says. The siding panels interlock to keep seams tight and flat. The Solid Core foam backing delivers an R-value of 2.8 and deadens sound by up to 45%. The panels come in 12-foot lengths. 800.366.8472. www.cranesiding.com.
Nailite's Cape Cod Perfection EZ vinyl siding offers the appearance of traditional white cedar perfection shingles and features a three-tier panel design with a side-interlocking system that makes installation easy. Each shingle has a 4½-inch exposure to provide more design options than standard 6- and 7-inch shingle exposures, the manufacturer says. Cape Cod Perfection EZ panels measure 43 5/8 inches long by 15½ inches high. 888.300.0070. www.nailite.com.
Alside's Prodigy Next Generation Insulated Siding, featuring a 1½-inch overall thickness, offers a system R-value of 5. The vinyl siding's interlocking panel design provides a secure fit to eliminate insulation gaps. Prodigy features a flat 6-inch face that gives the look of traditional single-plank siding, as well as a 16-foot, 8-inch panel length to minimize overlaps. A line of fully insulated trims and accessories is available. 800.922.6009. www.alside.com.
The addition of Luran S ASA thermoplastics to Royal Building Products' Royalside Compound and Dura Technology process provides fade protection for the rich, dark colors of Colorscapes vinyl siding. The technology also delivers impact resistance. A color-through process hides scratches. Panels feature a ¾-inch butt height that increases rigidity and enhances shadow lines for a realistic wood look. The double-roll nailing hem allows the panel to withstand winds up to 180 mph. 800.387.2789. www.royalbuildingproducts.com.
