What's the Difference Between Vinyl and Polymer Siding?

As part of the research process for finding the best kind of siding to install on your house, you’ve likely run across the usual suspects: vinyl, fiber cement, engineered wood, polymer. But when we talk to homeowners, we’ve learned that there is often a lot of confusion around vinyl and polymer siding specifically.

Is vinyl or polymer siding better for your home? Are they the same product? And if not, what is the difference between the two?

If you’ve been asking yourself these questions, you’re in good company. The information out there can be confusing. So we’re here to help clarify what it means when you see different companies talking about vinyl and polymer siding and which is the right fit for your home.

First off, when we talk about vinyl siding on our website or social media channels, we are also talking about polymer siding. We use the terms vinyl and polymer interchangeably because all the vinyl siding installed by Kansas City Siding and Windows is a polymer. This siding performs great in the weather and temperature conditions we have in the Midwest.

But not all vinyl siding is created equal. That is why you will sometimes see people claiming that polymer is the superior siding option. So while our vinyl siding is also a polymer, cheap vinyl siding that doesn’t include extra additives in the manufacturing process is NOT comparable. (See the image below for an example of cheap vinyl siding installation gone wrong.)

Ultimately, polymer is an industry term. Polymer siding signals that additional additives were included in the siding manufacturing process. The main additive is titanium dioxide, which helps provide impact and fade resistance. The vinyl and polymer siding we install contains twice the titanium dioxide found in traditional vinyl.

What does this mean for siding performance? Twice the titanium dioxide gives you twice the fade and impact resistance. The two biggest enemies of vinyl siding are fading and breakage. So improved manufacturing techniques that keep your siding from fading or becoming brittle add a lot of longevity and value to your siding installation!

Again, all the vinyl and polymer siding we install through KC Siding and Windows includes this additional feature and provides long-lasting quality that holds a lifetime warranty. But that’s not true of all contractors. So make sure when you’re talking to potential contractors about installation, you know the quality of the vinyl siding they install.

So, to break it down into a few simple bullet points:

• All polymer siding is a type of vinyl (but not all vinyl siding is equal protection to polymer).
• The terminology being used doesn’t matter as much as the additives used during the manufacturing process.
• All the vinyl siding KC Siding and Windows installs is also a polymer.
• If you want vinyl siding for your house, ensure it comes from a reputable manufacturer whose processes add impact and fade resistance.
• Cheap vinyl will not hold up well to Midwestern weather and sun. But high-quality vinyl will offer you decades of protection!

If you still have questions, reach out and let us know! But we hope this helped clarify some terminology you’ve run across in your search. To learn a little more about why we think vinyl siding works great on homes in the Kansas City area, see more on our vinyl siding page.

Or, if you’re ready to get vinyl or polymer siding installed on your house, we’d love to help! Simply fill out the form below or call us at 913-324-5569 and we’ll set up your free in-home consultation.