Doing Vinyl Right

I'm a contractor in southern New England. My business, the Storm Tite Company, installs replacement doors and windows, porch enclosures, and gutters, but our specialty is vinyl siding. There are a lot of older houses in our area, many of which feature extensive trim and ornamental woodwork. We have a reputation for knowing how to apply vinyl without changing the character of structures that were originally sided with wood, so we're often hired for those types of demanding jobs.

Most builders and homeowners are already familiar with the benefits of vinyl. Vinyl siding is durable, installs easily, and resists fading, denting, and scratching. Once it's installed, it requires no maintenance other than an occasional wash with a garden hose — a major selling point for modern homeowners who don't have the time or patience to...