subject: Choosing Vinyl Siding Colors - Express Yourself, Or Not? [print this page] You've always fantasized about spicing up your house with a "fun" exterior palette - perhaps bold red with contrasting trim, or lavender with dark purple accents. Now you're choosing new vinyl siding colors and have hundreds of options from which to choose. Is this the time to "wow" your neighbors and express the inner you?
Maybe not. Consider these tips for selecting vinyl siding colors to avoid making any decisions you may regret down the road.
Consider resale value. Because today's vinyl siding is durable and long-lasting, you could be stuck with your color choice for a long time. Will future buyers truly appreciate the orange siding with red and yellow accents? If you have any doubts, then tone it down.
Take a look around the neighborhood. Some homeowners in historic neighborhoods are choosing historically accurate palettes, which can include pinks, blues, and other bright and vibrant colors. If your color scheme will fit in, then go for it. However, if you have any concern that your vinyl siding colors will make you the object of derision and contempt among your neighbors, then try to hold back.
Get a realistic idea of how your vinyl siding colors will look. Equip yourself with some color samples and hold them up against your house while you have plenty of natural light. You may decide that chartreuse is more fun to think about than to look at.
Once you choose your color scheme, make sure to select siding that is certified to meet the ASTM standards for vinyl siding color retention. The Vinyl Siding Institute maintains a list of certified colors and products.
