Vinyl siding comes in more textures, colors and styles than just about any other material, so there are a lot of decisions to make before you have siding installed on your house. Your exterior designer can help. An you can do a bit of research on your own. Find houses in the area with the look you like, or thumb through some magazines to get ideas. You'll want to think about textures, profiles, exposures, colors, soffits and trim, and insulation.
Textures
Look for a realistic surface. Do you want a smooth surface, a woodgrain texture, or a light brush finish?
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Profiles
If you look at the end of a piece of siding, you will discover its profile. Some panels are simple and smooth, others have a beaded edge, and still others have a dutch lap design. Even subtle differences in profiles, such as a more rounded edge, can change the shadow lines on your house.
 Light Beaded |
 Deep Beaded |
 Traditional 8" |
 Double 4" Dutchlap |
 Double 5" Dutchlap |
 Double 4" |
 Double 5" |
 Manor Double 5" Dutchlap |
 Vertical Paneling |
 Triple 3" |
Exposures
The exposure is how much of each "clapboard" is visible. Exposures generally range from 3" to 6 1/2", with some measuring as much as 8".
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