Written by Corey A. Thrush
A Rust Bucket & Vinyl Siding… Where the Differences Lie in 2017?
It’s that time again… the paint on the exterior of your home has finally begun to flake, chip, and peel… but you just had this done four years ago, you say, and it is already time to get the pocketbook back out! Did you know, that based on the size of an average home, a home will need to be repainted or stained every four years? And let’s face facts, that comes with a big expense! The average cost to repaint or stain a home runs around $6,000 each time around. So basically, in a roundabout way, you need to put back around $1,250 each year to be prepared for when the time comes to paint your home.
That repetitive cycle is what eventually turns a once-beautiful exterior into what I call a Rust Bucket. Not necessarily rusted metal — but a home that looks tired, weather-beaten, and worn out because maintenance never truly ends.
Now there is a solution… vinyl siding! Yes, you read that correct. Vinyl siding! Now to some homeowners, who may roll their eyes when those two words are mentioned, it’s time to quit thinking about the reputation this product may have had in the past and look at it now. Just like any product, kinks and flaws work themselves out over time, and that is true when it comes to the vinyl siding industry.
Rust Bucket Maintenance vs Long-Term Exterior Protection
Fade factor has always been an issue with darker colors when it came to vinyl siding. It’s always been accepted and understood that dark colors were not meant for vinyl. Even some of the milder colors, such as Ivory and Linen, have been known to somewhat fade.
When discussing vinyl siding there are a few common terms that are used when it comes to fade factor: Hunter Scale and Units, as well as Delta E.
Fade factor is measured on the Hunter Scale which uses Hunter units in Delta E as the way of measurement. A Delta E is a unit of measure that gauges and measures the difference between two colors. “A Delta E of 1 or less between two colors that are not touching one another is barely perceptible by the average human observer. The higher the Delta E, the greater the difference between the two samples being compared.”
For homeowners trying to avoid that Rust Bucket appearance year after year, this matters. The less fading, the less repainting. The less repainting, the more consistent your exterior investment becomes.
A prime example of this relates directly to the car industry. Have you ever seen an old car running down the road that is rusted and beat up, or possibly even one from the 1950’s sitting in a junkyard on its last leg? We all have, right?
Have you ever noticed the taillights? I mean we see the rest of the car is rusted to bone and the paint is faded and chipped away, but what about those tail lights? They’re still shiny! They look brand new, don’t they? The reason is acrylic. Tail lights contain acrylic to help retain their finish over time.
The difference between a well-protected exterior and a
Rust Bucket look often comes down to surface technology and exposure resistance. Sun, wind, and moisture are relentless. According to the
U.S. Department of Energy, siding plays a critical role in long-term durability and energy performance.
That is why modern vinyl siding systems have evolved dramatically from what many people remember decades ago. Today’s materials are engineered to resist ultraviolet damage and minimize noticeable color shift over time.
Testing, Performance, and Long-Term Results
Manufacturers put products through extensive real-world testing, including multi-year exposure studies. Observations show that improved technology significantly reduces visible color change over time.
Compare that to the repaint-every-four-years cycle and the Rust Bucket comparison becomes clearer. Repainting repeatedly may maintain appearance temporarily, but it never eliminates the maintenance loop.
The point is simple: avoid the Rust Bucket cycle. Invest once in something engineered for longevity instead of budgeting annually for temporary cosmetic fixes.
This is just one topic of the many discussions that can take place when speaking about vinyl siding. I could go on and on about the pros of vinyl siding but this blog would end up being pages long, and neither you or I want that.
So in our next blog we will discuss the phenomenon of the siding wave. Tune in next time to see just what exactly I am talking about.
Until next time my friends, keep improving — and keep your home from ever resembling a
Rust Bucket.
More Expert Insights
If you want your home to feel comfortable—not drafty or inconsistent—read our guide on window condensation in Ohio. It explains what’s normal, what’s a red flag, and when it’s time to repair or replace, so small issues don’t turn into big problems.
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