Has anyone steered away from vinyl siding because of their environmental issues?
If you considered vinyl and decided not to use it, why?
If you considered vinyl and decided to use it in spite of the issues, why?
I’d like to hear everyone’s story because no one sits on the fence regarding vinyl siding. It’s either better than mother’s milk, or devil in disguise.
Here is background information about the published issues. I’m sorry to post a link which is so clearly ‘green-biased,’ but many other more neutral sites – except the vinyl manufacturers – also refer to the safety issues discussed here. Though not in such extreme.
Vinyl Exam: Eliminating PVC in Your Home — Washington Toxics Coaltion
The issues have to do with off-gassing during manufacture of the vinyl material, and off-gassing through the life of the product itself, and toxicity of gasses from the material when it burns.
I have found nothing from the manufactures which out-and-out deny these statements. Or even to diminsh them. But on the other hand, if the material were so toxic, the government would have it banned.
So that’s why I am asking. Vinyl is significantly less expensive and more durable than many other materials. I just want to know opinions from other folks.
Thanks.
Replies
Vinyl is less expensive than many other materials, but not nearly as durable as most. It'll probably outlast aluminum and cheap hardboard, but not much else.
Re the environmental issue, one must consider the useful lifetime of the siding. It's reasonable to produce double the pollution making/disposing of a product that will last twice as long. But even considering that (or especially considering that) I suspect that vinyl is environmentally a poor choice.
Likely these considerations do favor at least buying a better, more durable vinyl, if you go that route. Probably the increase in total pollution isn't that great compared to the increase in lifetime of good vinyl vs the cheap stuff.
Yes or no - No!
I put vinyl on my new house only because I needed to for budget purposes when new. I will replace with Hardi within the next 10 years.
Now I don't want to step on any envirnomental toes but I WANT more PVC on my house. I live in Floirda and on a 6 year old house already have two rotten door jambs and a rotten porch post...All of which were back primed AND set on 30lb felt yet still got water on them somehow and now need replaced.
I want a whole house out of PVC. I know its not the best for the environment but it kills me to do work over again due to fighting with Mother Nature which is a war I cannot win. At least with PVC or other plastics, the house will be around for awhile.
Mike
That's exactly what I am fighting with, Mike. If we are dealing with something that has a marginal negative impact during manufacture, but has a service life 10 times longer than friendly material, we might just be net ahead on environmental impact.I would sort of like to know 'how bad is bad.' If we are bringing life as we know it to an end ... well, I'll stick with our log cabin and thatched roof.In California we passed leglislation which attempts to reduce the amount of charcoal fluid used to start our BBQs. Every time that I fly to Dallas for business, in my speedy Boeing 737, I think about all that starting fluid that I've saved.So anyway ... thanks for the feedback.Martin
Martin,
Sure, no problem.
I guess I base my thought on I have a minor in environmental science and all I see is "friendly" stuff costing more and yet it may not be as good so if you have to change "friendly" twice for "nonfriendly" once and the negative effects are not as bad, I'm not sure they are worth it.
Example: We estimated building a "green" house for client. Green as in environmentaly friendly not a Green House for plants. Well, it came out $26k higher than the comparable standard house and the first things the client said after they said "No way" was "Why don't I just build the standard house and make a $26k donation to Greenpeace or another foundation and get a tax write off for it?" A bit of a smart alec reply but an example of what folks seem to think on some means of the smaller side of enviornmental concerns vs. the bottom line.
Mike
No. Never ever considered it. It's ugly and fake, the rest isn't much relevent from my POV.
Yep..its bad for the enviorment. Bad Feng Shui : )
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yV460jyubzI
I have dreamt of an open world, borderless and wide... where the people move from place to place, and nobody's taking sides.. http://www.yusufislam.com
http://WWW.CLIFFORDRENOVATIONS.COM
I find it perfectly acceptable to use vinyl, to completely disregard it because of some envirionmental concern should only enter your mind if you are fanatical about your environmatal beliefs.
There are drawbacks to processing EVERY building material in existence, wether its use of raw materials, energy used in prodction, chemicals, out gassing, solvents, disposal, life cycle...
I agree you can always find an arguement against something. Depleting the forests, child labor practices, unreasonable minimum wages in foreing lands, work conditions, adding to the problem of global warming, amount of fuel used for production, pollution, etc., etc., etc.
Unfortunately, material decisions on one project does not save the environment or the world. Material decisions on a regional scale starts to be noticeable. Material decisions on a national scale will begin to turn heads. Unfortunately, all of this will just trickle down to relocation of manufacturing plants to more third world countries, more unemployment where the plants have shut down, and more profits for the board of directors and share holders.
If it's a matter of budget, unfortunately I choose vinyl. If its a matter of maintenance free for the lifespan of the homeowner, unfortunately I choose vinyl. If its a matter of less maintenance and long lasting stabililty, I choose fibercement, stone, masonry. If its trying to balance of as much everything as possible, I just put everything in a blender and see what happens.
Most of what I rather do is cedar, brick, stone, fibercement, traditional stucco (not in any particular order).
Edited 11/29/2006 4:32 pm ET by JoeArchitect