Vinyl siding has drastically improved over the last several decades, with many companies making premium products that offer incredible durability, longevity, and appearance. However, choosing vinyl siding isn't always as simple as picking out a color and letting your installer get to work. A surprisingly large number of factors can influence the final appearance of your home's siding.

Whether you're replacing your siding, adding vinyl siding to your home for the first time, or constructing a new custom house, there's plenty you can do to achieve the look you want. These three tips will help you make the right choice with your vinyl siding to enjoy your home's appearance for many years.

1. Pay Attention to the Length

Most people focus on color and texture when looking at siding options. While there's no denying that these two characteristics can dramatically affect your home's appearance, there's a more subtle and often overlooked feature: length. Vinyl siding comes in panels of varying lengths, with higher-end siding sometimes being available in much longer lengths.

Why does length matter? The simple answer is "seams." Seams appear wherever two panels meet, and they're an unavoidable part of traditional vinyl siding. A good installer will minimize their appearance, but you can't eliminate them. However, long panels can reduce the total number of seams on your home, making them much harder to notice.

2. Focus on Your Home's Design

While length is important, using the same length throughout your home is not necessary. Longer panels are more expensive, so using the largest size available may be cost-prohibitive. A good installer can work with the design of your home to reduce seams and improve your house's overall appearance, even when working with smaller panels.

For example, long panels may work well to minimize seams on parts of your home with long walls and few windows. Shorter panels can be more appropriate in other areas where shutters, windows, doors, or other features break up the walls. Mixing and matching this way will allow you to save money and work with your home's unique design to achieve a near-seamless look.

3. Consider Thicker Siding

Thicker siding has some practical advantages, such as providing more sound and thermal insulation, but it can also affect your home's appearance. Thin siding may sag slightly, creating more noticeable seams between panels, a problem that may be more apparent with shorter panel lengths. Thicker siding, especially siding with insulated backers, often results in much straighter installs.

Ultimately, there's sure to be a vinyl siding option that works for nearly any home or budget. Instead of choosing a color and calling it a day, spend some time discussing additional options with your contractor to ensure you get the perfect siding for your home. 

For more information, contact a local company like Harris Home Exteriors.