Vinyl Siding Installation and Replacement
Faded, cracked or wavy vinyl makes a house look tired and can let water behind the wall. We install new vinyl siding over house wrap with straight laps, proper gaps and clean trim, including Alside siding.
Vinyl Siding, Start to Finish
Vinyl is the siding most people picture, and for good reason. It never needs paint, comes in a wide range of colors and costs less than most other options. But vinyl lives or dies by how it is hung. Nailed too tight, it buckles in the summer sun. Cut too short, it shows gaps in January. Missing flashing at a window lets water behind the panel, where you never see it until the wall underneath is damaged.
We start with the wall. Old siding comes off, we check the sheathing, then we wrap the house and tape around the windows and doors. Panels are nailed in the center of the slots and left loose enough to slide as they warm and cool. The vinyl industry install manual calls for a 1/4-inch gap at corner posts and channels, widened to 3/8 inch when it is below 40 degrees, so cold-weather jobs get the extra room.
We install Alside siding along with other vinyl lines, and Luke brings samples so you can see colors in daylight on your own house. Want something heavier with a wood texture? Compare vinyl with engineered wood on our LP SmartSide page. Our siding replacement cost guide covers what drives the price, and the main siding installation and repair page explains repairs and smaller fixes.
What a vinyl siding job includes
- Old siding removed and walls checked
- House wrap with taped seams and openings
- Starter strip, J-channel and corner posts
- Panels hung loose for heat and cold
- Vented or solid soffit to match
- Scrap hauled off and a final walkthrough
Signs your vinyl is due
Angi lists warped, cracked or loose panels, heavy fading, water stains, mold and higher utility bills as signs it may be time. On vinyl, also look for panels that pop out of the lock after a windy night, cracks from a stray baseball or hail, and waves you can see when low sun hits the wall from the side. Check the bottom courses and around windows first. If repairs keep adding up year after year, a full re-side often makes more sense.
Vinyl in an Iowa winter
Cold is hard on vinyl. Angi notes it can become brittle and break in extreme cold, which is why a hailstone or a snow shovel can crack a panel in January that would bounce off in July. Thicker panels help. So does a careful crew: we handle and cut vinyl with more care on cold days and leave the wider gaps the install manual calls for. Panels hung right ride out the swing from summer heat to below-zero nights without buckling or pulling apart.
Insulated vinyl and house wrap
Plain vinyl adds little insulation on its own. Angi puts uninsulated vinyl near R-0.61, while insulated vinyl, with foam backing on each panel, is close to fiber cement. Foam-backed panels also feel stiffer on the wall. Either way, the house wrap under the siding is your real water barrier, since some rain always gets behind vinyl. We lap the wrap so water runs out, not in. Ask Luke about insulated panels for siding in Des Moines and nearby towns.
Vinyl Siding Questions
Not seeing yours? Call or text (515) 901-3646 and ask Luke.
Luke, Jaxx & Larry
A family business, third generation. Luke runs every estimate himself and Jaxx works the jobs with him. Larry, the shop dog, mostly supervises.
How long does vinyl siding last in Iowa?
Angi puts vinyl at about 20 to 40 years. Where your house lands in that range depends on panel thickness, the install, sun exposure and storms. Panels hung loose with the right gaps, over good house wrap, hold up far longer than panels nailed tight.
Can vinyl siding be installed in the winter?
Yes, with care. The vinyl siding install manual says to leave a 3/8-inch gap at corner posts and channels when installing below 40 degrees, instead of the usual 1/4 inch. Vinyl is also more brittle when cold, so cutting and handling take more care, and snow days can push the schedule.
Do you install Alside vinyl siding?
Yes. Alside is one of the siding lines we install, and Luke can bring samples to your free estimate. We also install other vinyl lines and LP SmartSide, so you can compare panel styles and colors side by side before you choose.
Is insulated vinyl siding worth it?
It can be. Angi rates plain vinyl near R-0.61, while foam-backed insulated vinyl is close to fiber cement. The foam also stiffens each panel, so walls look flatter and resist dents. It costs more than plain vinyl, so ask Luke to price both on your home.
Can you replace just a few damaged vinyl panels?
Often, yes. Single panels can be unlocked and swapped. The catch is matching: older colors fade and some profiles are discontinued, which Angi notes makes partial repairs hard to blend. Have us out and we will tell you honestly whether a patch will match.
How a Job Runs
Call or Text
Overflowing gutters, tired siding, a drafty window or an addition you have been planning. Tell us what is going on.
Free Estimate
Luke comes out, looks at the house, measures, and walks you through your options in plain words.
A Clear Plan
You get a written estimate and a straight recommendation. No pressure and no runaround.
Install Day
Our crew does the work and keeps the job site clean while we are there.
Walkthrough
We walk the finished job with you and make sure everything is right before we leave.
Vinyl Siding Near You
Our shop is in Mitchellville. Pick your town, or call and ask if we cover it.
Siding pages for your town
More services
Siding
LP SmartSide and vinyl siding installed or repaired, with soffit, fascia and trim to match.
DetailsSoffit & Fascia
Fascia board repair, aluminum and vinyl soffit, and wraps that hold gutters tight.
DetailsLP SmartSide
Engineered wood lap siding and trim with a real wood texture, primed or prefinished.
DetailsNeed Vinyl Siding?
Call or text Luke, or send a few details. Estimates are free, and you get a straight answer on what the house needs.