Stucco vs Vinyl Siding: Which is Better for Your Home?

When it’s time to replace your home’s exterior, the options available can be overwhelming. One of the biggest debates is: stucco vs vinyl siding – which is better for your home?

Both seem like great options on the outside, but there’s one that’s clearly the better option for Midwest homeowners.

In this article, we’ll go over the stucco vs vinyl siding battle and at the end, we’ll come to a conclusion on which one we think is better. Without further ado, lets get started.

What’s Stucco?

Before we can explain which is better, you may be wondering what stucco is. It’s made by mixing cement or earth, lime and silica together. This creates a strong, durable material that many homeowners choose for their home exterior.

The question is, can it compete with America’s most popular home cladding option, vinyl siding? We’re about to find out!

You’ll be Paying Way More with Stucco Siding

Many homeowners make their decision based on price. While we don’t recommend this being the end all, be all factor to consider, it’s very important. Right off the bat, you’ll notice that stucco siding is a much more expensive option than vinyl siding.

Stucco costs about $6-$9/square foot which is the most expensive home cladding option available. While vinyl siding prices range greatly, even the most expensive option doesn’t cost nearly that much money.

So, stucco is way more expensive. Sure, that’s a pretty big negative but, if it’s the superior option, then it’s worth the price. Keep reading and you might be surprised by the answer.

Both Options Are Energy Efficient, But One is Better

Both vinyl and stucco siding are energy efficient options for your home. They trap heated and cooled air inside your home which makes it more comfortable no matter the season.

That’s not all energy efficient home cladding does – it’ll also help you save money on your energy bills. Since the heated and cooled air is trapped inside your home, your furnace and air conditioner will use less power. This will be reflected on your monthly statement.

While both are good options, one is in fact better than the other and it’s vinyl siding. Vinyl siding has a foam insulation board that’s installed beneath the panels. It works like a giant blanket that’s wrapped around your home. No outside air is getting in your home at all.

Vinyl Siding is Easier to Maintain

One huge difference between stucco and vinyl is the amount of maintenance that’s required. Stucco’s colors fade over time and your home will need to be painted in order to keep its looks.

You don’t have to worry about that with vinyl siding – the colors never fade. This is because they’re baked into the siding panels during manufacturing. The sun’s harmful rays will have no effect on your beautiful vinyl siding and decades down the line it’ll look as good as it did when it was first installed.

The only maintenance required with vinyl siding is that it’ll need to be cleaned once per year. With a simple power washing, it’s a job that shouldn’t take longer than 45 minutes. You can read more about it in our article about cleaning vinyl siding.

Don’t forget to get the right cleaner for your vinyl siding.

Would You Believe That Vinyl is More Durable?

Since stucco is made from cement, we’re sure you thought that it would be more durable than vinyl. However, that’s not the case. Stucco can crack and chip when exposed to extreme weather such as hail and heavy winds. Those are rather common in the Midwest.

Also, stucco shouldn’t be used in humid climates or areas with a lot of precipitation. It has a hard time keeping water out of the exterior walls. This can cause mold and mildew to build up which is never a good thing.

It’s the exact opposite with vinyl siding. The panels are resistant to warping, rotting, cracking or chipping. They can withstand anything thrown their way.

Remember that foam insulation board we mentioned earlier? It does more than keep your home well insulated. It also works to absorb shocks so your siding won’t dent or ding. Hail and heavy winds are no match for your vinyl siding.

Certain Stucco Siding is Better Than Others – Quality is Put Into Question

A huge problem with stucco siding is its inconsistency with quality. This is because stucco isn’t always manufactured the same. When the stucco is made from Earth, it isn’t as durable but it’s greener. Cement is responsible for carbon dioxide emissions.

Vinyl is consistent in its manufacturing. You know you’re getting the same product every time. You don’t need to hope that it’s made from a certain component or that it’ll be just as durable as someone else’s siding.

Installation Plays a Huge Role in the Quality of the Siding

Installation plays a major role in the effectiveness of your home claddings. If it’s not installed properly, itwon’t be as durable or energy efficient.

While you hire a professional for both, one is much easier to install than the other. Vinyl is much easier to install so there’s less potential for mistakes. It’s also much harder to fix mistakes with stucco siding.

Which One Has a Better Return on Investment?

If you’re selling your home, return on investment is something you should consider when choosing a home cladding. With all the benefits offered by vinyl siding, there’s no doubt that it has the better return on investment. In fact, you’ll recoup 83% of the install cost. That’s pretty stellar!

The Winner in Stucco vs Vinyl Siding Is…

Vinyl siding! In the battle of stucco vs vinyl siding, there’s no contest. Vinyl siding is more energy efficient, durable and easy to maintain. All of this at a fraction of the cost.

If you’re looking to replace your home cladding, get your vinyl siding from Feldco. We’ve been serving Midwest homeowners for over 40 years and satisfied over 400,000 homeowners. Get a free quote now and start your vinyl siding project today.