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Vinyl Siding vs Aluminum Siding: Which Is Better?

Written By: Stephanie Vanderbilt, Owner
Reviewed By: Coastal Windows & Exteriors
Last updated: September 4, 2026
Coastal Windows and Exteriors certifications including Google 5 star reviews BBB accreditation James Hardie Elite Preferred and Inc 5000 award
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Vinyl siding significantly outperforms aluminum for homeowners, delivering 97% ROI, superior durability, and convincing wood-look options. Coastal Windows & Exteriors is a woman-owned exterior remodeling company that has completed 7,000+ installations since 2011 across 730+ towns in Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Maine, installing durable vinyl and foam-backed siding that resists dents, corrosion, and fading.

Aluminum corrodes, dents, and can look unsightly. Those aren’t minor inconveniences — they’re ongoing maintenance costs waiting to happen. Vinyl and foam siding eliminate all three problems entirely.

What Homeowners Need to Know:

  • Aluminum Is Not Ideal for Coastal Conditions: Salt air quickens corrosion on aluminum siding. Homeowners who make the switch to vinyl stop paying for those problems!
  • Vinyl Delivers 97% ROI: Quality vinyl siding averages $17,590 nationally with 97% ROI. Homeowners invest in the future by installing vinyl.
  • Foam Siding Cuts Energy Costs: Foam-backed insulated vinyl improves home air tightness by an average of 11%. Meanwhile, it can lower gas energy bills by 15%. Aluminum actively works against those savings across cold winters.
  • Vinyl Siding That Looks Like Wood: Modern vinyl profiles look like natural wood without the salt air vulnerability, moisture damage, or repainting. Homeowners get authentic New England curb appeal with vinyl!
  • Vinyl Has Been #1 Since 1995: Vinyl siding has been the top exterior cladding choice in the U.S. and Canada since 1995.
  • Fire Safety Stays Strong: Rigid PVC vinyl requires 45% oxygen to sustain combustion, well above the 21% found in normal air. Homeowners can enjoy peace of mind with the Class-A fire rating of vinyl siding.

Choosing the Best Siding for Your Home

  • Best Overall: Vinyl siding that looks like wood for most homeowners, proven coastal performance, 97% ROI, and permanent relief from aluminum’s corrosion and thermal bridging issues make it the strongest exterior investment.
  • Best for Energy-Focused Homeowners: Foam insulated vinyl captures the full 11% air tightness improvement and 15% heating cost reduction that aluminum’s poor thermal performance actively prevents. Homeowners managing high monthly energy costs will find foam siding worth every dollar of the premium.
  • Best for Aluminum Replacement: Properties showing corrosion, denting, or thermal performance gaps should prioritize replacement before deterioration compounds. Homeowners who act early avoid the most costly exterior repair scenarios, and come out ahead with a product that actually performs in a coastal New England climate!

Request a free siding estimate from Coastal Windows & Exteriors.

Browse our complete siding FAQ guide from Coastal Windows & Exteriors.

Explore our Siding Exterior Remodeling Home Improvement Help Center.

Still have questions about Vinyl Siding vs Aluminum Siding: Which Is Better? See the areas we serve and talk to your local siding contractor.

Last Updated: July 2026

Sources:

  • The average cost of vinyl siding in New England is $17,590, with a return on investment of 97% at resale. Remodeling Cost vs. Value — New England Regional cost and ROI data for vinyl siding installation in the New England market. (2026)
  • Installing insulated siding can improve a home’s air tightness by an average of 11%. Polymeric Exteriors Insulated Siding Guide Industry guidance on the air tightness and energy performance benefits of insulated siding. (Accessed April 2026)
  • Reduced air infiltration in the home cuts natural gas or heating oil consumption by 15%. ENERGY STAR Seal and Insulate ENERGY STAR guidance on heating and cooling savings from reducing air infiltration. (Accessed April 2026)
  • Vinyl siding has been the number one exterior cladding choice in the U.S. and Canada since 1995. Polymeric Exteriors Insulated Siding Guide Industry data on the long-running market dominance of vinyl siding in North America. (Accessed April 2026)
  • Rigid PVC vinyl requires 45% oxygen to sustain combustion, well above the 21% found in normal air. Polymeric Exteriors Insulated Siding Guide Technical fire safety data on the combustion thresholds of rigid PVC vinyl siding. (Accessed April 2026)

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Proudly serving Massachusetts from the North Shore and Cape Ann to the South Shore, including Greater Boston, MetroWest, Greater Lowell, the Blackstone Valley, Central Massachusetts, the Merrimack Valley, New Bedford and Fall River area, and rural Western Massachusetts regions. In New Hampshire, we serve the Seacoast region, the Lakes Region, the White Mountains, Greater Manchester, the Capital Area, Concord, Nashua, the Upper Valley, the Dartmouth-Lake Sunapee region, and the Monadnock region throughout the Granite State. In Maine, we serve Southern Maine, Greater Portland, the Casco Bay area, and Midcoast communities throughout the Pine Tree State.

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Boost Curb Appeal. Increase home value.