The exterior cladding of your home is arguably one of the most important building material choices that homeowners have to make in the design and construction of their home.
Although choosing cladding material seems like it is mostly dictated by what style one prefers, in practice the exterior cladding has a very significant effect on the house’s durability, weather resistance, and maintenance requirements, the latter of which also factors into the house’s long-term cost. For this reason, the choice is not something to be taken lightly.
Of the many types of exterior cladding options available, siding is one of the most popular. Simple, durable and with a clean design that results in a “planked” effect, there is a lot to like here.
However, some homeowners and home builders have had some issues with traditional siding materials, which has led to the release of newer materials like Everlast. In this article, we will be reviewing Everlast siding, to help you decide on if it is a viable choice for the external cladding in your home.
What is Everlast Siding?
To put it as simply as possible, Everlast siding is a brand of siding that is made with a synthetic composite material, as opposed to wood or vinyl (which are the two most common materials that siding is made out of).
Looking into the manufacturer’s marketing materials shows that Everlast siding is made of granular minerals and polymer resins (more specifically PVC resin). In other words, it is stone mixed in with plastic resin to create a strong paste that is molded into the shape of siding panels, not much different from how fiberglass is made.
Is Everlast Siding Right for Your Home?
The unique composition of Everlast siding was made from the ground up to be a better alternative to siding made of wood, fiber board, and typical vinyl. While it does indeed have its benefits, it is not the best option for every possible use case.
To give you a proper and balanced view, we will be going into detail on all of the pros and cons of Everlast siding below.
Pros of Everlast Siding
1. Better water resistance
One of the main concerns with siding made of wood or wooden fiberboard is that it is very vulnerable to damage from water and rain. For this reason, sealers and paints are typically applied over the siding panels to prevent damage.
Everlast siding, however, is almost completely unaffected by water, which allows it to better withstand heavy rains and floods while also protecting the wall structure behind it.
2. Impervious to mold and termites
The organic nature of wood and fiberboard siding also lends itself to being vulnerable to invasion and damage by termites, as well as mold and mildew growth if the siding absorbs too much moisture.
Like vinyl siding, the wholly synthetic material composition of Everlast siding makes it practically immune from these two issues, giving homeowners one less thing to worry about for their home in the long-term.
3. Does not require painting
Everlast siding can be purchased in a range of colors thanks to the polymer resin component of the material, which allows for dyes to be mixed in. Having such colors means that Everlast siding does not need the same paints and sealers that are practically required on wood siding installations.
For those that might be concerned that Everlast siding might look too austere and industrial feeling, their panels are molded in with a faux wooden pattern that looks fairly authentic from any distance.
4. Lighter and more durable
Compared to wood, Everlast siding can withstand greater impact force, providing the underlying walls with better protection from hail and thrown objects. All this is done while also being lighter than wood and fiber cement siding. The enhanced durability also gives Everlast siding a longer expected lifespan on average.
5. Easier installation
Another benefit of the pre-molded nature of Everlast siding panels is that the installation process for them is a lot easier than siding made of other materials.
One way that this is possible is, as we mentioned earlier, the lighter weight of the panels. The lower weight means that there is less effort required to actually mount the panels onto the walls, getting the job done easier and faster.
Cons of Everlast Siding
1. More expensive
As with most products that offer a long list of benefits over the industry standard, Everlast siding is more expensive overall than any of the other siding materials in common usage right now.
The material is, after all, a complex composite that is not quite as widespread as competing options. Combine that with the fact that the recipe is known only to the one brand that makes them, and the price premium should be no surprise.
2. Limited color options
Although Everlast siding does come in a range of colors, they are ultimately fairly limited compared to what can be achieved with typical vinyl or wood siding and a few buckets of paint.
What’s worse, although you can paint over Everlast siding, its manufacturer really does not want you to, with its warranty policy specifically becoming void when you paint over the panels.
3. Not very environmentally-friendly
As we mentioned previously, Everlast siding is made of a combination of PVC resin and crushed stone. While we have seen that the fully synthetic nature of the material makes it more durable, it does come at the cost of being less safe for the environment.
To clarify for those unaware, PVC (full name polyvinyl chloride) is a petroleum-based plastic, which means that it is made from the components that make up crude oil. Everlast siding, as well as the process used to make it, also uses various chemicals that are harmful for the environment—not to mention that the panels themselves cannot simply be disposed.
Installation Considerations
From the list above, we have laid out in pretty frank terms the potential benefits and drawbacks of using Everlast siding for your home.
However, it is important to remember that the characteristics of Everlast siding—and, in turn, all siding materials in general—are highly dependent on how well the panels are actually installed. Above all else, the quality of the installation work is the major deciding factor in the effectiveness of your siding, so homeowners should definitely ensure that they are working with the right contractors to get the job done.
