Vinyl log siding is a great way to achieve the log cabin look with a material that weighs less than wood, generally costs less, and requires little maintenance.
Luckily for homeowners, there are a variety of manufacturers that create this unique material.
Learning about the various companies that produce log vinyl siding will help you determine if you’re getting a quality product or if your siding might not look authentic.
What Is Vinyl Log Siding?
Log siding gives you the traditional wooden look at a fraction of the price because you’re only paying for half or quarter logs, rather than full logs.
But it comes with a few problems, namely that it requires regular maintenance, is vulnerable to insect infestations, and needs special coating to guard it from wet weather.
Vinyl log siding solves all of those problems.
It’s a type of siding made using tough and durable vinyl that’s fashioned to look like logs.
While it contains no real wood (which obviously reduces its authenticity), that lack of wood means no more worries about insects and the effects of wet weather.
It tends to cost less, too, thanks to being a human-made material, and it requires far less maintenance than the real thing.
Did you know? When it’s properly maintained, vinyl siding can last up to 40 years. That’s about double what wooden log siding can last.
What Is The Average Cost Of Vinyl Log Siding
See Costs in Your Area!
Start Here - Enter your zip
To calculate the average cost of a vinyl log siding installation, you need to know the costs of materials and installation per square foot.
The siding itself tends to cost between $3.50 and $10 per square foot, depending on the brand, with installation carrying similar costs of between $4.50 and $11 per square foot.
That gives an average cost of vinyl log siding installed of between $8 and $21 per square foot.
From there, consider the fact that the average American home has 1,580 square feet of exterior wall space.
If you’re looking to achieve a complete log cabin look, that means you’ll pay a total between $12,640 and $33,180 for installation, again depending on the brand of vinyl siding and your installer’s fees.
Vinyl Log Siding Cost per Square Foot
As mentioned, log vinyl siding costs between $3.50 and $10 per square foot, with installation adding $4.50 to $11 per square foot. That gives an average of about $14.50 installed.
Vinyl Log Siding Cost By Brand
The brand of vinyl siding you choose has a massive impact on your cost, with some brands giving you a cost-effective option while others charge substantially more.
The following are four major brands, and their prices, so you can determine which is the best choice for you.
| Brand | Price Per Square Foot | Installation Cost Per Square Foot | Total Cost for a 1,580 Square Foot Wall |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adirondack Cypress Vinyl Log Siding | $4.00-$5.00 | $4.50-$11 | $13,430-$25,280 |
| Mastic EverPlank by Ply Gem | $6.00-$8.00 | $4.50-$11 | $16,590-$30,020 |
| Montebello Insulated Log Siding | $4.80-$6.00 | $4.50-$11 | $14,694-$26,860 |
| CertainTeed Reverse Board and Batten | $7.00-$8.50 | $4.50-$11 | $18,170-$30,810 |
Adirondack Cypress
Coming in panels measuring 7 x 11 x 11 inches, this siding uses panel projection and J-trim for installation.
A single board covers just over 7 square feet, meaning you need 14 logs per 100 square feet, or about 226 for a 1,580-square-foot exterior wall.
Price – $4 to $5 per square foot
Mastic EverPlank by Ply Gem
Mastic’s EverPlank is a step up from Adirondack, particularly because it focuses on achieving a “real” wood look through texture and carefully placed knotting.
You also won’t see a single nail or seam, again creating the authentic look that gives this siding its premium tag.
Color options are varied, too, with everything from wicker and desert sand to willow and dark colors in the “premium”.
Price – $6 to $8 per square foot
Montebello Insulated Log Siding
One of the potential problems with log vinyl siding is that it’s often a poor insulator.
Vinyl isn’t great at retaining heat (or keeping heat out on its own), which is a problem that Montebello solves with its insulated siding.
It features a foam underlayment, which keeps heat from escaping and has the added benefit of protecting the siding from minor impacts.
You can get boxes of 14 7 x 11.92-inch panels that cover 100 square feet.
Price – $4.80 to $6 per square foot
CertainTeed Reverse Board & Batten
The “reverse” part of the name of this vinyl log siding clues you into why it’s a popular choice – the panels are vertical instead of horizontal.
While this means they don’t achieve the traditional log cabin look, they’re an excellent choice if you want to make your home look more look an old-school farmhouse.
A box of panels covers 93 square feet, and the price falls under the “premium” umbrella.
Price – $7 to $8.50 per square foot
Additional Vinyl Log Siding Cost Factors
You know the approximate costs of vinyl siding, both for materials and installation, but those aren’t the only factors that affect how much you spend.
Factor 1 – The Size of Your Exterior Wall
The figures used so far in this article assume your home has 1,580 square feet of exterior walls, which is somewhere around the national average.
Of course, not every home is average.
If you have less exterior wall square footage, you can cut your costs for vinyl log siding considerably because you don’t need as much material and your installers have less space to cover.
The inverse is true for larger houses.
Multi-story houses can also present problems that an installer may charge extra for because their crew has to use higher ladders and take on more risk.
Factor 2 – Removal of Old Siding
Any old siding on your home needs to go before you can install log vinyl siding.
Thankfully, this is a fairly cheap process – at least compared to installation – and costs somewhere between $0.20 and $0.80 per square foot.
For a 1,580-square-foot house, that amounts to between $316 and $1,264. But be wary.
A cheaper removal price may not factor the disposal of the old siding into the equation.
Speak to your contractor to make sure you’re getting a full service or, if not, what the cost of disposal will be.
Did you know? Disposal of your old siding usually costs between $400 and $500. Some contractors build that cost into their removal prices, whereas others charge you separately. You also have the choice of disposing of the siding yourself, which takes more effort but tends to cost less.
Factor 3 – The Installation Process
In a perfect world, all vinyl log siding would be simple to install, requiring your contractors to simply nail or adhere it into place.
But that is rarely the case.
Each manufacturer builds its own installation methods into its siding, with some being more complicated than others.
A contractor may charge more per square foot for complex siding than they would for simple siding simply because it takes longer to fit.
You may also need to add additional materials to your exterior walls before installing the siding, such as insulation or house wrap, which bumps your costs up, too.
Where To Buy Vinyl Log Siding
When buying log vinyl siding, start with the major home hardware and DIY stores.
Lowes and Home Depot are good choices because they’re nationwide and often help you to find installers.
However, both stores have contracts with a limited number of siding suppliers, so it’s possible that you won’t find the exact siding you want with either of them.
A better option is to research the type of siding you want, starting with the manufacturer, and working your way from there.
You may be able to buy directly from the manufacturer, cutting down your costs by eliminating intermediaries from the process.
But in many cases, the manufacturer will point you toward a certified retailer that can help you with the specific siding you want.
There’s also the simplest option – search for the siding’s name in Google. That’ll usually give you a list of stores from which you can buy the vinyl log siding you want.
How To Calculate the Amount of Vinyl Log Siding Needed
You only need two things to figure out how much vinyl log siding you need – a ladder and a measuring tape.
The need for the measuring tape is obvious. You need it to measure the length and width of each of your exterior walls, with those figures giving you the square footage of each section.
As for the ladder, your home is taller than you can reach, so you’ll need a ladder to get accurate measurements for the walls from their base to the top of the house.
Assuming you have both tools, divide the job between several people so it’s easier to measure the walls.
In other words, don’t try to measure the entire exterior at once by yourself.
Instead, measure from one wall edge to the next, both length and width and multiply the numbers to get the square footage of that portion of the wall.
Repeat for every portion of the house’s walls, then add the results for each portion together to get the total square footage.
Pro Tip: Always buy a little more vinyl log siding than your calculations suggest that you’ll need. It’s better to complete the job and have a little material left over than to end up with parts of the wall uncovered because you damaged some of your siding during installation.
When To Use Vinyl Log Siding
The best thing about vinyl log siding is that it’s suitable for almost any type of home.
Granted, you may need to add a layer of insulation behind it if you live in a cold climate, but the siding is simple to install and fits on any flat exterior wall.
It’s also a great choice if you want a material that lasts longer than wood, as well as if you want to avoid having to constantly re-stain and check for insect infestations.
But there’s one major downside to log vinyl siding – it’s made using a type of plastic.
That causes two problems.
First, vinyl log siding can look inauthentic next to the real thing, though the better versions of the siding do a decent job at emulating the wood look.
Second, vinyl log siding has a negative environmental impact when you need to dispose of it.
The material is tough to recycle when compared to wood, though this is a problem you won’t need to worry about for several decades.
What Are The Alternatives To Vinyl Log Siding?
Maybe vinyl isn’t for you.
You’re not happy about the environmental impact of using a plastic-based material or you simply want to achieve a different look for your home.
If either’s the case, you may find the following five alternatives to vinyl log siding are better choices.
Vinyl Log Siding vs Hardie Board
See Costs in Your Area!
Start Here - Enter your zip
Hardie Board is the eponymous siding product of the James Hardie company, and it combines cellulose, cement, and sand to create an attractive and durable wood-like look.
That durability is a major plus point, as the siding can stand up to more extreme weather than vinyl log siding.
It’s also customizable and pest-resistant, though these are qualities that it shares with vinyl siding.
The problems are threefold.
Hardie Board needs more regular maintenance than vinyl siding, as you’ll likely have to paint it every decade or so.
It’s heavy as well, making installation more time-consuming and costly.
Add that to the generally higher price you’ll pay for the siding, and you have an option that, though durable and attractive, isn’t as friendly to your budget as vinyl siding.
Vinyl Log Siding vs Fiber Cement
As with Hardie Board, installation of fiber cement siding is more difficult than vinyl log siding due to the weight involved.
For instance, plastic-based siding can generally be moved into place by one person, whereas fiber cement is so heavy that lifting a single panel is often a two-person job.
Again, that’s more time for an installer, adding to your costs.
Did you know? Fiber cement siding, such as Allura, is extremely tough, customizable, and won’t be affected by the heat that direct flames create. It also shares the pest resistance and low maintenance requirements of log vinyl siding.
Vinyl Log Siding vs Stucco
Take cement, mix it with some sand and water, and you have stucco.
That combination of ingredients should clue you into the fact that stucco is a tough material, though the use of cement means it’s heavier than vinyl log siding.
It’s also nice to look at, which is why stucco has been around for a couple of hundred years and will likely stick around for hundreds more.
But problems arise when you throw water into the mix.
Unlike log vinyl siding, stucco absorbs water rather than deflecting it.
This porous nature means that stucco often becomes blotchy or cracked over time, especially if it isn’t maintained properly.
Vinyl Log Siding vs Brick
The choice between vinyl log siding and brick usually comes down to one thing – how do you want your house to look?
If you’re shooting for the log cabin aesthetic, brickwork is about as far away from that look as you can get.
That doesn’t mean it’s unattractive. It just means that bricks aren’t made to look like logs, whereas vinyl log siding is.
On the plus side, bricks are tough, low maintenance, and can stand up to fire, to a point.
But you’ll also have to accept paying about 5% to 10% more for a brick home than you would for a non-brick home using vinyl siding.
What Colors Of Vinyl Log Siding Are Available?
Vinyl log siding can come in practically any color the manufacturer (or the customer) chooses because it’s made using a type of plastic.
You’ll usually see “wood imitation” colors, such as maple or cedar.
But several manufacturers make darker vinyl siding, giving the siding a painted effect.
How Do I Maintain Vinyl Log Siding?
Generally, a clean cloth, a soft-bristled brush, and a basic household cleaner are all that you need to give vinyl log siding a quick wipe-down.
Rinse it with water after wiping to get rid of soap scum and your vinyl will look close to as good as new.
The key is to avoid cleaners that contain solvents or similarly powerful ingredients, such as bleach, grease remover, and furniture polish. They’ll damage the vinyl’s appearance, even if they do help you to get rid of stains or collected muck.
Is Vinyl Log Siding Good?
Vinyl log siding is an excellent choice for people who want to achieve the log cabin look but don’t want to worry about dealing with pests or rot due to moisture.
It’s also simple to apply, keeping installation costs down.
Finally, the premium lines of the siding look just like wood until you get really close to it.
But therein lies the reason some choose to avoid log vinyl siding – at the end of the day, it’s a type of plastic.
It doesn’t look as authentic as the real thing because it isn’t the real thing.
It’s a simulation. But it’s one that’s convincing at a distance and will last longer than real log siding.
Log On To Vinyl Siding With Your Exterior Home Remodel
Vinyl log siding has a lot going for it.
It’s long-lasting, easy to clean, and looks like the real thing, at least to somebody observing your house from the curb.
Combine all of that with straightforward installation and relatively low costs and it’s a superb choice for emulating the log effect or, as is the case with CertainTeed’s Reverse Board and Batten, creating a farmhouse look.
But it isn’t perfect.
Log vinyl siding is far from the most sustainable material, both in terms of production and recycling (if you decide to replace it.)
Plus, there’s no getting away from the fact that while it may look cleaner than real logs, it’s ultimately a copy rather than the real thing.
Your decision hinges on which of these pros and cons you find most important.
