Vinyl Log Siding vs. TruLog Steel Log Siding

From TruLog™ Steel Log Siding

Choosing new siding for your home is a big decision because it’s a large investment. You hope that the siding material you choose will protect your home for years to come and look great. If you are looking for a faux log siding material to best fit your needs, you will probably consider vinyl log siding because of its low price point. However, when it comes to siding, you get what you pay for. Vinyl siding may have a lower upfront cost, but you will not get the look of real wood and it will not be nearly as durable as our steel log siding. TruLog™ is designed to look just like real wood and last for decades with absolutely no maintenance. Learn more about how vinyl log siding compares to TruLog™ steel siding and contact us when you are ready to own the log cabin of your dreams.

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Vinyl Log Siding vs. TruLog™ Steel Log Siding

When deciding how to construct the log-style cabin that you and your family will call home, you have several options. Vinyl log siding is a great option for some families because it’s cheap and requires no ongoing care. There are some drawbacks to the vinyl option though, including lack of durability and lack of a genuine log appearance. The TruLog™ steel log siding difference is that you get the authentic log home look without the maintenance of other options. For a free estimate, contact the TruLog™ team.

Comparison Category

Vinyl Log Siding

TruLog Siding

Cost of Product

Excellent

Good

Cost of Maintenance

Excellent

Excellent

Ease of Maintenance

Excellent

Excellent

Chalk & Fade Resistance

Poor

Excellent

Warranty/Durability

Poor

Excellent

Moisture Resistance

Excellent

Excellent

Environmentally Friendly

Very Poor

Excellent

Real Log Home Look

Poor

Good

Things to Consider When Evaluating Vinyl Log Siding

Vinyl log cabin siding is inexpensive and readily available. Many homeowners appreciate its low upfront cost and the fact that they won’t have to perform routine maintenance on it like they would with real logs or concrete log siding. 

You should also be aware of the disadvantages of this option, which include:

  • Easily fades
  • Poor resemblance to real wood
  • Lacks durability and strength
  • Not weather-proof

When the weather turns rough — as it often does in Colorado, New Mexico, Wyoming, and other regions where log homes are popular — vinyl log siding is vulnerable to severe damage. Hail can create large holes in the vinyl or rip it off the home altogether, which then leaves your home’s underlying structure open to the weather and moisture. Punctured vinyl siding will have to be replaced, which will come at an additional expense.

Temperature swings and extremely hot or cold temperatures can damage the vinyl log siding as well. Temperature causes expansion and contraction in the vinyl, which may warp, crack, or detach from the walls as a result. Again, you’ll likely have to replace your vinyl siding in this scenario, which will cost you more money.

How Much Does a Vinyl Log Home Cost?

Cost is a significant factor for any homeowner who is renovating, building, or restoring a structure. Vinyl siding has a cost advantage over most other types of siding. Generally, vinyl log siding costs about $3 to $5 per square foot with all the necessary materials that go with it. If you need to cover 1,500 square feet, the material cost averages about $6,000. This is an affordable price, though TruLog™ steel log siding is also quite affordable compared to real wood or concrete siding. But as discussed above, in addition to the initial cost, you must also factor in the cost of needing to replace any damaged vinyl.

Additionally, any vinyl siding you want to replace will have to be thrown out. This material is not recyclable. TruLog™ steel log siding is 100 percent recyclable, which allows you to be more environmentally conscious if you ever decide to dispose of your steel siding.

Fading in Vinyl vs. Steel Log Siding

Another drawback to vinyl for siding your log-style home is how easily it fades. As a result of weathering, UV rays, and normal wear and tear vinyl siding tends to fade easily compared to wood, steel, and concrete siding options. The paint may blister and crack, and you will have to replace all of the vinyl siding as it cannot be repainted. Again, this is an additional cost that you must factor in as you compare faux log siding options.

TruLog™ steel log siding has a durable paint coating and surface protector. It stands up to the harshest elements and resists:

  • Fading
  • Blistering
  • Peeling
  • Scratching
  • Chipping

Whereas damaging UV rays can fade and warp vinyl log siding, the state-of-the-art CoolPaint™ technology used in TruLog™ has reflective pigments that reduce the energy consumption of the walls. DuPont™ Teflon® surface protector makes our coating one of the hardest so it stands up to weather, scratches, and stains. Plus, when you purchase our steel log siding, you automatically get the limited lifetime warranty, which provides 30-year chalk and fade protection. We stand by the quality and durability of our product and we want you to have the maintenance-free, log-style home your family will love.

If you would like a free quote for TruLog™ steel log siding, contact the TruLog™ team in Loveland, Colorado. We ship our boxed steel siding directly to your construction site anywhere in the U.S..

Client Testimonials

Smiling Woman

Love the siding and salesman was very helpful

5 Stars

Love the siding and salesman was very helpful and answered all emails and calls very quickly.

I felt like a valued customer and definitely got a great product. I’ve had nothing but compliments on my home. Thanks!

Tracy T.

Grinning Man

TruLog was so helpful during the whole process

5 Stars

Ryan with TruLog was so helpful during the whole process of getting my family samples to the finish product. TruLog looks amazing on my grandparents house that was an original log cabin.

My grandparents house looks like a new log cabin again. Thank you Ryan and TruLog for everything!

Ben B.

Smiling Man

Easy install and looks fantastic

5 Stars

This was an easy install and looks fantastic when it’s all done and the customers love the look when they come into the store.

I am going to use this product again for another project I am working on. Thanks Tru Log

Scott S.

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TruLog customers across the nation

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In our free catalog, you will learn about the benefits of TruLog’s™ Steel Siding