Having to repaint the exterior of your home every couple of years is really annoying, isn't it? You might say that your prayers have been answered in the shape of vinyl siding, which saves you the headache of finding someone to hire for this job every couple of years.

Not only does vinyl siding come with products that are guaranteed to last up to 15 years, but it doesn't need much maintenance either pressure washings every now and then will make your house look as good as new.

With an 80% of Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) in its composition, which makes it very durable, vinyl siding is manufactured in a broad variety of profiles, textures and colors. Like every good thing, there is a drawback to using vinyl siding instead of painting, in the sense that you need to choose a color and prepare to stick to it for years to come. Vinyl siding is available in a paintable form, which is still longer lasting than wood, but would leave you with at least some of the maintenance headaches of your existing exterior.

Depending on the type of home you have, you may choose different textures to more closely resemble wood grains or specific finishes such as cedar, logs, or redwood. Depending on the way the panels are attached, there are chiefly two styles of vinyl siding, namely the standard style where panels overlap and the seams are visible, and the seamless style with panels that can be 40 feet wide. For some style homes, you might even want to choose a style that is installed vertically instead of horizontally.

You will also want to consider the thickness of the siding, as that affects both how durable it is and the cost. The panels that you can normally find in home improvement centers are the standard type - 0.040- to 0.045-inch thick, and the premium type 0.055-inch thick. The premium grade sidings are mostly recommendable for houses in typically cold-weather areas or located in the vicinity of water.

If you're a home handyman with a few tools and time on your hands, and if your home is a basic rectangle with no extremely high walls, you can do the installation yourself, but be prepared for some hard work. Along with the cutting and installation of the siding you'll also have to do the corners, window and door tracks and J-channel among others. Although you may save money, the job will be time consuming.

If on the other hand you prefer to hire someone more qualified for the job, the cost should not be the only thing you take into account. Ask for references to houses he has worked on before and then make a point to check them. Talk to the homeowners, if you can, and drive by some of the jobs to see if the siding is intact. Adequate installation is the secret to having a durable vinyl siding and consequently, a life free of constant worry about the maintenance of your home exterior.