I have found several web sites that say aluminum is a better insulator which makes no sense to me but that's what they say. I know aluminum is a little more durable but I all the companies seem to only do mostly vinyl.
Both sidings insulate just fine but, there're some minor differances between the two materials....vinyl siding doesn't rust as aluminum siding does when paint is gradually lifted off by the elements over the long run but, vinyl siding does stains, and it does stains in a bad way, non-washable if the stain on the material penetrates, not even a pressure washer will clean these vinyl sidings if they're stained with chemicals or environmental stains. Good Aluminum siding, in the other hand, does resists many stains and is washable but, since it's aluminum...it tends to fluctuate with temperature, it gets hot when it's hot and gets cold when it's cold, these fluctiuations do cause certain panels to buckle and crack on the edges...that's why many home owners have to replace these regularly. I personally prefer vinyl siding but, now that I said that...you decide!
Hm-m-m! This is an interesting question. Unless your aluminum siding had a mirror finish on the outside (which neither you nor your community could tolerate on a bright, sunny day) and at least a 1/2 or so thick insulating blanket on the backside, I believe that white vinyl would be a better, cheaper, insulating siding. BUT -- aluminum siding, painted with the proper, staying white paint and a insulating blanket on the backside would, I believe, give a very adequate insulating performance and outlast vinyl 10 to 1. Vinyl has the nasty habit of just coming all apart after a few years of just EXISTING, much less weathering. Aluminum can be repainted again and again and still be sound.
We have aluminum and I would like vinyl. Our aluminum fades, dents, white discolored and you cannot get the siding to even match. Once we get the money, we will definitely do vinyl..
Your sense is correct. Aluminum is a very good conductor of heat, that's why they made cookpots out of it. Therefore, it passes heat and cold very well in and out of a house. Vinyl, as any plastic, is fairly good about NOT passing heat, though it not, by any means, considered an insulator. But, compared to aluminum, it wins hands down.
