Eikenhout : Roofing, Siding and Windows

50 Years – Vinyl Siding Then and Now

The time is 1959 and the place is America.  The housing market was about to be altered dramatically by an external siding product called vinyl siding.  How did this happen?

It all began quietly in the laboratories of BF Goodrich in the 1920’s where plasticized polyvinyl chloride, PVC, was found to be a suitable rubber substitute, but they couldn’t find a place to use it.  Eventually it was used as a shock absorber seal in the ’30’s and even used in car tire development which is still on our cars today.

During the 1940’s the war utilized PVC because of the rubber supply shortage.  It coated electrical wires as a non flammable source and it became a plumbing pipe source because of the steel shortage.  The 1950’s began popularizing PVC pipe for irrigation and plumbing.

And then 1959 happened and the leading manufacturer of low maintenance insulbric asphalt siding, Mastic, found a way to manufacture what we now know as vinyl siding.  This began their 50 year history of innovation and leadership in vinyl siding where they introduce new technologies, products and colors every year.  Be sure to read about their interesting timeline and development since 1959.

What began as a low cost option that was easy to install and maintain burst onto the scene as the number one choice for homeowners.  The current technologies have made many of their products indistinguishable from real wood.  Take a look at the siding pages and be prepared to be amazed at the new colors and textures.