You would be surprised at how well vinyl siding does in this area, even with the winds. I have never lost a piece off any of my houses during a storm. That's not even a consideration for me. Lack of needing to paint, and water infiltration is.
Vinyl is fine here also. I imagine it would be difficult for a windstorm to exactly duplicate the forces generated when we just peeled the vinyl siding right off.
Lots of houses have it- it is the cheapest siding material per square foot that you can buy.
The details like starter strips, J channels, corners or other accessories add up quickly.
Vinyl fades and becomes brittle. You can get it apart, but a new piece (or even "NOS" that you stashed in the basemet), will never match existing.
Vinyl is brittle when it is cold outside. Impacts will crack the siding. Cold is ~40*F.
Vinyl siding is only "waterproof" if the details and flashings are done properly. Many homes do not have this stuff done right, and rely on the housewrap product to keep the water out. Most homes that I have seen do NOT have cap flashings above windows or doors, as an example.
Vinyl J channel above standard brickmould window or door trim is NOT an acceptable flashing, yet it is done all the time. Then the problem is made 100x worse when the homeowner caulks the brickmould to J channel joint, keeping the water in.
Aluminum dents, but is much harder to peel off by hand. Same matching problems, and it is just about impossible to unzip it and salvage.
"Security" is an illusion in a vinyl home, unless the exterior is sheathed with plywood or OSB. A sharp knife will cut it out (or, just grab and peel), then kick out the fiberboard and drywall.
Cheap vinyl runs about $5 per piece for a double 4" lap pattern.
I got prepainted Hardie for about $15 for an equivalent length and exposure. I do not need J channels and such. It is prepainted with a 15 year warranty. The product itself has a transferable, non pro rated 30 year warranty. It is typically installed using 5/4 x material for corners and window trim, caulk joints where the siding butts the termination. A good polyurethane sealant will have a 30 year life, easily.
Unpainted or primed is less, but have you priced out good paint lately? Raw cement board ***** it up like crazy.
It won't dent, you can't cut it with a knife, much better impact resistance, fireproof, and it holds paint well.
Using shears and a good sawblade, it isn't too difficult to work with. The Diablo Hardie Blade cuts it like a hot knife through butter.
In my opinion, the finished product looks 100% better than vinyl. If I don't like the color later, I can paint Hardie. Try painting vinyl and having it stick. At least aluminum siding can be painted when it fades.
Regarding felt paper as a housewrap...
That's how it used to be done. Nothing wrong with it.
Did a project where I encountered 80 year old felt paper as a housewrap. It was brittle and disintegrated. Maybe the same thing will happen to modern products.
