Vinyl siding has been a very popular siding in the United States since its invention in the late 1950s, no doubt because it is very durable, easy to maintain, rot-proof, termite-proof, and much less expensive than wood siding. It's also easier to install than wood siding; installation is a manageable DIY project for moderately experienced do it yourselfers. From a distance, it has the look of wood siding but, on close inspection, is clearly an embossed vinyl product.

Extruded from polyvinyl chloride resin, vinyl siding is not popular with from an environmental standpoint because of concerns about its processing, manufacturing, and disposal. It is a petroleum-based product and the manufacture of polyvinyl chloride is known to produce dioxin and other known carcinogens.