Ply Gem's Polypropylene Siding Products Achieve Third-Party Certification

Ply Gem, a leading manufacturer of exterior home building products, announced today that polypropylene shake, shingle, half-round and scallop products within each of its siding brands have been certified under the Vinyl Siding Institute (VSI) Product Certification Program.

Polypropylene options give homes an authentic wood appearance without the upkeep of natural shakes. Ply Gem offers polypropylene cladding in its Mastic® Home Exteriors by Ply Gem, Napco® by Ply Gem, Variform® by Ply Gem, Durabuilt® by Ply Gem, Cellwood® by Ply Gem and Georgia-Pacific brands.

Since 1998, manufacturers have certified the quality of their vinyl siding to ASTM D3679 standards through the VSI Vinyl Siding Product Certification Program. Based on the success of this program, the VSI now offers a third party program that certifies the quality of polypropylene siding to ASTM D7254 performance requirements through the VSI Product Certification Program in order to ensure products meet or exceed an internationally accepted, independent, third-party standard for polypropylene siding.

Through the ASTM D7254 standard, polypropylene siding must meet or exceed the following requirements:

• Withstand harsh weather over time without cracking, chipping, flaking or peeling.
• Meet impact resistance requirements.
• Resist wind pressure equivalent to 110 mph or more.
• Demonstrate flame spread performance equivalent to or better than wood building materials.

Siding certified through the VSI Product Certification Program has been independently verified for performance through twice yearly, unannounced plant inspections, product testing and quality control review.

“Third-party verification of polypropylene siding performance through VSI’s program will ensure that the product is manufactured to the highest standards,” said Jerry Blais, vice president, marketing, Ply Gem siding group. “This development also adds a level of credibility to the polymer siding industry as a whole, and to the entire Ply Gem portfolio of cladding products, so we’re proud to be one of the first manufacturers to offer a full line of certified options within all our siding brands.”

Polypropylene cladding works well as a rustic finish for a whole home or in combination with other materials. As a textured accent for porches, gables or other architectural features, polypropylene products are an essential element of The Designed Exterior by Ply Gem, which combines polypropylene hand-split shingle, shake, scallop or half-round siding with traditional vinyl lap, board and batten or insulated siding, stone veneer, architecturally styled windows and fence and rail. These products combine to create a smart, sustainable and beautiful exterior, all from one manufacturer.

“To create the look of real wood on Ply Gem products, we take natural shingles and digitize the texture to capture the smallest details, right down to the splinters,” said Blais. “Polypropylene shake and shingle products are an excellent alternative to real wood siding without the required maintenance.”

Polypropylene products from Ply Gem are made with color-through construction to provide a low-maintenance solution that never needs painting or staining. For superior durability and dent resistance, the siding is designed to be extra thick compared to other polymer cladding materials. The siding also incorporates advanced locking systems that allows for easy installation and top performance in high winds.

All polymer siding, shake and shingle products under the Ply Gem siding group brands are National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) Research Center Green Approved. Green Approved products comply with specific green practice criteria in the National Green Building Standard™ including no on-site finish and termite resistance. These products can be used by builders to earn points toward National Green Building Certification to the Standard.

Source: http://www.plygem.com/