Alside Vinyl Siding for Chicago-Area Homes

Product lines

Comparing Alside Prodigy, Charter Oak and Coventry

Vinyl siding lines differ mainly in panel thickness, whether there is foam behind the panel, and the profiles, textures and colors on offer. Prodigy is the Alside line sold as insulated siding. Charter Oak and Coventry are two more Alside lines. Put their spec sheets side by side to see how they compare on thickness and profiles, and hold real samples against your house before settling on a color.

The difference shows most in how flat the wall looks. Thin hollow panels follow every dip in old sheathing, and on a long wall in low evening light that waviness is obvious. Thicker panels bridge small irregularities, and foam-backed panels bridge more. Read the thickness figures on Alside’s spec sheets, not just the color chart.

What the foam backing on Alside Prodigy adds

Insulated vinyl siding adds a layer of rigid foam shaped to fit the back of each panel. That foam does three things. It makes the panel feel solid when pressed or bumped, so it is less likely to crack from a stray baseball or a snow shovel. It helps the panel stay straight over uneven walls. And it adds some insulating value outside the wall studs, where it covers the framing that wall insulation does not.

Be realistic about the energy side. The added R-value is modest, and on most homes attic insulation and air sealing return more per dollar. Insulated siding is better judged as better siding with a small energy bonus, not as an insulation project. Our siding comparison puts it next to fiber cement and engineered wood, and the vinyl siding guide covers the material in general.

Alside vinyl siding through Chicago winters and summers

Vinyl expands and contracts more with temperature than wood or fiber cement, and a Chicago-area wall can move through a wide temperature range in one year. That is why every panel must hang loosely on its nails, with gaps left at the ends inside the trim channels. Nailed tight, vinyl buckles in a July heat wave; cut short, it opens gaps in January.

• Cold: vinyl stiffens below freezing and cracks more easily from impact, so winter installs need careful handling.
• Heat: reflected sun from low-E windows on a neighboring house can distort vinyl panels; check for that before choosing a dark color.
• Wind: panels lock together, but loose or missing nails let gusts unzip a wall, a common storm repair.

What to look for on an Alside siding quote

1. The Alside line by name, the profile (such as double 4-inch or Dutch lap) and the color.
2. Trim components: corner posts, J-channel, window and door surrounds, starter strip and soffit, with materials named.
3. Whether the old siding comes off, and what goes behind the new: housewrap or another water-resistive barrier, plus window flashing.
4. Wrapping of exposed wood trim with aluminum coil, and who matches the color.
5. An allowance for rotted sheathing discovered under the old siding.

For soffit and fascia work that often rides along with new siding, see soffit and fascia; our siding services page covers the full process.

How Alside warranties are structured

Alside backs its vinyl siding with limited warranties against manufacturing defects. Read the color-fade coverage for your specific line and color, and check how the terms change after the home is sold or on property other than a single-family house. Ask whether added coverage is available through contractors the manufacturer has authorized, and what it requires. Like every vinyl warranty, Alside’s depends on installing to its instructions, especially loose nailing and expansion gaps. Read the warranty for the specific line at alside.com.

ALTA installs Alside products. We do not currently hold a Alside manufacturer credential, so enhanced warranties that require one are not offered on our installations; your estimate names the warranty that applies.

Where Alside fits best

• Homeowners who want low-maintenance siding with a choice of panel lines and price points
• Older homes with uneven walls, where an insulated panel such as Prodigy hides waviness better than a thin hollow panel
• Rental and investment properties where an economical vinyl line keeps the budget in check

Product information last reviewed November 5, 2026. Always confirm current specifications and warranty terms at alside.com.

Alside questions

Is insulated vinyl siding worth it in Illinois?

It is worth it more for how the siding looks and feels than for energy savings. The foam backing stiffens the panel, resists dents and helps hide uneven walls. It adds some insulation over the studs, but attic insulation and air sealing usually save more energy per dollar.

How is Alside Charter Oak different from Coventry?

The differences that matter are panel thickness, profile choices, texture and color list, and those are the figures to compare on each line’s spec sheet. A thicker panel is more rigid and usually gives a straighter-looking wall. Put the two sheets side by side, hold samples against your house, and ask each bidder exactly which line they priced.

Does new vinyl siding need housewrap behind it?

Yes. Vinyl siding is a rain screen, not a waterproof layer, and water does get behind it. Building codes require a water-resistive barrier behind exterior siding, and properly lapped housewrap plus window flashing is what keeps that water out of the wall.