BUILDERS LOVE IT, ENVIRONMENTALISTS HATE IT. WHAT IS THE TRUTH?

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The advertisements seem so enticing. Install vinyl siding, they say, and you will never have to paint your house again. Unlike wood or cedar, this durable plastic will not rot or flake. Vinyl is available in several dozen colors, and can mimic architectural details that were once made from wood.

It is no wonder that vinyl has become the most popular siding material in the United States and is quickly gaining momentum around the world. But wait! What the ads don't tell you can cost you dearly. Before you install vinyl siding over wood clapboard or cedar shingles, consider these important factors.

1. Health Concerns.

Vinyl is made from PVC (polyvinyl chloride), plastic resin that is known to cause cancer in humans. Although vinyl may be safe while it is on your home, many scientists believe that manufacturing and disposing vinyl is hazardous to our health and to the environment. Accidental fires in vinyl sided buildings are more dangerous because vinyl produces toxic fumes when heated. In addition, doctors are reporting a high incidence of neurological damage, respiratory problems, liver and kidney failure, birth defects, and cancer among people who work in or live near factories where vinyl is produced.

2. Durability.

Advertisements often imply that vinyl siding is permanent. It is true that vinyl will last a very long time. In extreme weather, however, vinyl is less durable than wood and masonry. Violent wind can get underneath the thin sheets of vinyl siding and lift a panel from the wall. Windblown debris and strong hail can puncture vinyl. New developments are making vinyl is stronger and less brittle, but the thin plastic sheets will still crack or break if struck by a lawn mower or snow blower. Damage cannot be patched; you will need to replace a panel.

3. Maintenance.

Wood must be painted or stained, but vinyl siding needs only a yearly washing to maintain its fresh appearance. Keep in mind, however, that window sashes and wooden trim will still require routine painting, and ladders leaning against the house can scuff or crack the vinyl siding. Any moisture trapped beneath the vinyl siding will accelerate rot, promote mold and mildew, and invite insect infestations. Left uncorrected, dampness in the walls will cause wallpaper and paint inside the house to blister and peel. Roof leaks, faulty gutters, or other sources of moisture should be repaired immediately. Vinyl siding may not be a wise option for an older home with a chronically damp cellar.

4. Energy Conservation.

Be wary of a vinyl salesperson who promises lower energy bills. A thin vinyl panel cannot provide significant insulation. Regardless of the type of siding you choose, you may want to install additional insulation inside the walls.

5. Color.

Vinyl is available in more colors than ever before, and new vinyl siding does not fade as quickly as older vinyl. Also, the pigmentation is baked through instead of applied to the surface, so vinyl will not show scratches. Nevertheless, depending on the quality of vinyl you buy, expect some fading after five years or so. If a panel is damaged, the replacement panel might not match. For most homeowners, this is not a practical option. If you grow weary of the color, you will need to install new siding.

6. Historic Preservation.

With a careful installation of a better-quality vinyl, the siding will truly fool the eye. Yet no matter how closely vinyl resembles wood, any artificial siding will diminish the historic authenticity of an older home. In many cases, the original trim and ornamental details are covered or removed. In some installations, the original clapboard is completely removed or seriously damaged. Vinyl siding will always alter the overall texture and proportions of the house, changing the depth of moldings and replacing natural wood grain with factory-made embossed patterns.

7. Property Values.

As the quality and variety of vinyl improves, acceptance is growing. For new construction, vinyl is becoming the norm. On the other hand, many home shoppers still perceive vinyl as a tacky shortcut or a cover-up for possible problems. Homes built before 1940 lose their historic appeal when their authentic siding is covered. Before you install vinyl over wood clapboard or cedar shingles, look closely at home sales in your neighbourhood and ask realtors how vinyl siding will affect the value of your home.

Active Vocabulary

1) to entice - привлекать, соблазнять

2) cedar - кедр

3) durable - надежный, крепкий

4) clapboard - доска

5) cancer - рак

6) hazardous - опасный

7) fume - испарение, дым

8) neurological - неврологический

9) masonry - кирпичная кладка

10) to puncture - проткнуть, пробить, продырявить

11) sash - оконная рама

12) routine - привычный, обычный, рутинный

13) infestation - инвазия

14) insulation - изоляция

15) artificial - искусственный, вымышленный

16) authenticity - оригинальность, достоверность, подлинность

17) texture - текстура

18) to emboss - чеканить, пышно украшать

19) to perceive - воспринимать, считать, полагать

Exercises on the Text

Decide whether the following statements are true or false

1. Vinyl is available in several hundred colors, and can mimic architectural details that were once made from wood.

2. Vinyl is made from PVC (polyvinyl chloride), plastic resin that is known to cause TB in humans.

3. Accidental fires in vinyl sided buildings are more dangerous because vinyl produces toxic fumes when heated.

4. In extreme weather, however, vinyl is more durable than wood and masonry.

5. Any moisture trapped beneath the vinyl siding will diminish rot, promote mold and mildew, and invite insect infestations.

Fill in the gaps with the gaps given below

1. Unlike wood or cedar, this... plastic will not rot or flake.

2. It is no wonder that vinyl has become the most popular siding material in the United States and is quickly gaining... around the world.

3. Although vinyl may be safe while it is on your home, many scientists believe that manufacturing and disposing vinyl is... to our health and to the environment.

4. New developments are making vinyl is stronger and less brittle, but the thin plastic sheets will still crack or break if struck by a lawn... or snow....

5. With a careful installation of a better-quality vinyl, the siding will truly... the eye.

blower, hazardous, fool, momentum, durable, mower

Translate the following word combinations from Russian into English

1. надежный пластик

2. имитировать архитектурные детали

3. опасный для здоровья

4. инвазия насекомых

5. дополнительная изоляция

Use the required forms in the following sentences, observing the rules of the sequence of tenses

1. He hastened back home in the hope that the guests (not to go) all yet.

2. Well, I do not think I ever (to see) you before.

3. She ended by saying that she (to think) she (to make) a mistake.

4. She knew what (to go) on in their minds.

5. She felt that her father (not to want) to disturb her.

6. She had telephoned her husband to the office to say that her brother (to return) from abroad.

7. An old friend rang up to ask if they (to have) a good time in Italy, how Elizabeth (to feel), and whether she (can) go with his wife to a concert on Sunday morning.

8. I could see that he (to be) glad that the talk (to turn) to a new subject.

9. It is odd that they both (to turn) up there about the same time.

Transfer these sentences to the reported speech

1. The expert said, " There is a similarity between the two projects."

2. The manager said to his colleagues, " We must look for new outlets for our goods."

3. The airhostess says, " The plane is landing."

4. " How much time is left? " he asked.

5. She asked, " How far is the bus stop? "

6. " How long will it take you to make preliminary arrangements? " we asked him.

7. He asked, " Is it true? "

8. He asked me, " Is it very frosty outside? "

9. " Is it true that the match has been cancelled? " he asked her.

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