Just came across your post and figured I’d throw in an answer in case you held off on your project. The majority of vinyl siding brands are exactly the same quality for comparable lines. Some are literally made in the same places but have different brand names attached for individual suppliers. Thickness and colors will likely be your deciding factors. .042 or thinner are what will be used for low end rentals and just to get something on a building like back sheds or when you’re just trying to save money and get anything on. .044 is kind of the sweet spot where cost meets quality. This is the most common siding and companies will have the largest selection of colors here. Every company has standard double 4” available and every lumber yard will have some selection on hand. .046 or thicker will be considered “premium” vinyl. It will be able to take a little bit more of a beating before chipping or cracking. And I mean “little”. It’s still a vinyl product so it can only take so much from thrown rocks or baseballs, especially when it’s cold. The cost for these starts edging very close to LP SmartSide and if you’re considering something like a .050 then you would likely be better off making the jump to LP. Individual brands will be preferred by contractors for minor things like how they snap together or how they mark out their nail holes. Otherwise the preferences are more about how easily they can get materials and accessories in matching colors. former exteriors business owner now in corporate building materials sales More on reddit.com

Vinyl is cheaper and easier to install. It looks fine. It doesn't last as long as some of the more expensive stuff. New houses almost always have vinyl because it doesn't impact the price of the house too much and it's cheaper. So, they make a better profit. It could be argued that they've gotten better at making it -- and they have. But, at the same time, there are so many new products that are created all of the time that have far more innovation. More on reddit.com

There is no vinyl siding that doesn’t make a house look cheaper. This is usually especially obvious in the window, door, and soffit trim. I can understand that money doesn’t grow on trees and vinyl is the affordable option, but it does no favors for any structure. More on reddit.com

I am absolutely NOT an expert, but I know I had to decide when I was purchasing my homeowners policy whether or not I wanted things to be replaced as they are currently, or with “updated“ materials after a disaster. For me, that meant deciding whether I wanted new plaster walls and wooden siding and some of the other stuff that goes with historical homes. Is it possible your policy is the same? They may possibly be on the hook to replace aluminum siding with aluminum siding and not vinyl. Anyone who knows more, please chime in! More on reddit.com