You don't want cheap siding. Thin, warps in sunlight, can be brittle due to cold or less plasticizer. Do yourself a favor and check out the different brands and specs other than just cost. More on reddit.com

Dig down 6-8" and like 6-12" out from the foundation, fill with medium gravel and call it a day. Or remove the bottom course of siding if the foundation extends high enough. Or put in a full on french drain if you are really worried but it's probably not necessary unless your grading is really really bad and you have like standing water here. 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

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