The history of failed siding products keeps growing. Here is a short list of "winners", "losers" and "products with some problems":

Winners

• Quality Wood Siding
• Hardi Board - a concrete composite product
• Brick
• Architectual Grade Metal Siding
• Stone or Concrete Products
• Siding installed on a good drain-down system

The quality of the building design, installation and maintenance practices are as important as the product itself.

Losers

• Low Grade Wood Siding
• Cement Asbestos Board
• Wood Composite Siding - LP, Masonite, etc.
• EIFS - Exterior Insulation Finish Systems
• Stucco in wet locations

Most of the problems with these products are related to extreme weather conditions plus poor design and installation.

Products with Some Problems

• Vinyl Siding in wet locations and often poorly installed
• Plywood T-1-11 a good product which tends to be poorly installed

Note: Polyvinyl Chloride has some potentially serious toxicity problems during manufacture and disposal. I don't recommend the use of PVC containing materials such as: pipes, vinyl siding and some roofing membranes.