There are a variety of material options for your home siding. Selecting the best exterior siding choice for your home may seem overwhelming; however, certain criteria including personal preferences, the location of your home and the style of your home can be determining factors.
What Are Your Home Siding Material Options?
There are multiple styles of home siding materials to choose from including wood, stone veneer, vinyl and brick. Fiber cement siding may be an option as well.
You can choose the right siding for your home by determining your design preference, budget and becoming familiar with the pros and cons of each siding material. Your location may also dictate the type of siding that is best for your home. For example, it may be better to choose a more water-resistant fiber cement rather than wood if heavy rainfall is common in your area.
Wood Siding
There are many varieties of wood siding including cedar, cypress, engineered and pine. Each type of wood offers unique benefits and qualities; however, most wood choices share certain qualities:
- Easy to paint — wood siding is popular due to how easy it is to paint. A professional painter is always a good idea, but your wood siding could be a DIY project if desired.
- Repairs are easy — Wood siding can be vulnerable to minor chips, warping, etc. The good news is repairing wood is easy, and it can often be as simple as replacing a damaged clapboard.
- Aesthetic appeal — The visual of natural wood is appealing, and it can give an authentic feel to your home.
- Durable with proper care — Wood can last for more than twenty years before repair or replacement is necessary. Caring for your wood siding by repairing minor chips and cracks promptly, as well as applying a fresh coat of paint every several years can help keep the wood’s aesthetic appeal.
- Allows for creative design — There are a range of wood siding types to consider. Some of the most popular types of wood siding options are board & batten, clapboard, shingle, shake and tongue-and-groove. Each option offers a unique aesthetic appeal; combined with the ease in which you can paint wood, you can get creative with your design choices for your home’s siding with wood.
There are some drawbacks to wood siding. Although it generally lasts for more than twenty years, but it is more vulnerable to water damage or rot. The cost of installation may be slightly higher than alternative solutions such as vinyl as well. Wood siding also requires regular maintenance to maintain properly.
Stone Veneer Siding
If you want the masonry style without the solid stone prices, then stone veneer siding is an excellent choice. It looks just as authentic and offers similar durability over time as real stone siding. The benefits of stone veneer siding include:
- Long-lasting material — One of the benefits of stone veneer is durability. Depending on the specific type of stone veneer and the quality of the installation, stone veneer can last more than fifty years.
- Easy maintenance — You can maintain stone veneer by simply rinsing it off with a hose once a week. This allows you to maintain ideal curb appeal and avoid any early damage to your stone veneer siding.
- More affordable than stone — Stone veneer is a more affordable alternative to solid masonry, while still providing many of the same benefits.
Stone veneer siding installation is more extensive than other siding solutions such as fiber cement. Due to the complexities of the installation process and the various tools required, professional installation is required to ensure the job is done with optimal results.
Vinyl Siding
Vinyl was first introduced in the early 1950s as an alternative to aluminum siding. Vinyl siding is preferred by many homeowners due to the convenient cost, ease of installation and modern appearance it provides. The benefits of vinyl siding are:
Affordable cost — The material for vinyl is more affordable on average than wood or fiber cement siding. In addition, since the installation process is not as extensive, the overall cost is generally lower than alternative solutions.- Easy installation — Installing vinyl siding is relatively easy compared to alternative solutions. Professional installation is still encouraged for optimal results.
- Numerous design options — There are many design options with vinyl siding. This allows homeowners to personalize their siding specifically to their preferences.
- Easy maintenance — Keeping up with vinyl long-term is easy. Regular cleanings to avoid stains may be necessary, but vinyl is overall highly damage-resistant.
A drawback to vinyl siding is that it can turn some homeowners off as they feel it does not offer the natural look of wood or cement siding. There has been a fair amount of innovation with vinyl siding over the years, and it is now available in more style and color options, some of which closely match the look of natural wood and other siding options.
Fiber Cement Siding
Fiber cement is made of cement and cellulose fibers for an improved and innovative siding material option. This is ideal for homeowners that want durability and design flexibility. The benefits of fiber cement siding include:
- Moisture resistant — Fiber cement resists water and moisture well. This means the risk of rot or mold growth is greatly diminished when you choose fiber cement.
- Non-combustible — If you live in an area where wildfires or a fire on your property are a possibility, then fiber cement may be a preferred choice. It is non-combustible, and some insurance companies even offer discounts if you have fiber cement siding.
- Resistant to pests — If you have had concerns with pests invading your home in the past, fiber cement is a great way to keep them away. This is particularly useful if you live in a wooded area.
- Great for bad weather — Fiber cement is great at resisting weather damage from heavy winds, rainfall, etc. If bad storms are common in your area, consider fiber cement siding for your home.
- Exceptional durability — Fiber cement siding can withstand the test of time. In addition to the strength of the fiber cement material, it is fireproof, insect resistant and resists water damage.
Fiber cement involves a complex creation process. This process involves combining the fiber and cement materials as a dry mixture, pressing them into sheets and curing them in high-pressure ovens (known as “autoclaves”) to harden them into durable (yet flexible) panels. The panels are then coated on all sides for aesthetic appeal. Due to the complexities of the creation of fiber cement siding, the cost may be more than alternative solutions.
Brick Siding
Brick siding is ideal for English and Colonial style homes and has been used for hundreds of years with proven success. Brick provides a classic look to your home and can also be customized to make it look more modern. Brick, which is made of fired clay, offers the following benefits:
- High-value appearance — If you are searching for a classic look that gives a more traditional, yet high-quality appearance, brick siding is a great choice.
- Excellent durability — Brick siding should remain in quality condition for numerous decades. In fact, it is not uncommon for brick siding to last for more than 100 years.
- Weather-resistant — Brick is ideal for protecting your home from damage from bad storms or wear and tear that occurs over time.
- Good for climate control — Brick is a great insulator, which can lower your energy costs each month.
Brick siding costs more than many alternative solutions, such as vinyl. Brick also requires an expert for installation, as water damage could result from improper installation of the siding.
Despite the cost and necessary Siding Installation it can withstand the test of time and has a high-quality appearance. If you decide to sell your home in the future, the quality, energy efficiency and appearance of brick may help attract prospective buyers.
What Factors Should I Consider When Choosing The Right Siding?
Factors that you should consider when choosing the right type of siding for your home depend on your goals for new siding. For example, if you are replacing home siding in hopes of maximizing your home resale value, then your choice may be different from someone who plans to live in the home for the next thirty or more years. In general, the questions you should ask when choosing the right siding are:
- What type of home do I have?
- What is my existing home siding type?
- How weather-resistant do I want my siding to be?
- What style do I prefer?
- What level of durability do I need?
- What is my budget?
Answering these questions should provide you with a clear idea of what it is you want to achieve with your home’s exterior siding, allowing you to make more informed choices about which material works best for your home.
Do You Have More Questions? Call Adelphia Exteriors Today
Your home’s exterior makes the first impression and can add aesthetic value to your home and property. It can also assist with climate control and protect your home’s foundation from damage caused by rain and damaging storms.
If you have questions or would like to start your exterior renovation needs, contact Adelphia Exteriors online or call us today. We respond promptly to all who are interested and are happy to answer any questions or concerns you may have.