Home Siding Options
The type of siding you choose to use on your home can make a big difference in the value of your house and the maintenance that you are required to perform in order to keep your home looking its best. Before making any commitment, you should compare the pros and cons of various home siding options so that you make the right choice, based on the look you wish to achieve and the amount of time and effort you are willing to devote toward maintenance. If you don’t know where to start, this review of home siding products will give you some ideas to consider for your own home:
It used to be that wood was one of the most common types of home siding. Many homes still use wood today since it is a natural product and is a somewhat renewable resource. Wood requires more maintenance since it must be stained, painted, or treated every four to nine years in order to maintain its appearance and keep pests from becoming a problem. Plywood is a cheaper option, though many people prefer more expensive woods such as cedar, pine, fir, or redwood.
A more attractive alternative to wood is engineered wood siding, which is constructed from small wood pieces bonded together with special resins and treated with insecticides and fungus repellents. Engineered wood is more resistant to pests, mildew and moisture than wood and stands up well to abrasion, chemicals and weather extremes. Hardboard siding, one of the oldest types of engineered wood products, is composed of pressed wood fibers and is a knot- and grain-free alternative to solid wood.
Fiber cement siding is strong and durable and will stand up to high winds, fires, moisture and insects. It is composed of a cement, sand, and other fiber materials mixture. Brick veneer siding resembles brick, but it does not require structural support as it is just a fraction of brick’s weight and thickness. Like regular brick, it is non-flammable and weather resistant. Faux stone siding is made with materials like vinyl, cement and composites of recycled materials that have the rich look of stone, but not the weight or difficulty of installation, giving your home the look of stone siding at a fraction of the cost and labor. Stucco siding is manufactured from lime, silica sand and white cement, with its primary advantage being that it can be made in virtually any color you choose.
Vinyl siding is a common choice for many homeowners as it is inexpensive and requires practically no maintenance other than a hosing off once or twice a year to clean off any accumulated dirt. It is available in many colors and can mimic many types of wood. You can get the look of many different styles, including vertical, seamless, cedar shakes, and even log cabin, all at a fraction of the cost of other available materials.
Seamless steel siding is another available option. This type of siding is trimmed right at your house so that there will be no seams, giving your home a very clean look. The main drawback of seamless steel is that it can be very heavy and definitely requires professional installation. Like other siding options, it can be made to mimic the looks of various woods and is available in a variety of different colors. It is also extremely durable.
If you would like metal house siding that is a bit lighter but with benefits similar to steel, you can get aluminum siding. There is more of a possibility of denting with aluminum, however. In many ways it is similar to vinyl, but it does need to be painted from time to time.
