The Advantages of Aluminum Siding

Most people prefer to have their homes sided with some sort of material that looks nice but doesn’t require a lot of care. Although they may like the look of wood siding or other natural siding, they don’t like the idea of all the work that has to go into keeping it looking attractive and keeping it from damage by weather, insects, and fire. One of the types of siding that require minimal care is aluminum siding.

Aluminum siding was one of the first replacement sidings available to those who wanted something a bit easier to care for. Because this is a metal, this type of siding is very durable and resistant to damage from insects, fire and rot. It is lighter than some of the other types of metal siding though, which makes it easier to install, though it will still take at least two people in order to deal with the weight and keep the panels from creasing or getting dented. Once it is installed it is less likely to be dented, and any dented sections can be replaced if necessary.

Another benefit of aluminum siding is that it is very easy to care for. You just need to wash it off once or twice a year to keep it clean. Over time the color may fade due to the sun, but if this does happen you can repaint it. Finishes put on by the manufacturer are likely to last longer than those you apply yourself, and will not cost a lot more, so it is a good idea to take advantage of this option if it is available. Learn more about the do’s and don’ts of painting siding in this CertaPro video:

Two of the companies that offer aluminum siding are Mastic and Gentek. Mastic offers a wide variety of options. They have smooth finish and woodgrain finish, and you can get either single 8″, double 4″ or double 5″ siding in eight different colors. They claim that their product requires no painting. Gentek makes double 5″ siding in aspen gray, chestnut brown, maple tan, or tawny oak. Their warranty is for 25 years and claims you won’t have color fading during this amount of time.