House Siding: Choosing the Right Material for Your Remodel

Choosing siding for your home is more than just deciding on texture and color. Each type of siding has a different perk and possible flaw, and all of them have different prices that suit varied budgets.

Whether you’re new to construction or you want to be sure you’re doing enough research to make your dream home: these are the types of siding you need to consider.

Why Your Type of Siding Matters

Each of these different types of siding has various perks ranging from how long they last, how custom you can get them, and how insulated they can make your home. However, if you get a type of siding that isn’t right for your area or home, you could be leaving yourself open to insect infestations or other problems that can complicate how well your home lasts.

Wood Siding

Wood siding is the oldest type of siding and has a strong fan base because of this. It’s cheap to find and low-cost to build with: not to mention how easily available it is. If one of your slats breaks or rots, you can easily find a replacement for them at a low cost.

Unfortunately, wood is incredibly prone to many kinds of damage and needs frequent coats of paint and weather stripping.

If you live in an area with plenty of storms and weather that oscillates between hot and freezing throughout the year, faux wood siding may be a better choice than natural wood.

Stone Siding

Adding stone siding to your home can be a good investment. In Remodeling’s 2020 Cost vs. Value Report, stone veneer was the top project that would add value to the property when measured against the money put into adding it.

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Stone siding is heavy and can hold up against a lot of weather while insulating your home against insects and mold: but it does have some problems. The main issue is that its weight may demand structural substrate and additional fixtures, and putting in stone siding can increase how long your project will take.

Vinyl Siding

Vinyl siding is currently the most common type of siding in the USA, with Rollex vinyl siding reigning as a top option. This classic choice is durable and low maintenance and can last for twenty to thirty years, depending on the property.

Vinyl siding is extremely affordable and doesn’t require painting unless you want to; you can even clean it using a pressure washer that’s often less than a hundred dollars to rent for a day.

Vinyl does have a couple of drawbacks depending on the brand you go to since it can bend or crack when under pressure, and if it’s secured too tightly, you’ll notice this issue can happen extremely often. Like any siding, it may hide moisture problems that could eventually lead to mold. This shouldn’t be a problem as long as you use the best insulation for exterior walls and keep an eye on your siding.

Steel Siding

Steel siding is often the most expensive type of siding, but many find it worth it. Modern steel siding is durable and can protect your home against dents, fire and insect activity, and stormy weather that could destroy weather siding like wood.

This type of siding is also fantastic at keeping the temperatures inside your home well regulated and insulating against noise and problems that often come from poorer types of siding.

Although it’s more expensive, it’s low maintenance and can protect your home for years to come. In addition, there are plenty of options when it comes to textures and colors, so although you may love a color when you first buy it, if it falls out of style, you can always change it without replacing your siding.

Fiber Cement Siding

Fiber cement siding can last fifty years, which is why it’s quickly becoming one of the most popular types of siding and a great alternative to vinyl siding. Although fiber cement siding cost is higher up front, it’s seen as an investment by many who consider how good it will increase the resale value of their home and how long it can last while they live in it.

Unfortunately, fiber siding does have its fair share of problems. Not only does it require maintenance to ensure that it lasts and looks good, but it also absorbs moisture, is difficult to install, and isn’t great for the environment.

The main flaw that most homeowners have is that this type of siding isn’t as energy efficient as other types on this list, which may leave you open to higher energy bills which many don’t want to deal with when they already have to pay an increased price for this type of siding.

Your Home Deserves To Be Both Attractive and Functional

Many may think the main draw of your home is supposed to be how attractive it is and what curb appeal it offers: it also has to be extremely functional. So if you’re looking at types of siding, consider which options have the main things that will protect your home where you’re at and what your budget looks like.

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