The Importance of Good House Siding
In addition to the landscaping, roofing, and windows, one of the next important factors is house siding. All of these things combined together can create a curb appeal that is not only the homeowner’s pride, but the neighbor’s envy.
In addition to curb appeal and envy, there are many other house siding benefits to be enjoyed by the homeowner. Those benefits can vary between the different types of house siding. So – what are the different types of siding for a house and the house siding benefits to be expected?
Vinyl Lap House Siding
Vinyl lap house siding is the most common and consists of layered plastic strips, creating an alternative to the old-style wooden clapboard siding. It is inexpensive and straightforward, with the benefits of being environmentally friendly, available in many colors, able to retain the color, offering choices in accessories and trim, being durable with low maintenance, and being mildew and mold resistant.
Brick House Siding
A brick house siding is nothing short of the American traditional style. However, it is expensive, and installation is time-consuming. For a Colonial, English cottage, or Tudor style architect, brick is the choice. With a variety of colors, including a whitewashed brick that gives a home that rustic appeal. Brick has a higher humidity absorption that minimizes mildew, mold, and dust mites. This compact, reliable material can be repurposed for numerous other ideas like landscaping, pathways, retaining walkways, even grounded up for a sub-base.
Stucco House Siding
An aesthetic, creative and pleasing alternative to lap siding, this durable plaster consists of cement, lime, sand, and water. Typically not for neighborhoods of Colonial homes, the Mediterranean style of this covering is ideal in hotter climates with desert or ocean nearby. The traditional use of stucco was to cover the basic adobe, brick, and Portland cement structures. Results are best when it is applied by professionals so you get the full impact of benefits like the seamless durability, has a natural fire resistance and is a low maintenance house siding.
Wood House Siding
Before vinyl house siding came along, wooden house was all we knew, other than brick in richer neighborhoods. It is making a trend again because of fixer upper and rehab television shows. This horizontal overlapping wood planks are environmentally friendly from the manufacturing to the tear-off, a biodegradable and renewable resource, wood house siding will last decades with proper maintenance and upkeep.
Fiber Cement House Siding
Fiber cement house siding provides the look of vinyl and wood siding but is more durable and offers extreme weatherproof ability. Installation is more time consuming which reflects in the cost, but with the low maintenance and non-decaying material, the pricing gives an ROI for decades. Benefits of fiber cement include the style versatility, fire and heat resistance, rot, and warp resistance, and that it has proven to be ideal for areas with hurricanes and tornadoes.
Metal House Siding
For a design style that is alternative and non-traditional, metal house siding comes in several choices that will accommodate. From aluminum, copper, or galvanized steel, you can give your home that industrial look from the outside and expand into the interior. A low maintenance material, and the thicker the metal, the more durable against the climate, elements, and life in general, including insect resistant.
Stone House Siding
For a rustic alternative, stone house siding is popular in mountain and rural areas. It isn’t the cheapest of house sidings, but the durability gives you a high ROI. Gives any home a natural beauty that is rich in color and profile, lightweight siding is easy to install and with over 30 years of protection with little maintenance, it has gained in popularity.
What is the best house siding material?
As you decide when to replace house siding, you’ll want to get the best for the money, as this is an investment in your largest investment. With the variety of choices as we listed, it can be overwhelming to choose. The checklist that most homeowners are looking for include:
- Affordability
- Attractive
- Durable
- Long Lasting
- Minimal Maintenance
There is a long proven history with wood house siding, and vinyl siding has overridden that with affordability and low- maintenance. Metal house siding and stucco are expensive because of the installation factors, and they can be challenging to maintain. This leaves us with fiber cement as the best overall house siding. The durability is unmet, it is attractive and low maintenance, and for the ROI, it is relatively affordable.
How long does siding on a house last?
When you make this investment, you’re going to want the longest lifespan possible. So choose the one that fits your home’s architectural style, your budget, and needed longevity:
- Vinyl House Siding – up to 40 years with proper installation, maintenance, and upkeep.
- Fiber Cement House Siding – as long as the house is standing.
- Steel House Siding – as long as the house is standing.
- Stone House Siding – up to 75 years with proper installation, maintenance, and upkeep.
Is vinyl siding better than wood?
If you’re looking for energy efficiency and not planning on insulating behind it, wood house siding is your better choice. Wood house siding pros include the style options are almost endless as are the installation choices. Extreme weather temperatures don’t affect it and it is an eco-friendly material that will last up to 40 years or longer.
However, it is an attraction for insects, with regular painting required, it is a high maintenance materials. Installing it and insulating it is challenging, with moisture being an issue. The cost is upward of $11,000 for a 15 square foot house.
If initial cost is your concern, vinyl siding would be the better choice at $7,000 for a 15 square foot house. The pros of vinyl house siding is the variety of colors and style, easy installation, and humid/moisture resistant. It never needs painting, making maintenance a minimal issue, and is also insect resistant. A lifespan up to 40 years will give most homeowners the need to re-side their home once or twice.
The cons of vinyl house siding include the fact that it isn’t good in cold climates or extreme heat. It is also not a good resale attraction and unfriendly to the environment during manufacture and, with tear-off, ends up in landfills.
How do you calculate square footage for siding?
Start by measuring all the rectangular and square walls, height, and width. Because house siding is sold in squares, with one equal to 100 square feet, you’ll multiply the height by the width and divide by 100. This will give you the total square measurement.
Can house siding be painted?
Wood house siding will require to be painted every 3 to 5 years. Other types of siding can be painted, but you’ll need to do surface preparation first. With any siding, particularly vinyl siding, if it is still within the manufacturer’s warranty, painting it could void the warranty. Remember, once something is painted, you can’t un-paint it and it will require maintenance repainting.
In Closing
All through this piece, we’ve mentioned maintenance and upkeep. Those two factors include washing your house siding. A pressure washer often seems like the easiest and fastest way, but it isn’t necessarily the fastest say. It is recommended to hire a professional that knows how to clean house siding without damaging it. If they do damage the house siding, repair or replacement will be on them. If you’re interested in getting help with your house siding, reach out to Airborne Roofing at (856) 662-1382.
