In 2020, stucco was the most popular siding option, with 28% of American homes adopting stucco, followed by vinyl siding with 26%. If you’re in the market for siding, there are tons of options for you to choose from. This is definitely good news, but not all good, and here’s why.
With so many siding materials to choose from, it gets hard for the average homeowner to pick the right siding for their home. If this sounds like you, worry not; we’re here to help.
Today, we’ll be highlighting the different types of home siding options for your consideration.
Stucco
Starting off with the most popular siding option, stucco is a staple for households across the US. Manufacturers make stucco by mixing cement, lime, and sand. These days, you can get stucco siding in various colors and textures.
Stucco siding looks great, is cost-effective, and requires little maintenance. This makes it a popular choice for most individuals.
Vinyl Siding
As mentioned above, vinyl is one of the most popular siding options for homeowners in the country. It’s a beautiful and cost-effective option that requires low maintenance to hold its own for years on end.
Vinyl siding comes in a broad range of colors and textures to match your specific taste and preferences. In fact, you can choose to have your vinyl siding with a wooden texture. Unless one looks keenly at your siding, they’ll easily mistake it for wooden siding.
The downside to vinyl siding is that it may not be as durable as you’d want it to be—a fair trade-off for its affordable price. However, with proper maintenance, your vinyl siding should last you a lifetime.
It’s also important that you find the right contractor for your vinyl siding. It’s not uncommon for vinyl contractors to do substandard work on people’s houses. That’s why you should look for contractors like theraleighpaintcontractor.com for top-notch siding installation services.
Wood Siding
Wood siding is undoubtedly one of the most expensive siding options you could settle for. Wood siding is differentiated into different types, including wooden planks, shingles, boards, and panels. The best option depends on your personal preference and taste.
As mentioned above, wood siding comes in many textures, styles, and finishes. It has immense aesthetic value and will do wonders for your home’s exterior. However, wood siding isn’t without its downsides.
For starters, wood siding is one of the most expensive siding options on the market today. What’s more, wood is predisposed to wood rot, invasion by pests, and warping when exposed to excess moisture.
That said, if you’re looking for a lovely siding and have deep pockets, then wood siding is just what the doctor ordered. If you’re on a tight budget, you can always go for plywood siding that looks almost the same as wood siding but costs a lot less.
Fiber Cement Siding
Fiber cement siding is a new entry in the siding space and is quickly gaining popularity with many homeowners. Fiber cement is a material made from a combination of portland cement, sand, and cellulose fibers. This makes it super cost-effective and also an environmentally friendly option.
Fiber cement can mimic wood board siding to an almost indistinguishable degree. You can also opt for complementary trims and millwork if you’re looking for more design detail. All in all, fiber cement siding looks good on any house and is available in planks, shakes, shingles, and stucco-panel designs.
One of the major upsides of fiber cement siding is its durability. With little maintenance, this siding can last you upwards of 50 years. This makes it one of the most durable siding options you could settle for.
Metal Siding
Metal siding isn’t a very popular option, but it is still worth knowing about. As the name implies, metal siding is siding made from metal like aluminum, steel, and corrugated metal. Metal siding breaks down into two main options, steel and aluminum siding.
Steel siding is thick, sturdy, and more resistant to rust. However, to be on the safe side, always apply a rust-resistant coating to your steel siding. From a financial standpoint, steel siding is one of the most expensive siding options, but it is also the most durable.
Aluminum siding is not as sturdy as steel siding and is hence predisposed to dents and tears. However, aluminum is more rust-resistant and is also more affordable than steel.
If you opt for metal siding, it’s important to keep scratches to a bare minimum. That’s because scratches expose the siding more to moisture and lead to widespread rusting.
Brick Siding
Very few people would disagree that houses with brick siding don’t look lovely. Brick siding is a timeless siding option that’s amazing both aesthetically and structurally. Brick is made from clay and shale so you should expect nothing less than unmatched durability from brick siding.
Brick siding is also an eco-friendly option and pairs well with your landscaping or retaining walls. One downside with brick is that it may wear down with continued exposure to the elements. This may hurt its aesthetic appeal and sometimes compromise its structural integrity.
Everlast Composite Siding
Everlast composite siding is made from a mixture of crushed stones, polymers, and resins. The name “everlast” comes from the fact that this siding can last a lifetime. In fact, this siding is so durable that manufacturers are willing to offer a lifetime warranty.
A lifetime warranty means the warranty stands for as long as you remain the owner of the home. Talk about confidence, too! However, composite siding also has a few drawbacks.
The first drawback is that the siding is predisposed to fading with time. Also, in hot regions, the siding might crack and ruin its visual appeal. However, you should expect to get at least 30 years from your everlast composite siding, plus the warranty also comes in handy if it doesn’t.
Best Siding Materials for Your Picking
Now that you know the best siding materials, it’s on you to make the right choice. Remember, it’s never a good idea to skimp on your residential siding. Invest in high-quality siding and experience the benefits for years to come.
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