Your home’s siding protects the structure from the elements. It’s also the foundation of your home’s aesthetic. Choosing the right type of siding is obviously important, but it may be more complicated than many homeowners realize.
More Options Than You Know
Quick – how many types of siding can you think of? Most people can name wood and vinyl siding. You might also be familiar with cement boards. But what about stucco? Shakes and shingles? Metal? Board and batten? Stone? All of these are options and they’re not remotely similar. The first step is to consider the types of siding out there and how they affect your budget, the home’s aesthetic, and other factors.
Aesthetics
What do you want your home to look like? Are you going for something conventional? Do you prefer something more timeless? Are you trying to tie into an overall design type used throughout the neighborhood? Choose a siding type and color that will help you achieve your goals in terms of aesthetics.
Maintenance
All siding types require at least some maintenance. However, some are pretty minimal while others may require hours of care each year. For instance, metal, vinyl siding, and natural stone may only need to be rinsed off each year. Wood siding of all types will need to be protected, and that might mean frequently repainting or staining it to prevent damage. How much maintenance are you willing to put into your home’s siding?
Energy Efficiency
The siding on your home affects how energy efficient it is. Check the R-value of any siding you’re considering. The higher the number, the more efficient the siding is and the more comfortable your home will be over time.
Durability
All siding types have a maximum lifespan. Once you exceed that, it’s living on borrowed time. You’ll find that some materials have a very long lifespan, others have a relatively short one, and others depend on you doing regular maintenance to ensure it lasts as long as possible. Natural stone has the greatest durability, while vinyl technically has the least. However, wood siding will usually have the least if you don’t regularly paint or seal it against the elements.
Need help choosing the right siding for your home? Get in touch to let one of our experts walk you through your choices and understand how each type will affect your home’s aesthetics and fit with your budget.