When you walk around the exterior of your home, you should notice a protective layer of material called siding. Installing siding on the exterior of a house delivers several benefits, such as boosting curb appeal and preventing moisture from causing damage to your home. You can install siding to enhance the color of your home, as well as complement a more dominant design theme. To choose the right siding for your house, you should consult with a team of experienced siding contractors.
Architect Amy A. Alper summarizes the dual benefits of hanging siding. “From a functional point of view, siding gives you protection,” Alper said. “From an architectural point of view, there’s an interest now in using a variety of materials to highlight special features on a home. For example, using stone or Western red cedar to highlight an entry.”
You have several factors to consider before deciding what type of siding is best for your home. Factors to consider include price, durability, aesthetic appeal, resistance to moisture, and ease of installation.
Let’s take a quick look at the four most popular types of siding.
Wood
Wood siding offers a wide variety of appearances, from rustic charm like a cottage to rich tones that present a Cape Cod-type ambiance. If maintained correctly, wood siding can be highly durable, even in regions of the country that experience severe weather such as blizzards and hailstorms. By following the recommended maintenance schedule, wood siding can last from 10 to as long as 100 years.
Wood siding, which runs between $5 and $10 per square foot installed, is popular among home remodeling contractors.
Vinyl
If you are looking for an affordable siding option that offers design versatility and easy maintenance, then installing vinyl siding represents the best siding for your home. Although some residential designers do not like the plastic-like appearance of vinyl, the availability of several types of colors and styles should help you come up with an attractive design. With the ability to withstand strong impacts, vinyl siding lasts longer than any other type of siding. Since it requires few tools to install and is readily available at home improvement stores, installing vinyl siding represents one of the easiest do-it-yourself projects.
Brick
Constructed from oven-fired clay, brick is available in different sizes and textures to match your design vision. You can find brick siding in English, Tudor, and Colonial residential designs. Brick exudes both charm and panache, which makes it the most visually appealing type of siding if matched with the right home exterior design.
Because water can penetrate brick veneer, you have to install a membrane between the brick veneer and your home to protect the structure.
Fiber-Cement
Presenting an appearance similar to wood or stucco at a lower cost, fiber cement has emerged as one of the most popular choices of siding for homeowners. Fiber-cement siding is low maintenance, as well as the material resists termites and possesses a high non-flammable rating. The siding material can last as long as 50 years, with the average cost per square foot installed running between $6 and $12, and it also helps retain your home’s charm during a remodeling project.
Mares & Dow
Contact your local skylight contractors at Mares & Dow Construction and Skylights today to transform your home. We have over 40 years of installation and consulting experience.
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