Are you planning to replace your home’s siding soon? If so, we have good news for you! There is a huge variety of materials, styles, and colors available now than ever before. The bad news? You have a wider variety of materials, styles, and colors to choose from than ever before! But here are some key considerations to keep in mind to help you wade through all your options.
Think of siding as apparel for your home. Not only does it protect your home, providing insulation and a shield from the weather, but it also adds personality, color, and texture to your house.
Consumer Reports describes four main types of siding, all of which we see in the South:
- Vinyl Siding – The most popular siding material due to its low price and minimal upkeep. It resists warping, insects and water, but can rattle, crack or melt.
- Plastic Siding – This siding also requires little upkeep and can resemble cedar. It is thicker than vinyl and resists impact better in cold weather, but is more expensive than vinyl.
- Fiber Cement Siding – This increasingly popular siding is a blend of cement, sand, and cellulose. Fiber cement looks like wood but is slightly more expensive than vinyl. Although fire and insect-proof, this type of siding can be damaged by water and typically needs to be refinished and repainted periodically throughout its lifetime.
- Wood Siding – This traditional choice of siding material is the most expensive of these options, and while resistant to impact, it is vulnerable to warping, rot, and insects.
What’s your budget?
Obviously, you want to get the most for your money, but you may need to determine if you’re willing to trade a more expensive product, such as plastic, for a product that may need to be replaced relatively sooner, like vinyl.
How long do you plan to keep your home? Angie Hicks, the founder of Angie’s List, says to expect an 80% return on investment on your new siding, over the course of a few years. So if you plan to settle into your home, it’s worth investing in a siding that might be more expensive, but has a longer life.
What blends in with your home architecture/neighborhood style?
If you have an older home, wood or fiber-cement siding might look best with your home’s style, or with other homes in your neighborhood. On the other hand, wood siding may stand out in a neighborhood of colorful vinyl homes.
Do any homeowner association regulations affect your choices?
Some associations have specific regulations regarding the color and style of homes in the neighborhood. This could limit your selections, particularly of color.
What ongoing maintenance are you willing to commit to?
If you love the looks offered by fiber cement and are willing to have the siding refinished periodically, this could be a good choice. For someone who does not want to worry about additional maintenance—say for a vacation home, vinyl may be a better choice.
We would love the opportunity to help answer your questions about updating or adding siding to your home! For more information on selecting siding for your home and getting a free estimate, please reach out to us.
