SIDING MATERIALS

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When you choose siding for your home, you can select from among a wide variety of materials, colors, and textures. Here are the pros and cons of the most popular siding materials being installed on homes today.

Vinyl Siding

Introduced to the market in the early 1960s, vinyl siding has grown in popularity because of its durability, versatility and ease of maintenance. Vinyl siding is impact resistant, rigid and strong. Vinyl siding is available in a broad palate of colors, as well as a limited range of patterns.

Vinyl siding also is available in many profiles, including horizontal and vertical panels, shakes, scallops, shingles, fish scales, traditional lap, Dutch lap and beaded designs in various widths.

With the ability to withstand high winds (certified up to 110 mph or higher) and a composition that resists heat, cold and moisture, vinyl siding retains its looks over time. And vinyl siding never ever needs paint. The only maintenance it requires is a simple wash with a soft cloth and garden hose.

One of the biggest problems of using low-grade vinyl siding in the past was its lack of insulation value. Newer styles of vinyl siding are now being manufactured with greatly enhanced insulation backing that provide an effective layer of protection for your home.

Wood Siding

Wood is a traditional siding material, either in shakes (shingles) or clapboard form. While it isn’t as common in recent years, wood siding was used on houses for hundreds of years. Wood siding used to be made of raw hardwood such as yellow poplar, red oak, hickory, beech, sycamore and soft maple, but are now more often made from common softwoods like cedar and redwood. While nice to look at, wood siding generally requires frequent scraping and painting, and regular maintenance, particularly in regions with extremes of moisture and temperature.

Fiber Cement Siding

Fiber cement siding is composed of cement, sand and cellulose fiber that has been cured with pressurized steam to increase its strength and dimensional stability. The fiber reinforces the product and prevents cracking. This siding product will protect your home from rot, fire, wind and insects.

Fiber cement siding can have and embossed wood grained texture, stucco or smooth finish. These products are combined with various types of vinyl trim to block the weather. Vinyl ventilation accessories may also be utilized and painted as you wish.

Fiber cement siding may be painted using water-based acrylic paint, which grips these products very well and doesn’t peel because the products do not expand and contract like wood. Paint typically lasts up to 15 years. Stains may also be applied to fiber cement.

Aluminum Siding

After being pushed out of the market by vinyl a few decades ago, aluminum is making a comeback and bringing with it steel siding in several interesting styles.Various coatings including Kynar, Galvalume, PVC and zinc help prevent corrosion of steel siding and eliminate the chalking common to the last generation of aluminum siding. There are three styles/types of aluminum and steel siding:

Horizontal siding mimics traditional wood siding. You have good color and style options, though not as many as with vinyl.

Vertical steel and aluminum siding - produced in board & batten styles for a traditional look. You can also get vertical grooved panels, usually steel, have a modern appearance.

Steel shingles - have a genuine wood appearance with a high profile.

Stucco

Because of the variety of ways to apply it and formulate it, stucco siding has been utilized for hundreds of years. Typically seen in Mission or Spanish-style architecture, stucco can be smooth or course, raked or swirled. It can contain sand, lime or pebbles. Depending upon the climate and the desired texture, different types of cement are used in the stucco mix.

Advantages of natural stucco include fire resistance, a high degree of energy efficiency and low maintenance. It also expands and contracts with the weather, which minimizes cracking. Stucco can last up to 50 years before it needs to be replaced. Synthetic stucco has been developed to overcome the moisture issues.

Fiberglass Siding

An innovative and durable alternative, fiberglass siding is among the fastest growing in popularity across the country. Fiberglass siding gives your home the look of freshly painted wood without the hassle of scraping and painting, and is virtually maintenance free. Available in a variety of color options and produced in continuous lengths, fiberglass siding features clean, crisp lines with seams that butt tightly together instead of overlapping.

Engineered Wood Siding

Engineered wood siding is a manufactured siding that is more cost effective than traditional wood siding and is made up of composite wood materials. Engineered wood siding is typically available in 4 foot by 8 foot sheets or lap panels, as well as in smooth or embossed textures. Engineered wood siding can give you the look of wood siding at a lower cost than traditional wood sidings. It is also much less maintenance as there are a number of remarkable finish options available through various manufacturers.

Let the Minneapolis siding experts from Family First Construction help you to choose the best siding material for your home.

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