Most Popular Siding Choice for Your Home
Home siding is a home improvement and repair form that enhances the value, curb appeal and performance. There is a handful of material used in homes for siding one of which is James Hardie Siding.
Some of the materials have come and gone, and others introduced. Asbestos was a traditional form of material used for siding but is no longer in the market. Vinyl and fiber cement came in and replaced the initially fiberglass and hardboard.
Below are some features, pricing and the maintenance considerations of the popular materials.
We shall also reflect on the various options of wood and metal.
1. Wood Siding
Wood siding is one of the beautiful materials used at home. Wood commonly used is such as planks, shingles, boards or panels. Wood siding is an old type of siding. The wood enhances the beauty of your home. Many historic homes had wood siding, and the attraction was visible.
Advantages
• Wood sliding is beautiful
• The replacement is easy and quick
Disadvantages
• They are costly
• Requires high maintenance
The Aesthetics
Wood sidings are available in various styles, texture, and the finishes. The wood clapboard is horizontal with overlapping joints.
The wood plank has various styles.
• Board and pattern
• Board-on-board
• Tongue and groove styles or channel-groove
Board siding is available in plywood version called T-111. The plywood is used in the exterior with facial treatments and patterns to bring out the traditional feel.
Characteristics of Wood Siding
The wood is easy to repair but tedious to install on an existing siding.
The wood should have a finishing by painting or staining.
Wood can warp and split. The wood is prone to damage by the sun, insects, and rot.
Cost
The cost of the siding is high.
The cost varies according to the type of the wood, style of the siding and the finishes at the exterior.
T-111 type is the least expensive.
Maintenance of Wood Siding
A painted finish will require high maintenance and proper painting preparation.
Poorly ventilated homes can destroy the painting due to the moisture from outside.
Stained finishes require less maintenance than the painted.
2. Metal Siding
The material used for metal siding is either aluminum or steel. High maintenance of the wood siding led to the metal siding. Aluminum siding requires low maintenance and have been used for years. In recent years, the steel siding emerged to cut more cost.
There are horizontal aluminum and steel that are horizontal strips. They have the flange at the top, and the interlocking edged at the bottom. On modern-style homes, the use of galvanized corrugated roofing for siding.
Aesthetics
The metal sidings are available in various styles. There are horizontal and vertical strips. The sidings include a factory applied finish on the metal to increase the carrion resistance ability. The plain metal is galvanized hence protected from corrosion.
Characteristics
Metal is at times applied directly on the wood to increase the ability to maintain or when the wood siding is damaged.
Metal siding is durable. The mate should be painted entirely, it can fade and bleed to the brick walls making the place look terrible.
The metal siding is available in a special plastic and vinyl coating to increase the resistance to weathering and fading.
Aluminum and steel can be noisy and prone to denting.
Cost
The cost of uncoated aluminum and steel is moderately low.
Plastic or vinyl coated aluminum is relatively expensive.
Maintenance
Low maintenance siding material
Plastic and vinyl has a 35 years warranty
Pre-painted aluminum is prone to chalking
Denting is common in metal siding.
3. Vinyl Siding
Vinyl siding cane up after the two above types of siding became costly when maintaining. The material comes in strips and interlocking edges. A zip tool is used when joining and separating the strips.
Aesthetics
Vinyl siding has various styles; they are horizontal and vertical with a range of colors.
Vinyl siding comes in arrange of textures such as shingle or wood shake style.
Characteristics
Vinyl is commonly used over an old wood siding.
Vinyl siding can crack during the cold season.
The siding should be installed correctly to avoid wrap or buckle
Cost
Vinyl is not expensive
Maintenance
Vinyl siding requires few maintenance. No painting is needed on the material. If vinyl cracks, it should be replaced or repaired.
4. Fiber Cement Siding
Fiber cement siding is the most recent siding material. The material is durable and requires low-maintenance. The material can be recycled and resource efficient. The fiber siding is installed like the wood siding.
Aesthetics
Fiber cement siding brings the appearance of natural wood and cannot be distinguished with other wood products.
Perfect trimming and millworks siding pieces provide your home with a design.
Characteristics
The siding comes pre-finished or primed.
It is available in shingle, shakes or planks and also stucco-panel style.
Cost
The cost of fiber cement is high.
Maintenance
The material is extremely durable
Fiber cement siding can’t be damaged by insects or rot.
The material is maintenance free.
In many manufacturers, a 50 years warranty is given.
