The best types of siding - How to pick the right option for your home?
Choosing the best type of siding to install on your house is a big decision, and it’s often difficult. There are many different options, and it’s essential to consider them all. When choosing your home’s exterior siding, you should prioritize durability, aesthetic value, cost, and required maintenance. Each type of siding has its own set of pros and cons in these areas. We’re here to help you navigate the best siding types and decide on the most appropriate one for your next home improvement project. Keep reading to learn about the average siding material, installation costs, and factors you must consider to make a well-thought-out buying decision.
Things to consider before opting for an optimal type of siding for your home
The right siding can dramatically boost your exterior’s appearance. Whether you’re renovating or building new, you’ll want to choose the house siding option that best suits your home’s style and meets your needs for maintenance and durability. Use our guide to the most popular exterior home siding options to find your material match.
When searching through various types of siding, there are six fundamental issues to consider besides the initial cost:
- Water resistance. Waterproof types of siding will have longer life spans.
- Ease of installation. If installing the siding on your own, ensure the technique is within your skillset, requires no special tools, and creates no harmful dust when cut.
- Durability. Does your siding of choice have the strength to resist temperature shifts present in your climate? Consider how it will stand up to everyday wear and tear, as well as typical weather in your area.
- Energy efficiency. Check the R-value rating (which indicates its resistance to heat flow) for energy savings and understand what insulation will be required beneath the siding.
- Visual appeal. Your siding will be in full view as you come and go, so make sure it is beautiful to you.
- Versatility. Make sure the siding has the versatility to meet the varied needs of your specific project. If aspects of your home’s exterior will make using a particular type of siding more challenging than others, make sure you understand what the added costs or necessary adjustments will be.
The main types of siding and their properties
The wide array of house siding options can make deciding on new siding a daunting task. While there are more than ten types of siding on the market today, it’s a good idea to keep your list of options to a minimum to make the decision process a little easier. Below we outline the best types of siding for houses and what to expect in terms of cost, durability, colors, weather resistance, maintenance, and appearance.
Stucco siding
