8 Different Types of Siding (and How to Choose the Best One!)
Are you looking for an effective approach to improving your home’s curb appeal and increasing its resale value? If so, you should consider investing in your home’s siding.
A new siding will make your home look brand new, increasing its resale value. The siding will also protect your home from the outside elements.
Besides, if you go for insulated siding, you will save on your monthly energy bills. However, when investing in the siding, pay attention to the type of siding you choose.
Not all types of siding will perfectly match your home’s needs. The type of siding you choose must be suitable for your budget, the climate of your area and enhance your home’s aesthetic appeal.
If you invest in the wrong type of siding, it will soon crack and get damaged. Besides, if you choose a siding that doesn’t offer the required insulation, poor energy efficiency might become a serious issue.
To invest in a siding that will offer the best value for your money, you must understand the various types of house siding options available.
Continue reading and discover the 8 common types of sidings and how to choose the best.
Top 8 Types of Siding
Choosing the best might be overwhelming, with many types of sidings out there. But after going through the type of sidings discussed below, selecting the best shall become easy.
1. Vinyl Siding
This type of siding is the most common and popular among homeowners due to its affordability. It’s a good option for people who want to invest in a wide range of colors for their siding.
However, it’s not durable like other types. If you live in areas where hail is quite common, vinyl siding might not be a good option.
But if you are looking for an affordable way to improve your home’s aesthetic appeal, then viny siding might be a good option for you.
2. Insulated Vinyl Siding
This type of siding is quite similar to regular vinyl siding; however, it has insulation built onto the ridge of the panel. The insulation being located at the ridge offers better insulation for your home.
The improved insulation helps you save energy bills. Besides, with temperatures being kept at the right range, your siding will not succumb to high levels of moisture.
This type of siding also comes in various colors, making it suitable for aesthetic appeal. If you want to save on energy bills while enhancing your home’s curb appeal, this type of siding might be a good option.
3. Hardie Board Siding
If you believe a siding containing cement is durable, you are right. Hardie board is extremely durable and can withstand all types of weather conditions. You can also paint it with your favorite color for the best aesthetic appeal.
You might get a warranty if you hire a company to install this type of siding. This way, you will also save on the maintenance cost. If you are looking for a siding to last for years and offer top-notch quality, the Hardie Board Siding is all you need.
4. Natural Wood Siding
Most of the sidings will try to capture and recreate the look of natural wood, but none can beat the undeniable aesthetic appeal of natural wood. The texture and the curb appeal of real wood shingles cannot be matched to any synthetic option.
• With this type of siding, you can paint it to match the exterior color theme of your home.
• For an added boost in your home’s curb appeal, you can also stain or restain the natural wood siding.
• However, if you opt for this siding, you must be ready to do a bit of maintenance. You have to repaint or restain the wood after 5 years.
• Rodents and bugs can also become a menace to this type of siding.
Luckily with regular inspection, you can solve the issue of bugs and rodents. Natural wood might also not be a good option for homeowners who reside in wet and humid areas. If the siding traps moisture, it’s likely to rot.
But if you are looking for an eco-friendly siding to take your home’s aesthetic appeal a notch higher, natural wood siding is the best option.
5. Manufactured Wood Siding
As the name suggests, the manufactured wood siding is engineered to look like natural wood. It’s made from a blend of materials.
It gives your home an aesthetic appeal similar to that of natural wood siding at a fraction of the cost. It’s also easy to maintain.
All you need to do is keep it moisture-free. Otherwise, mold and mildew growth might take place.
The manufactured wood siding is a good pick if you want to achieve an aesthetic appeal similar to natural wood at a cheaper cost.
6. Metal Siding
The use of metal siding has been rising in recent years due to its durability. Despite being expensive, its longevity makes it worth it.
Metal is resistant to bugs, mold, and fire-making it a good option for your siding. Plus, it can be engineered to look like other types of sidings.
Besides, after replacing the metal siding, you can re-use the metal in other areas of your home. However, this type of siding is susceptible to rust and dents.
If you are looking for easy to maintain and durable siding, metal siding is all you need.
7. Fiber Cement Siding
Fiber cement is a durable quality material that can resemble vinyl, cement, or even wood siding.
It’s designed to withstand and keep your home safe without sacrificing the aesthetic appeal of your home. It comes in various colors and has a similar look to the wood.
However, it’s expensive than vinyl but still gives you back your return on investment.
8. Brick Siding
Brick houses always look gorgeous and aesthetically appealing. People are also using brick siding to achieve that gorgeous look. This siding is more durable and cheaper due to the abundance of earth materials.
You can match your landscaping and retaining walls to your siding with brick siding. However, even if the bricks are durable, the mortar is susceptible to wear after long-time exposure to elements.
If you are looking for eco-friendly, low maintenance, and fire-resistant siding, the brick siding is all you need.
How to Choose the Best Siding
Siding plays a major role in improving the aesthetic appeal of your home. However, choosing the best siding type should go beyond the looks.
The following are some factors to consider when choosing the best siding for your home.
Home Style
Your home siding should accentuate the architectural design of your home. If you have a clean design of modern homes, you should consider vertical siding or horizontal shiplap.
If your home style is a farm home or a craftsman, then board and batten might be a good siding option. If yours is a beach house, you should invest in wood siding to add a natural appeal.
If you are not sure which siding will match your home’s style, you can consider seeking advice from experts.
Color
While picking the color palette for your exterior design, choose one primary color and two secondary colors. The color you choose will depend on whether you want to brighten your home or make it appear neutral.
It’s also important you ensure your siding color matches your home’s style.
Budget
When replacing your siding, you definitely have to stick to a budget. You should then pick a siding that will perfectly match your budget.
To enhance your home’s curb appeal, you don’t necessarily have to break the bank. There are affordable siding options that you can invest in, such as vinyl siding and manufactured wood siding.
You can go for natural wood siding if you want to invest heavily.
Ease of Maintenance
When choosing a siding option to match your budget pay attention to the ease of maintenance. If you want the siding to appear beautiful as the day it was first installed, you must be ready to keep up with some maintenance.
But the amount of maintenance effort you put in will depend on the siding option you go for. Some types, such as natural wood siding, might require scraping and repainting after 3 years.
If you go for vinyl siding, then little work will be required to maintain them in good shape.
Choose the Best Types of Siding Today
Investing in a new home siding can make your home appear brand new and increase the resale value of your home. However, you have to choose the best types of sidings to take your home’s curb appeal a notch higher.
Are you looking for a home improvement buying guide or cost guide to match your needs and budget? At 5 Estimates, we got you covered.
We make finding new roof costs, the best HVAC systems, top replacement windows, and other home improvement essentials easy for you.
Contact us today for all your home improvement needs.
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