What’s the Best Siding for Your Home?

When it comes to choosing the best siding that complements the aesthetic of your home, explore top brands known for their durability and low maintenance.

Other than your roof, siding protects your home more than anything else. It’s also the most visible part of your home from the outside.

Whether you are building your forever home or looking to sell for the highest price in the future, choosing the best siding for your home is an extremely important decision.

We’ve put together this house siding buying guide to save you time in your search for the perfect siding options.

Discover the best house siding brands and determine which is best for your home goals.

Different Types of Siding for Houses

Over the last few centuries in the US, siding has mostly been made up of wood, brick, or stone. In the mid-1900s, aluminum siding became very common.

It wasn’t until the year 2,000 when vinyl siding finally replaced brick and wood as the most popular option for new home construction.

While there are many different types of house siding available today, there are a few modern options that are far more popular and durable than others.

Here are 4 reliable siding options to consider for your home.

Vinyl Siding

Vinyl siding is made of high-quality, weather-resistant plastic. Vinyl has become the new normal, especially for homes in new subdivisions. It’s very affordable and will likely be your cheapest option.

Even in high-cost areas like Los Angeles, you can expect to pay as low as $1.50 to $4.50 per square foot for vinyl siding.

One reason homeowners love vinyl is that the color is essentially baked into the material. It’s not painted.

As a result, you’ll never need to repaint vinyl siding.

The material also tends to be very low maintenance. Cleaning vinyl with a hose is easy, as you don’t need to worry about scraping off paint.

One of the issues with vinyl, however, is that it doesn’t increase your home’s value. Many buyers are simply not attracted to the look of vinyl.

Stone Veneer Siding

If vinyl siding is too bland for you, stone siding is just the opposite. You can create a beautiful home exterior using a stone veneer or thin cut stones.

Stone has been used in the building of homes for thousands of years. And thanks to modern technology, it’s easier than ever to decorate the outside (or inside) of your house with nature’s bounty.

You can choose from natural stone or faux stone.

Natural stone is cut thin enough to transport and install easily. Faux stone is crafted from concrete and dyed to look like real stone.

It’s hard to tell the difference between natural and artificial stone these days. But the artificial stone will be much more budget-friendly, though still more expensive than vinyl.

Wood Siding

Wood siding is one of the most versatile options. You can choose between horizontal boards, vertical boards, or many other options.

You can also paint and stain to your preferred color.

Wood siding can be a simple and affordable option. The drawback is that ongoing maintenance is usually higher, depending on which weather elements it is exposed to. You may need to re-treat wood siding every 5-10 years.

You need to be aware of ants and termites and do your best to stay pest-free.

You can also get engineered wood siding, which is treated to last longer and require less maintenance than natural wood.

Fiber Cement Siding

Fiber cement siding resembles the look of beautiful, natural wood but is far more durable, longer-lasting, and easy to maintain than wood and most other siding options.

Fiber cement siding outperforms vinyl siding as well. It’s thicker, stronger, and longer-lasting. It also allows for more authentic wood-grain effects, making your home look far more elegant than simple vinyl.

If you’ve ever looked at vinyl siding around a dryer vent, you’ve likely seen the siding warp or melt. Fiber cement resists these elements.

While fiber cement is more expensive than wood or vinyl to install, some brands, such as James Hardie, can last decades.

Other Types of Siding

There are many other types of siding available depending on how unique you’d like your house to look or what part of the country you are in.

Stucco, for example, is very popular in the southwest, where it efficiently keeps heat out and cold air in during long, hot summers. And it lasts a long time, so long as it’s not subject to constant rain.

Metal siding is an option, though far less common. You’ll see metal on some really modern or retro homes and cabins.

Metal siding works very well in colder climates, where it works to insulate the home and withstand cold, wet weather.

The Best House Siding Brands

If you are trying to decide which type of siding to install on your home, you are likely looking for a reputable brand that looks amazing and lasts a long time, as opposed to the cheapest option available.

Here are some of the best siding brands out there today, dedicated to giving you the home of your dreams without the ongoing headaches that often come with the lowest quality options.

James Hardie

When it comes to long-lasting siding, cement fiber might be the best bet. James Hardie is the leader in producing the highest quality cement fiber that looks incredible.

Depending on which part of the country you are building or remodeling your home in, James Hardie has siding products that can handle any type of weather, moisture, fire, or pests.

This is a brand you can trust. James Hardie products have been installed on over 8 million homes in the US alone.

James Hardie siding is very low maintenance and comes backed by a 30-year warranty.

CertainTeed

Yes, you can actually get vinyl siding that looks really good.

Formerly known as General Roofing Manufacturing Company, founded in 1904, CertainTeed is a global leader in high-quality vinyl siding.

They manufacture dozens of different vinyl siding styles such as horizontal boards, vertical boards, shingles, and everything in between. And they come with a lifetime warranty.

CertainTeed also prioritizes sustainability and philanthropy, giving you more reason to consider their siding for your home.

Eldorado Stone

Looking for a stone veneer or brick exterior? Eldorado Stone is one of the highest-rated stone siding companies.

Eldorado Stone is famous for its realistic stone veneer. They handcraft and mold beautiful stone products for both the outside and inside of your home.

Their goal is to make extravagant stone veneer more attainable than ever before.

They offer dozens of different options, such as stacked stone, brick veneer, and even a  reclaimed barn wood look for a vintage ranch-style home.

LP SmartSide

LP specializes in engineered wood siding, which is a popular alternative to natural wood.

While wood is highly customizable, unique, and beautiful, it requires much more ongoing maintenance.

Engineered wood, however, is more affordable and requires far less maintenance. LP SmartSide treats its wood siding with specialized resins, waxes, and zinc borate to ensure durability and protection against the elements.

Now you can have wood siding that is protected from termites, moisture, and the harshest weather.

LP SmartSide offers various styles and widths for easy customization and comes with a 50-year warranty.

Which Siding Is Right for You?

Now that you know a bit about the best siding options and the most reputable siding manufacturers, it’s time to figure out what will work best for you.

While there are many factors to consider when determining this extremely important material for your home, here are some of the main points to consider.

And before deciding on any of these options, make sure to get some quotes from contractors to truly understand what your options are.

What Is the Most Durable Siding?

When it comes to durability, cement fiber siding truly stands out.

Made of elements such as cement, sand, and wood pulp, it performs similar to long-lasting masonry products like a solid brick but comes with the realistic appearance of other popular siding choices like wood and stone.

It lasts a long time and easily withstands the most common enemies of siding; water, fire, sunlight, and pests.

Traditional masonry siding can also last decades. Brick siding can last upwards of 100 years in the right conditions.

Metal siding is very durable as well. Other than an occasional dent from large hail or a stray golf ball, you won’t need to worry about metal.

What Is the Best Low Maintenance Siding?

Most modern siding options are relatively low maintenance.

Cement fiber is one of the most popular options for being long-lasting and low maintenance siding.

Vinyl siding, while not considered the most durable, tends to be very low-maintenance.

Wood siding options will need to be treated every few years. Metal siding may need to be repainted at some point, especially if it sees a lot of sunlight.

What Is the Most Affordable Siding?

The cost for new house siding will depend on the size of your home, the area you live in, and most importantly, the material you choose.

Vinyl is almost always the cheapest option. With so many options and brands to choose from, you could spend between $1 to $8 per square foot.

If you live in the southwest, stucco siding can be pretty affordable at around $5 to $9 per square foot.

For fiber cement, wood, or brick siding, you could expect to pay between $5 and $15 per square foot.

Natural stone is usually the most expensive option, ranging from $20 to $50 per square foot. Faux stone can be as low as $6 to $9 per square foot, and stone veneer averages $11 per square foot.

What Color Siding Has the Best Resale Value?

If you are looking to sell your home at some point, get the color right the first time. Save the unique color choices for your forever home or your summer cottage.

To maximize resale value, your best bet is choosing neutral colors.

Gray, white, or off-white siding is probably the safest choice.

Gray siding with white trim and accents, for example, will provide a very clean and appealing look.

You’ll also want to consider the type of roof you have. You can’t change the color of your roof very easily, so make sure to choose a siding color that complements your roof.

There are other factors to consider as well, such as the surroundings of the home or the type of home. But in general, sticking to white or gray will always be a great choice.

Is Hardie Board Better Than Vinyl Siding?

Hardie Board siding is better than vinyl in almost every way. James Hardie siding can look like vinyl, wood, and other options while being far more durable and lower maintenance than vinyl.

James Hardie, fiber cement siding is more than 5 times thicker than vinyl, which allows for a more realistic wood-grain effect.

As mentioned earlier, vinyl has been known to warp or crack as well. James Hardie products are much stronger, noncombustible, and will last much longer in extreme elements.

Is James Hardie Siding Worth It?

James Hardie siding is beautiful. The options are plentiful. And the value it will add to your home is more than worth the cost.

Once it’s installed on your home, you can virtually forget about it. No maintenance is needed. Plus, you’re protected from whatever elements might be thrown your way.

And with an incredible warranty, there is nothing to lose.

Plus, it’s an easy way to boost your home’s value. Based on an independent study of home builders, most agree that fiber cement siding increases a home’s worth.

Keep in mind, your home is an investment. James Hardie siding is worth the investment.

Your Home Deserves the Best

When you choose your siding, just remember; it will be the first thing you see every day when you pull up to your house.

It will be the first thing your family, your friends, and your neighbors will see.

It’s also the first line of defense against the elements, keeping you and your family safe and comfortable. Don’t just choose the cheapest option available.

Get siding that will perform for decades and will bring a smile to your face every single day.

You can start your search for the best siding by getting a free local estimate today.

Michael Cynar On   /   Home Improvement Tips, Siding   /   1 Comment