The Definitive Guide to the Most Durable Siding for Your Home
Siding is a great way to make your home stand out, increase curb appeal, add color, and increase value. However, with so many siding types available, you must choose your new siding carefully. While you want your home to look good, you will also want to consider how well it can withstand the elements, and ease of installation when choosing your exterior siding.
Brick: The Third Little Pig Had the Right Idea
All genuine brick is made from fired clay. Yet there are a variety of textures, sizes, and colors you can choose from. It is most often found on Tudor, Colonial, or English cottage-style exteriors and provides a look that will last for hundreds of years. Under normal conditions, and if installed correctly, the brick siding on a home can often outlast the life of your home.
Brick is now often constructed as a veneer on the outside of the wood frame of a home’s structure with mortar used to hold everything together. Stone veneer siding is also an exterior siding option that is similar to brick veneer and has the look of natural stone with less expense. Because water can penetrate brick and stone veneers, a membrane must be installed between the exterior and the home to protect the underlying structure. Because the installation of brick is labor-intensive, it is one of the more costly siding options. On average, installing brick siding will cost $6 to $15 or more per square foot.
Vinyl: Long-Lasting Looks That Won’t Cost a Fortune
Vinyl siding takes up a whopping 30 percent of the market when it comes to siding sales and understandably so. It is low cost, versatile, and easy to maintain, making it one of the most popular siding choices in the U.S. While some homeowners and builders are turned off by the look of vinyl siding, the variety of styles and colors helps maintain its popularity.
Vinyl siding is the least expensive siding to install because it is easy to install and is often the siding of choice for DIY home improvement projects. Although you can expect to pay only $3 to $7 per square foot, you should be aware that vinyl siding is prone to fading in direct sunlight and can mildew in damp climates, which requires regular cleaning.
Wood: Classic Aesthetic That Can Weather the Storm
Wood siding is a popular choice for cottage, Cape Cod, and bungalow exteriors thanks to its textured look, wood grain, and durability with proper maintenance. Natural wood is available in clapboard, shakes, and shingles and is often made of western red cedar or redwood, which are considered the most durable and attractive. Real wood siding is usually available for $5 to $10 per square foot installed, but that doesn’t count the cost of staining or painting.
Keep in mind that while wood siding can be beautiful and durable, it does require maintenance. Cedar siding and other types of wood siding will need repainting or restaining regularly to prevent weather damage, and it can also be susceptible to rodent and insect attacks.
Fiber Cement Siding: A Modern Marvel
Fiber cement siding is growing in popularity because it can offer the look of stucco siding, masonry, or wood at a lower cost. It is low maintenance, termite resistant, non-flammable, fire-resistant. Plus, it can be found in a variety of colors, styles, textures, and finishes. The blend of sand, cement, and cellulose that makes up this engineered wood is comparable in cost to vinyl siding, at an average of $6 to $12 per square foot. It can last 25 to 50 years
The color variations can be limited with fiber cement siding, and it can be susceptible to moisture and water problems, especially during freeze/thaw cycles if not properly painted. Homes with this type of siding built before the late 1980s may also have siding that contains asbestos that must be professionally removed.
Need Help Deciding? Ask Our Pros
Choosing the right siding material for your home’s exterior can depend on a variety of factors, including your climate, budget, and lifestyle. When trying to decide which type of siding is best for you, consider these points:
- Water Resistance – Some types of siding are less water-resistant and more likely to have a shorter life span in climates that are humid or damp.
- Energy Efficiency – Each type of siding has an R-value that measures its ability to impede thermal transfer. Depending on your climate, you may want a higher R-value.
- Aesthetics – The color and texture of your siding will determine the overall look of your home.
- Maintenance – Each type of siding may come with certain kinds of necessary upkeep to enhance their lifespan. Know what maintenance you will need to perform with the siding that you choose.
- Cost – Depending on the complexity of installation and building materials for the project, siding your home can cost as little as a few thousand dollars or high five figures. Knowing your budget beforehand can help you determine what you can afford.
Even if you choose a less expensive option, siding your home is a big decision. Our experts at Synapse Construction have worked with a wide variety of siding materials ranging from natural wood to aluminum siding, brick to steel siding, and everything in between. We can help you make the right selection for your home and budget. Keep in mind that even the most durable siding will have a short lifespan if it isn’t correctly installed.
At Synapse Construction, we are a full-service Seattle siding company and have completed a variety of custom commercial and residential siding projects as well as window replacement projects. We have experience in all types of siding products and can guide you to the best solution for your project. Our craftsmen take pride in their work and understand that it is all about our customer’s satisfaction. We have expertise in remodels, new construction, and custom-designed projects and are licensed, bonded, and insured so you can rest assured that our work is guaranteed and that you are protected. Contact us today.