Your home’s exterior is the first line of defense against the hot sun, the winter cold, strong winds and rain. Siding materials have to be strong and durable to withstand the onslaught of elements, but beautiful enough to maintain your home’s value. Today’s siding materials are much improved over the past, but there are advantages and disadvantages to each kind. Let’s look at the pros and cons of the most popular materials.
Vinyl Siding
Vinyl is a popular choice because it’s affordable, insect-proof, fade-resistant and virtually indestructible. Most manufacturers tout the product as being maintenance-free, but there will be occasional work cleaning the siding and making sure mold does not accumulate. Vinyl siding comes in many colors and designs, allowing you to have the look you want.
Wood Siding
Wood is a valued material in home building, due to its timeless beauty. Wood siding can make your home more valuable. Although wood siding does last many years, it does require more maintenance than vinyl. It is more expensive than vinyl siding, too.
Stucco Siding
Stucco is a popular siding choice, especially in the south. The siding lasts 50 to 80 years. Material-wise, it’s very affordable, but labor costs can inflate the price a lot. You can obtain many different textures and colors with stucco, but you won’t want to paint it.
Fiber Cement Siding
Fiber-cement siding has the same durability as cement. Wood-boring insects cannot penetrate it, nor does it rot. You can find many different textures and colors. Some products resemble wood, brick or natural stone. Fiber-cement is low-maintenance. You will need to refinish the siding after 15 years. It is more expensive than vinyl, but not generally as expensive as wood.
If you are considering an exterior home remodel, contact Lynnrich about which siding material fits the needs of your home, based on the style of your home, the climate in your community and your end results.
