The exterior of your home is one of the most important aspects, and when it comes to house siding you have a lot of options. Studies show that over 80% of homeowners are looking for an affordable way to update their homes and this means they want to change out their siding. The problem with installing new siding on your home is knowing which type will work best for you. In this blog post we will discuss the top 5 best types available today, what they look like, how much they cost, pros vs cons and more!
Best Siding Options:
There are a lot of popular options out there when it comes to house siding, but we’ll be discussing the top 5 below. Just remember that these are just suggestions and you can choose whatever you want for your own home as long as it gets done!
1. Vinyl Siding
The first type of siding on our list is called vinyl siding. Vinyl has been used quite often in homes around the world due to its durability and versatility. Although they look very similar, there is one major difference between aluminum and vinyl siding: Aluminum does not absorb water so this means it will last longer than vinyl which tends to decay much faster over time. With all that being said, let’s discuss some of the pros and cons!
Pros: Vinyl is affordable. They come in a wide variety of colors that you can choose from. Easy to install, they don’t take too long (I would say under 3 hours maximum). Durable material means you’ll get many years out of your house with vinyl siding installed. The low water absorption rate seems like an obvious pro but it’s also important for your plants as well. Vinyl siding is very lightweight so this makes it easy to work with when installing the panels on your home.
Cons: Vinyl tends to fade over time due to sun exposure which isn’t good if you want pretty exterior design elements for your home. This type of siding does not hold up well against heavy winds so if you live in an area where powerful storms occur, this might not be the best option for you.
2. Composite Siding
The next type on our list is composite siding which is made from a combination of wood and plastic or fiberglass that doesn’t warp like real wood. With composite siding it’s easy to make sure your home looks great while still having a long lasting material installed on the exterior. Some other benefits include:
Pros: Very affordable option for those who want to update their home with new siding without paying more than they should have to. Durable material means you’ll get many years out of your house with vinyl siding installed. This type of siding resists rotting due to moisture and can withstand strong winds. The material is lightweight and easy to work with when installing the panels on your home
Cons: Composite siding cannot be painted so if you don’t like the original color you won’t be able to change it without replacing it entirely. This type of siding doesn’t last as long as real wood which may require additional maintenance over time, more than vinyl siding does for example.
3. Wood Siding
Wooden siding has become very popular due to its natural beauty and because it looks great on many different types of homes – whether they’re traditional or modern! If you are looking into wooden siding we’ll cover some pros/cons below:
Pros: Durable material means you’ll get many years out of your house with vinyl siding installed. Wood is easy to work with for installation and can often be painted any color you want! Very natural look that many people love having on their homes due to it’s warm, natural beauty. This type of siding will come in a wide variety of colors that you can choose from.
Cons: Wooden siding does not handle weather well which means there may be additional maintenance required as time goes by – this won’t happen right away but after a few years exposed to the elements might require some repairs/painting down the line. Using wood veneer has been known to discolor over time but even so, it will last longer than vinyl or composite materials!
4. Fiber Cement Siding
Fiber cement siding is made from a combination of pressed recycled paper and limestone which is then baked in very high temperatures to harden. These panels come in a variety of colors so finding something that blends into your home’s exterior design shouldn’t be too difficult! Here are some pros/cons to consider when looking at fiber-cement house siding.
Pros: Highly durable material means you’ll get many years out of your house with vinyl siding installed. Very budget friendly for those on a tight budget. The texture and look is really quite attractive, especially if you paint it the color of your choice! Durable material resists rotting due to moisture/temperature changes – this means you can install it and not worry about maintenance required for a long time to come.
Cons: There isn’t much we can think of that is bad when it comes to fiber cement siding, the price might be a little bit high for some people but if you want a natural looking product that will really last along with being easier on your budget – this may be the right option.
5. Composite Fiber Siding
The combination of composites and real wood makes composite fiber siding one of our top picks due to it’s beautiful design/looks as well as how easy it is to maintain! This type of exterior house siding is made from recycled materials plus also features built-in mold and mildew resistance which helps tremendously when it comes to keeping your home looking beautiful for a long time. Here are some pros/cons of composite fiber siding:
Pros: This type of siding is very easy to work with due to its lightweight design and you can choose any color you want! You’ll get many years out of your house with vinyl siding installed. Mold resistant means you won’t need to worry about cleaning the exterior too often which saves money on upkeep, especially when it comes to power washing or painting the siding every couple years (which isn’t cheap!)
Cons: There really aren’t many downsides when it comes to composite fiber siding – this product is one that we highly recommend if you are looking for something that will last along with being budget friendly.