Siding is a product applied to the exterior walls of the house.
It works as an insulator, protects the walls from weather impacts and is an important design element in the aesthetics of the structure.
Siding may be in different styles and shapes. Fortunately there are enough choices available to satisfy most homeowners and various styles of siding are available in different materials. For the homeowners trying to decide on the right type of siding for their home, the variety of choices available can be overwhelming to say the least. There are other considerations as well beyond just looks, namely
cost, maintenance and architectural style.
Steps to finding the right siding:
- Educate yourself, become familiar with the various types of siding products.
- Consider the architectural style of your house and the regional climate.
- Review the cost, characteristics, lifespan and the amount of maintenance required.
- Compare the above criteria with your budget.
- Hire professional contractors and start planning.
Style, Shapes and Texture
Siding is can be made from a variety of materials, such as vinyl, metal, wood and cement.
Most siding products come both in the horizontal or the vertical format. The most common horizontal siding shapes are clapboard, shakes and shingles, while the most common vertical siding is the board and batten.
Board and Batten
Region and climate
Since style is the primary determinant in choosing a type of siding, be sure to consider the type of siding based on architecture style of your house, and your regional climate. As the architecture of your house is suited to your climate, the choice of siding should be suited to the climate as well, since weather factors have significant impact on building material.
Some siding choices perform better than others depending on the environment. For example, In a very cold weather an inexpensive vinyl siding can be brittle and eventually crack. On coastal regions, steel siding can corrode. In humid climates, or regions prone to forest fire, wood siding cannot be a good choice. Aluminum siding can be a great choice in most circumstances, but in high speed winds can easily dent and come off.
In other cases your choices may be limited due to the heritage site protection or city by laws.
Characteristics, Maintenance, Durability, and Lifespan
The maintenance of siding is is dependant on the material you choose and its quality. In most cases, premium siding products will have a lifespan of 30-50 years, and during this time they may require little maintenance. For instance, aluminum and vinyl siding are the most popular and affordable products, almost maintenance free , and even
Cleaning though they try to mimic the texture and patterns of the wood, they will never have the natural look, durability and the lifespan of the wood siding. On the other hand, wood siding will require more maintenance than other materials, (such as scrapping, staining, painting) to last long and protected from insects. However , If you are planning to live in your current house for a long time, wood, cement and some types of aluminum siding can be great choices since
Repairing they can be repainted, therefore giving you the advantage of renewing the look of your house without the cost of replacing the siding.
Some siding materials need more maintenance than the others. Some are fireproof, insect free and well insulators. Some can easily dent, crack, break, rot, rust and fade depend on certain conditions.
There is a long list of pros and cons of one siding material versus the other, depending on maintenance upkeep,
Painting environmental conditions and quality of the product.
Make sure to evaluate those four criteria before you take your decision.
Cost estimate, Hiring, Planing
The cost is a key determinant in the choice of product, and it depends on the material of the product , the quality, and the difficulty of installation. The upside is that you can achieve a specific look with a variety of materials, so you might be able to get the look you want for a price that's right. The catch is whether the less expensive products meet your aesthetic and durability requirements.
Do your homework. Research, research, and research before you hire a contractor. Have the basic information on the product and the project. The more you know, the easier the choice becomes.
Run a background check on contractors, ask for references and reviews. Learn ,what to know before hiring a contractor. Ask questions. Websites such as Homestars or Better Bureau Business are becoming very popular on recommending the right contractor for construction project.
Choosing and working with a professional contractor can be an excellent experience if everything goes well.
To make this process of choosing easier for you, Eclipse Roofing offer 3d modelling designing services, to show you how each choice would look like on YOUR house!
At Eclipse Roofing you will find licensed, award wining contractors with over 15 years of experience on siding installations and repairs.