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Choosing the right siding for your home is a critical decision that can impact your home’s curb appeal, energy efficiency, and overall value. With so many options available, including vinyl, wood, fiber-cement, and metal, it can be challenging to know which one to choose.
In this article, we’ll explore some tips to help you make an informed decision and choose the right siding material to match your home’s unique style. Here are four top options:
1. Metal Siding
Style preferences
Ideal for a modern home, metal siding oozes style with its sleek, contemporary appearance.
Makeup
Most metal siding options are made of either aluminum or steel.
Longevity
The strength and durability of metals surpass many siding materials.
Maintenance requirements
Most metals maintain their factory finish for many years.
Cost
Aluminum siding is a cost-effective option. Steel siding lasts longer and has a higher initial price point, but it lasts decades!
Our favorite perks: Metal siding is so durable that it is sometimes warrantied for up to 35 years! Metal resists heat and fire, making it a good safety feature for your home.
2. Vinyl Siding
Style preferences
This attractive siding is particularly popular on starter homes and investment properties. It is sleek and modern looking and comes in a wide variety of colors and textures to match the style you’d like to achieve. It can mimic wood-grain lap siding, giving you options in the aesthetics of your home.
Makeup
Vinyl siding is made of polyvinyl chloride (PVC).
Longevity
Vinyl lasts between 10 and 30 years based on how well it is installed and maintained. Its biggest enemy is moisture intrusion.
Maintenance requirements
Vinyl requires little to no maintenance. It never needs to be repainted and can be easily washed. If panels become damaged, simply replace them.
Cost
Although there is a broad scope of pricing for vinyl based on the manufacturer, insulation level, and style, vinyl generally is the most affordable siding material option.
Our favorite perks: While it costs about 15% more than non-insulated vinyl, insulated vinyl features a layer of expanded foam, delivering significant energy efficiency to your home. Top vinyl brands offer transferable lifetime warranties.
3. Wood Siding
Style preferences
It’s hard to beat the warmth of wood when it comes to siding materials. Perfect for restoring historic, period-specific homes, wood adds an embracing look to a property. Wood comes in cedar shakes, shingles, horizontal lap panels, and vertical (board and batten siding).
Makeup
Wood siding is commonly made from Western Red Cedar and Redwood. Ask for fire retardant on your wood siding.
Longevity
Wood can be treated to withstand the weather elements. For it to last the longest, it must be well sealed to avoid dreaded moisture intrusion.
Maintenance requirements
Wood lap siding, shakes, and shingle siding require tedious maintenance, including regular painting or staining and caulking to avoid moisture intrusion.
Cost
Wood siding’s initial cost is greater than vinyl and less than metal siding.
Our favorite perks: Wood is a great insulator and delivers a luxurious, authentic aesthetic. It can be repainted with a new color to achieve a new look.
4. Fiber Cement
Style preferences
Our favorite siding material (and America’s favorite too!), fiber cement delivers unparalleled beauty and comes in various style and texture options.
James Hardie siding comes in various styles: popular HardiePlank® horizontal lap siding, contemporary HardiePanel® vertical siding panels, or HardieShingle®—which mimics the look of wood (without wood’s high maintenance). HardieTrim® delivers the perfect finish to your doors and windows, and HardieSoffit® ensures your eaves are well protected as it uses the same hearty makeup as the other Hardie products.
Makeup
Made of cement, sand, and cellulose, fiber cement stands up to moisture, hail, heavy snow, and harsh storms. The HardieZone® system ensures your home is covered by a product manufactured to stand up to the exact climate in which you live!
Longevity
Fiber cement siding is pest-resistant, moisture-resistant, and fire-resistant, delivering unmatched durability homeowners love. James Hardie fiber cement siding lasts up to 50 years when it is installed properly by a reputable crew (like ours!) and maintained well over its lifetime.
Maintenance requirements
James Hardie siding is known for its low maintenance. Simply wash it twice a year, and replace caulking as needed throughout its lifetime. Hardie siding comes in a factory baked-on finish that is warranted for 15 years against flaking and peeling, so you won’t have to paint it often. Since Hardie siding doesn’t absorb moisture like other siding materials, you don’t have to worry about water intrusion (and the costly hassles of its repair needs).
Cost
The initial investment in fiber cement is greater than vinyl and less than wood or steel siding. It takes an experienced team of professionals to install fiber cement as it is heavier than other materials and requires training in proper installation techniques. This benefits you, the homeowner, so the added labor cost is understandable.
Our favorite perks: James Hardie is the top brand of fiber cement siding and our favorite siding product. Why? Some of our favorite features are its unmatched beauty, durability, and 30-year transferable warranty.
Siding Replacement from Your Trusted Local Contractor
What makes Giant Siding & Windows a trusted Westchester siding company? We’re family owned and operated for three generations, and we use only the finest products for your home—like James Hardie siding.
As a James Hardie Elite Preferred contractor, we ensure your siding is perfectly installed. Our experienced team—trained by the Hardie company—installs according to Hardie’s best practices and high standards. Learn more about our siding options.
