Homeowners are never short on options when it comes to improving their houses. Even if you have only one practical choice for siding, you’ll have plenty of color and style options to choose from. Some of the most popular types of siding include:
• Metal siding - Steel and aluminum siding are two of the most popular options for home exteriors. Both materials help insulate your home, saving you money on Metal siding covers over another material, usually brick or wood, but is easy to paint if your house needs a facelift. Furthermore, any metal trim or outdoor furniture can be painted in matching rust paint for a coordinated look. Steel siding is usually a better choice in very cold climates as it’s more durable than aluminum. Your metal siding can dent or fade, but it won’t crack like other exteriors.
• Wood siding - Another popular choice for exterior coverage, wood siding gives a natural look to your home and can easily be painted or stained in the color of your choice. Most wood siding is made from cedar, pine, spruce, redwood, cypress or Douglas fir. Your wood siding will usually cover over solid sheathing and a layer of building paper. Wood siding can last for many years when properly treated, but doesn’t provide protection from fire like metal siding does.
• Vinyl siding - A durable and long-lasting material, vinyl siding requires little maintenance other than a good washing to keep it looking fresh. Vinyl siding is generally less expensive than most other types of siding, but unless it’s of good quality may fade over time. If you live in a particularly windy area, look for guarantees about its durability in such conditions.
• Brick siding - If you want amazing durability and a classic look for your home, brick siding is the best option. Capable of lasting for centuries with proper care, brick provides excellent insulation for your home and can help protect it from fire. Today, you can find brick in a wide variety of colors to suit your home design needs. The expense of making and shipping brick adds to its overall cost, which can be fairly high compared to other types of siding.
• Stone siding - A less common siding choice today, stone still gives a classic, timeless look to your home. Natural stone makes your home look entirely unique, but for sake of cost and labor, pre-cast concrete blocks are more frequently used. If you’re planning on a natural stone exterior for your home, you’ll find many options available in bluestone, granite, quartzite and limestone. The cost of the materials themselves and the labor involved in installing stone siding can make it an expensive option.
• Stucco - This siding option is a mix of cement, water and hard organic materials like lime or sand. The resulting paste is then applied to walls to create a seamless textured surface. Stucco can be manipulated to create designs and patterns to personalize your home. Genuine stucco is a remarkably durable form of siding while synthetic stucco is more susceptible to wear and tear. Stucco can be painted. but you should wait for a few months to pass after the stucco is applied before painting it. It takes time for stucco to release all its moisture and painting before the stucco is cured will cause the paint to peel.