House Siding - A Guide To Types and Timing

House Siding Options and When To Re-Side

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The siding on your house is the first level of protection against the long reaching hands of the local weather. House siding should be able to withstand the everything from wintry storms to blazing summer heat in your region, all while keeping your house looking great. Siding comes in a variety of styles and materials, so it’s important to do a decent amount of research before committing to one type of siding that will define the exterior of your home for decades to come.

Re-siding Your Residence

It’s likely that homeowners will have to deal with new siding at least once in their lifetime. Whether it’s a brand new home or replacing the house siding that came with the home when you bought it, re-siding your house may seem overwhelming. Many homeowners don’t know the right time to install new siding. A few reasons why it might be time to replace your siding:

  • Appearance – looking to upgrade the style of your home, or a new colour but paint won’t cut it
  • Home Value – resale value jumps drastically when you invest in exterior improvement
  • Efficiency – many types of new siding will increase your insulation levels for energy efficiency, which saves money from month-to-month
  • Maintenance – new siding will require less maintenance than your old weathered panels

The Many Sides of House Siding

Wood siding conveys the robustly classic look of homes of yesteryear. You’ll often find wood plank and clapboard siding on older historic homes. The downside of wood siding is that it takes much more maintenance than newer materials. Wood is more likely to be ravaged by extreme weather conditions – it can fade over years of constant exposure to the sun, crack or mold due to moist conditions, and it will definitely need to be painted to maintain its fresh appearance. If you currently have wood clapboard panels that have fallen prey to unrelenting years the nature’s mood swings, it may be time to upgrade to a newer type of house siding if you’re willing to forfeit the old fashioned look of wood.

Aluminum is a common material used for retrofitting as it is generally inexpensive, weather resistant, and takes little maintenance in the long run. Unfortunately, the nature of aluminum prevents it from being as detailed as other materials for house siding, may be noisy, and commonly runs into the problem of denting.

Larger buildings and commercial spaces may be more likely to consider stone siding for its unbeatable durability and strength. Natural stone offers a regally old world look, but can cost a fortune. Manufactured stone may be a less expensive alternative, but is still pricier than common house siding options, and won’t necessarily offer the durability of natural stone.

The most popular material for house siding today is vinyl. Vinyl siding comes in a variety of styles and colours, textures, and can even be manufactured to mimic wood siding. Vinyl is low cost, low maintenance, and will run into few problems if installed correctly. If no installed correctly, this seemingly perfect house siding option may warp, buckle, or crack in cold weather. Finding a reliable contractor before installing new siding is a simple step to take to avoid this ghastly outcome. The right contractor will not only help you pick the best material for your area, but speed you on the way to new house siding

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