Siding Comparison: How to Choose the Right Siding for Your Home   

Whether you are looking to make your home more energy efficient, have better curb appeal or increase the value of your home, there are several great benefits to investing in new siding. Your home’s siding not only gives it distinctive character, but fundamentally its purpose is to protect the interior structure of your home from outside elements. Siding protects your home from rain, humidity and moisture, insects, and pests. That is why the siding of your home must be maintained to keep it working at its peak year in and year out.

When it comes to installing new siding, there are a variety of materials to choose from such as insulated vinyl siding, wood siding, cement siding, aluminum siding, brick or stone siding and more. Each siding material has its own advantages and benefits, so it can be difficult to know which siding is right for you. In this article, we will be comparing the most common types of siding so you can feel content in knowing you chose the right siding for your home.

The Different Types of Siding

Siding comes in a variety of different colors and styles, with each type of siding having its own advantages and disadvantages. Below is a quick overview of the most common types of siding.

Vinyl Siding

Vinyl siding is the most popular siding choice across the United States. This is because vinyl siding is durable, comes in a variety of colors, and is relatively low-cost compared to other options. There are also a huge variety of profiles of vinyl, including horizontal or vertical panels, dutch lap, shakes, shingles, beaded, and fish scales or scallops. 

Fiber Cement Siding

Fiber cement siding is another popular choice for US homes. It is a mixture of wood, sand, and cement. It is created to look and feel like natural wood siding, but with more benefits and less of the disadvantages of natural wood.

Brick Siding

Brick siding is a great siding choice if you are after durability. There are many houses and buildings that are over 100 years old and built with brick siding, which are still in great condition.

Wood Siding

Wood siding offers a timeless and very natural look, but it does come with its drawbacks such as being attractive to pests and insects and not being fire resistant. There is a wide variety of wood species to choose from, such as pine, fir, cedar, and redwood.

Which is the Most Durable Siding?

When it comes to the most durable siding, look no further than vinyl siding or brick siding. Vinyl siding is incredibly durable and typically includes a 25+ year warranty. Vinyl siding is often the most economical option as well. Meanwhile, brick siding can last over 100 years with little maintenance. However, it is the most expensive siding. Yet considering its lifespan, it can be an ideal choice for many homeowners.

Which is the Most Versatile Siding?

Vinyl siding wins again when it comes to versatility as it comes in several colors and textural styles. If you really want to personalize the look and feel of your home, vinyl siding is a good choice for you. However, it is important to note you cannot repaint vinyl siding and it must be replaced if you want to change the color or update it. Fiber cement siding is another versatile siding option. It mimics the look and feel of wood without the maintenance costs, and is also versatile in its finish and texture.

Which Siding Requires the Least Maintenance?

For a low maintenance siding option, choose vinyl siding or brick siding. Both these types of siding require little cleaning – and when a clean is needed, it is simple to do. Brick is an especially good choice as it does not need repainting (unless you choose to paint over its natural finish). 

Which is the Most Energy Efficient Siding?

Vinyl siding is a great choice if you want to increase the energy efficiency of your home as it can be paired with insulated siding, which adds another layer of insulation to your home. Vinyl siding alone can have an R-Value of 0.61. Wood siding is another highly energy efficient siding choice, however, it has more downsides than vinyl siding.  

Which is the Most Eco-Friendly Siding?

For an eco-friendly siding option, you cannot go past wood siding. Wood siding is lightweight and easy to install, it is eco-friendly, has a high R-value and can be stained and painted in customer colors. However, wood siding is often costly to maintain, and the color needs to be consistently updated to keep it looking fresh. Wood siding is also easily damaged by insects and water.  

Which is the Right Siding Choice for Your Home?

With all this information in mind, which is the right siding choice for your home? If you live in the Mid-Atlantic region, WoW recommends vinyl siding and reinforced vinyl siding. This is because vinyl siding panels do not split, peel or rot, which prevents the inside of your home from being exposed to moisture that can cause mold or fungus to grow and damage the structure of your home. Vinyl siding is extremely durable, rigid and wind resistant. Reinforced vinyl siding offers the added protection of great insulation, which can reduce your utility bills and keep your home warm in winter and cool in summer. Reinforced vinyl siding is also known for its ability to make your home quieter by reducing noise from outside.

WoW also recommends fiber cement siding as a recommended material for many types of climates, it is especially ideal for hot and humid conditions. Furthermore, it is a great option for wet areas as well, due to the fact it does not rot. Fiber cement siding does not warp with temperature changes or shake in strong winds. It is also termite-resistant due to its high cement and sand content.

At the end of the day, it is always best to speak to a professional home improvement contractor to get a unique assessment of your home and your needs.