The Best Siding to Lower Heating Costs If You Live in Maryland or Virginia

If you own a home in Maryland or Virginia, you may be wondering what the best siding is for you. Different types of siding offer different benefits, and there are quite a few factors you need to take into account when it comes to choosing the best siding for your needs. Factors such as price, durability, look and energy efficiency all come into consideration when installing new siding. Perhaps one of the biggest concerns amongst our clients is finding the right siding that will help reduce their heating costs. The good news is there are plenty of siding options to choose from. In this article, we will be discussing the benefits and cost-saving capabilities of different types of siding to help you make a decision that suits your home and budget. 

What is the role of siding?

If you are looking to enhance the performance, curb appeal and value of your home, siding can help. Your home’s siding not only provides unique character, but it is also there to protect the interior structure of the home from the elements. Siding is what protects the inside of a home from rain, humidity and moisture, high and low temperatures and insects and pests. Siding also comes in a range of different materials such as: insulated vinyl siding, wood siding, cement siding, aluminum siding, brick or stone siding and more. 

Wood Siding

Wood siding offers great insulation, with cedar wood being the most popular choice. However, while it has excellent insulative properties, wood siding does require quite a bit of maintenance. It needs to be repainted or have stain reapplied every few years to stop it from decaying. 

Fiber Cement Siding  

Fiber cement siding looks and feels like wood, but it is made of sand, cellulose and cement. It also offers good insulation, with the benefit of being less expensive than wood siding while also requiring less maintenance. 

Aluminum Siding

Aluminum siding is a good option if you require a siding with minimal maintenance, or if you like experimenting with different colors. While it is not the best insulator, aluminum is good for withstanding temperature changes, which are common in Maryland and Virginia. 

Steel Siding

Steel siding is a common insulation material and is ideal if you live in areas prone to extreme weather thanks to its effective resistance to any type of element. While Maryland and Virginia, generally speaking, experience mild weather, it is not uncommon to have bouts of inclement weather, making steel siding a good choice. A downside to steel siding, however, is that the upfront price is relatively high. 

Why WoW Chooses Vinyl Siding for Lowering Heating Costs 

While most siding materials offer decent savings on heating bills, Windows on Washington recommends vinyl siding for Maryland and Virginia homes. Here are some of the reasons why: 

• It is affordable
• Requires no painting and minimal upkeep
• It keeps your home pest free and dry
• It comes in different styles and colors (if aesthetics are especially important to you, you can always use shake style siding - the shakes are made of vinyl, but they imitate the look and feel of cedar wood).

Most importantly, however, if you want to make sure you are receiving significant heating savings, you can add insulation to your vinyl siding. Some of the great benefits of insulated vinyl siding include: 

• Noise cancellation: energy efficient insulated siding is also a great silencer. It is ideal if you are a light sleeper or live in a noisy area.
• Durability: insulated vinyl siding can withstand sudden temperature changes, as well as extreme weather conditions better than any other siding.
• Eco-friendliness: many types of siding can leak dangerous chemicals into the air outside and, most importantly, inside your home. Insulated vinyl siding is safe for you and your family.

If you are looking for siding that is affordable, looks great, requires minimal upkeep and helps lower your heating costs, we highly recommend vinyl siding.