Time To Give Your Home A New Look? What To Know When Selecting Siding
Spring is the perfect time to consider a makeover for the exterior of your home. The exterior walls and surfaces of the average home are under constant assault from sunshine, rain and wind, all of which can speed the aging process and leave surfaces looking dull, worn or unattractive. A fresh coat of paint or stain can help to protect exterior surfaces and prolong their lifespan, but most of these products must be reapplied on a regular basis to offer constant surface protection.
Instead, homeowners may want to consider opting to install new siding for the exterior of their home as a more lasting way to protect the surfaces and improve the appearance of their home. In addition to lower maintenance requirements, the installation of a quality siding product can improve energy efficiency and interior comfort, reduce heating and cooling bills and bolster home resale values.
Vinyl siding
When homeowners begin to consider the idea of installing siding, vinyl siding is often the first type they consider, and for good reason. Constant improvements in the manufacturing and design process ensure that today's vinyl siding can retain its strength and appearance for a lifetime of use, even in challenging weather conditions.
Vinyl siding also offers additional benefits of importance to homeowners. For example, those who have remodeled or enlarged their homes will find that installing vinyl siding on the exterior can effectively conceal seams and areas where building materials or construction methods are noticeably different. In addition, vinyl siding offers excellent resistance to pests like termites and carpenter bees and does not decay or rot like wood and some other types of building materials.
Another reason why vinyl siding is often chosen by homeowners is that installation, even on a large home, is typically done within a matter of days and should not be disruptive to landscaping. During the vinyl siding project, homeowners can also choose to have other wooden surfaces, like porch posts, window frames, and soffits, protected with vinyl cladding to further reduce their home maintenance chores. An insulating wrap product can also be included in the project, or the homeowner can choose to use a vinyl siding option that has insulation built into the product add insulation value.
Fiber cement siding
Another siding product worth considering is fiber cement siding, especially for homes where there is a higher probability of impact damage from frequent windy weather or where the danger of wildfire is high. Due to its composition, fiber cement siding is less likely to incur damage from fire or sudden impact situations, such as those that might occur during a tropical storm.
Like vinyl siding, cement siding resists termite and other types of pest damage and will not decay. However, cement fiber siding can require painting or periodic maintenance to maintain its appearance.
Metal siding
A less common but equally interesting type of siding that homeowners may want to consider is metal. Like fiber cement siding, metal siding offers a very long lifespan with excellent resistance to wildfire damage. It is also pest- and decay-resistant.
Similar to vinyl siding, metal siding products can be purchased in a wide variety of colors, textures and designs so that homeowners can eliminate periodic surface maintenance from their to do lists. Metal siding is a green building material and can be completely recycled into new siding or other metal products at the end of its use.
Vinyl, fiber cement and metal are just three of the materials used to manufacture strong, beautiful residential siding. To learn more about all available siding products or get specific information about installing siding on your home, take time to discuss your situation with a residential roofing and siding contractor in your area.
