11/09/2020
House Siding Options Buying Guide
If you want to refresh the look and feel of the outside of your home, new siding is a great place to start. But with the wide range of house siding options available, it can be difficult to find the right product. This buying guide is designed to simplify the process of buying new siding by breaking down the pros and cons of each option. You’ll also find information about how to calculate the correct amount of siding and the benefits of professional installation.
Calculate Approximately How Much Siding You Need
Before you select the type of house siding you want to purchase, you’ll need to determine the quantity you need. This helps you choose the right product for your budget and calculate the average cost to side a house. Keep in mind that siding is sold by the square, which is the amount of material necessary to side 100 square feet of a structure.
While professional installers will calculate exactly how much siding you need, you can use the following steps to get a rough estimate on your own:
- Multiply the height and width of each rectangular section of your home. Don’t worry about getting too specific — just use what you can measure from the ground.
- Multiply the approximate height and width of gables and other triangular surfaces. Divide each of these totals in half.
- Divide the total square footage by 100 to estimate how many squares of siding you’ll need.
Choose the Right Type of House Siding For You
Once you’ve calculated how much siding you need, you’re ready to take a closer look at each style. We’ve put together information on the pros and cons of each house siding option below.
Brick & Natural Stone
Brick is traditionally made from dried clay or shale that’s fired in an oven. The most common types of natural stone used for house siding are granite, limestone, and sandstone.
Pros:
- Beautiful, natural look
- Low-maintenance
- Fire-resistant
- Long-lasting and durable
- Environmentally-friendly
Cons:
- Expensive
- Heavy
- Labor-intensive installation
Cellular PVC Siding
Cellular polyvinyl chloride (PVC) siding is growing in popularity and is a step up from traditional vinyl.
Pros:
- Rigid
- More aesthetically-pleasing than vinyl (closely resembles natural wood)
- High-density products available
- Insect-, rot-, and fire-resistant
- Good R-values (helps insulate your home)
- Low-maintenance
Cons:
- Can be expensive
Composite Wood Siding
Composite wood siding is made of wood byproducts that are compressed into planks or shingles and bonded with resin.
Pros:
- Look of real wood at a lower price point
- More durable than real wood
- Variety of textures and colors available
- Typically pre-primed and ready to paint
- Fungi-, insect-, moisture-, and heat-resistant
- Low-maintenance
- Environmentally-friendly
- Straightforward, easy installation
Cons:
- Not as authentic and rustic as real wood
Fiber Cement Siding
Fiber cement siding is made from a composite of sand, cement, and cellulose fibers.
Pros:
- Variety of textures and colors available
- Can be factory primed or pre-painted
- Fire-, moisture-, and insect-resistant
- Long-lasting and durable
- Low-maintenance
Cons:
- Relatively expensive
- Low R-value (not as good at insulating your home)
- Heavy
- Can crack if mishandled during installation
Metal Siding
There are many types of metal siding, including copper, corrugated metal, galvanized steel, snap batten panel, and aluminum.
Pros:
- Modern look and feel
- Variety of styles available
- Insect-, mold-, and fire-resistant
- Environmentally-friendly
- Long-lasting and durable
- Low-maintenance
Cons:
- May rust in moist or humid environments
- Lighter metals (e.g. aluminum) are prone to weather damage
Natural Wood Siding
Natural wood siding comes in many species, including cypress, redwood, cedar, fir, spruce, and pine.
Pros:
- Natural, rustic look
- Versatile (can be finished or left natural)
- Impact-resistant
- Environmentally-friendly
- Long-lasting and durable
Cons:
- Expensive
- Relatively high-maintenance (requires repainting/restaining every 5-7 years)
- Most wood siding is not insect- or moisture-resistant
Stone Veneer
Stone veneer is made from Portland cement, lightweight natural aggregates, and iron oxide pigment.
Pros:
- Look of real stone at a lower price point
- Installation is faster and less labor-intensive than real stone
- Lightweight
- Available in panels and individual pieces
- Low-maintenance
Cons:
- Not as authentic and natural as real stone
- Less durable than real stone
- Not environmentally-friendly
- Susceptible to moisture damage
Stucco
Stucco is made from a mixture of Portland cement (or lime), sand, and water.
Pros:
- Affordable
- Variety of textures and colors available
- Rot-, fungi-, fire-, and moisture-resistant
- Low-maintenance
- Long-lasting and durable
Cons:
- May crack if not installed properly
- High percentage of installation failures
- Possibility of moisture damage if not installed and flashed properly
Vinyl Siding
While vinyl siding is sometimes made from PVC resins, it’s often produced with polymers.
Pros:
- Very affordable
- Variety of colors and textures available (can even mimic the look of wood or stone)
- Insect- and moisture-resistant
- Low-maintenance
- Straightforward, easy installation
Cons:
- Not environmentally-friendly
- Not very durable
- Not fire-resistant
- Standard options don’t offer much insulation value, although insulated options are available
Hire a Professional to Install Your New Siding
Once you’ve selected the right type of house siding for your home, hire a professional contractor to install it. This is a safer option than DIY and can help you avoid costly errors or issues in the long run.
If your existing siding is flat and structurally-sound, your contractor can install the new siding directly on top of it. If the contractor has to remove the existing siding, they’ll install a moisture barrier under the new siding. They’ll also flash around all of your doors and windows.