Siding with the Best
When should you replace your siding? If you’re putting on a home addition, it might be a good time to replace your siding, freshening up the entire home. More importantly, if you see any kind of water damage, mold or rotting, you should replace the siding.
This is not just a side job. It requires a qualified contractor for the best possible installation. Improperly installed siding can bring all kinds of headaches – from leaking to wind damage to rotting. Choose the siding that’s right for your home both aesthetically and functionally. There are four types of siding:
Aluminum – out of date and not recommended due to difficulty installing and maintaining.
Vinyl – the most economical and available in a variety of colors. It’s a complete self-flashing water-exclusion system, designed to be water repellent and durable in any kind of weather. It has a lightweight footprint for easy installation, and it is low-maintenance, requiring only periodic cleaning with a power washer every few years. Premium Vinylis a step up from regular vinyl, that is thicker and provides a more wood-like appearance. Many premium vinyl sidings also have integrated insulation or OF 5 to 6 R values. Premium vinyl cost is generally higher than vinyl, at around $7-$8 per square foot.
Natural Wood – can be shaped to suit your individual design needs, in long strips or like clapboard – overlapping pieces of wood installed horizontally – or shingles – smaller pieces of wood overlapping like a shingled roof. It’s available in a variety of colors, but lighter colors achieve a better expansion counter than dark. Wood siding requires maintenance, including finishing with clear sealer, paint or a semi-transparent stain. The finish will determine the maintenance schedule. Clear should be reapplied every two to five years, semi-transparent stains every three years, and paint five to seven years.
Fiber-cement – a combination of wood pulp, cement, clay and sand, this siding can look like wood siding, and it is installed and wears much like wood siding. Today’s fiber-cement siding is safer and longer-lasting than those of 40 years ago. Fiber-cement siding is easily painted and requires a periodic re-caulk of butt joints at trim terminations, which is a little more maintenance than a vinyl siding.
Choose your siding wisely, so your home is not a neighborhood side show.
