|
On Your Siding: Choosing Between Different Materials by Karl Fendelander Whether you're considering sprucing up your home, increasing thermal efficiency, or both, choosing the right siding is key. Here's a breakdown of the best options: - A Rockin' Choice: Stone. One of the most aesthetic choices for your home, stone siding costs more than many other options. The good news is that stone is worth the investment. Weather just bounces off this highly durable choice. You can strike a happy medium by selecting a less-expensive precast stone facing or veneer.
- It's a Brick House. Attractive and durable, solid brick exteriors can last for hundreds of years. Brick is pricey, but it insulates well and looks great. Brick veneers are also available. They look the part and cost less, but they don't hold up to centuries of weather like the real deal.
- Clapboard Your Home, Say Yeah. Unlike brick or stone, wood clapboard siding needs to be painted or stained if you want it to last. Clapboard siding also lacks the intrinsic insulating properties of brick and stone, so you may want to add a layer of foam behind it. This beautiful--and expensive--option can outlast even high-tech vinyl copycats with the right care.
- Like a Roman Stone. Dating back to the Romans, stucco and cement have been around for a while. Stucco and its application have been perfected over the years, but cement has been almost completely reinvented. Cement fiber siding is often given the look of wood. Both choices completely avoid most of the pitfalls of wood, like termites, fire, and rot. As with stucco, cement is an expensive choice, but both last for a lifetime.
- Plastic Genius. Vinyl offers the best of many worlds. It doesn't require painting or staining. It's impervious to rot and other water damage. It can be made to look like any of the other materials we've talked about, and it costs less across the board. Vinyl siding comes in an ever-growing array of colors, and new technology stops those colors from fading. It can be installed over the current exterior of your house for extra insulation, although a layer of foam underneath doesn't hurt. It may not last through the ages, but full lifetime guarantees are common.
Source |
