If you want to enhance the curb appeal of your home, there’s nothing like opting for the correct exterior siding. But, with the current crop of external siding options on the market, choosing the ideal material for the siding can prove to be a difficult task. So, how can you find the ideal material for your home’s exterior siding? Let’s find out.
In this in-depth blog post, we’ll be going through some of the most fantastic materials that you can choose for your exterior siding. Moreover, we’ll also be talking about the merits & demerits of each proposed material type.
Top Materials To Choose For Your Exterior Siding
- Wood
According to a popular home inspector in Barrie, exterior siding made of wood can be found in various profiles, shapes & varieties. It all counts on what look you want for your home. Some of the common wood type choices include redwood, fir, pine, and cedar.
Merits
- A timeless classic
- Variety of finishes and styles
- Highly customizable
- Quite easy to install
- Highly energy efficient
Demerits
- Requires proper maintenance
- Highly susceptible to water damage (unless you use rot-resistant wood like redwood or cedar)
- Not fire-resistant
If you’re using wood, ensure that you repaint or restain it once every five years, so that you prevent wood decay. Furthermore, wood is not the best material if you live in humid weather conditions.
- Engineered Wood
If you want to do away with regular maintenance but want the look of wood, then engineered wood can be a nice touch.
Merits
- Highly environment-friendly
- Cost-effective than actual wood
- Offers the same aesthetics as real wood
- Moderately water resistant
- Moderately pest-resistant
Demerits
- May not be able to convince everyone with its look & texture
- Cannot be restained or repainted
Brick
Brick is a classic-style material that never goes out of trend. Such is the reason why most homeowners like to choose bricks for their exterior sidings. Bricks are manufactured out of fired clay and using the same you can achieve a Colonial or an English cottage look.
Merit
- Can easily withstand extreme temperatures
- Can last for a very long time
- Need occasional maintenance
- Highly eco-friendly
- Highly energy-efficient & fire-resistant
Demerits
- Can prove to be costly than other siding options
- Highly labor-intensive procedure for installation
Stone
It should be known that sometimes natural stones such as limestone, granite and slate can help in creating a textured and upscaled look to your home exteriors.
Merits
- Highly durable
- No fear of water, fire or pests
- Doesn’t require much regular maintenance
Demerits
- Can prove to be costly
- The installation will be time-consuming & cumbersome
Vinyl
Vinyl is extremely common in most modern-day houses. It should be known that vinyl sidings are made from synthetic materials. Over the recent years, this material has gained quite a bit of popularity due to its wide range of designs & styles.
Merits
- Lots of customization for homeowners
- Lightweight
- Durable
- Easy to install
Demerits
- Non-biodegradable
- Not much energy-efficient
- Costly installation measures
If you’re choosing vinyl, ensure that you go with a high-quality model that has insulation built-in, so that it’s cost-efficient in the long run.
Thus, at the end of the day, you have to choose what suits you the most. All the best!
