What are your options when choosing siding for your home? Do you want low maintenance? Are you looking for the least expensive product? Here are a few siding options along with their advantages and disadvantages.
Wood
Advantages:
- Traditional look
- Least expensive
- Paint color can always be changed
- Replacing damaged shingle is easy
Disadvantages:
- Needs repainting or staining every few years and usually requires some scraping and sanding.
- The elements can cause rotting, chipping, and flaking
- Bugs can take a toll
- Dirt and moisture can get between the seams
Vinyl
Advantages:
- Lasts for years virtually maintenance free
- Hides imperfections
- Protects from the elements
- Easy to clean
- Available in different colors and textures
Disadvantages:
- Color can’t be changed
- Expands and contracts so pieces must be overlapped creating noticeable seams.
- Can fade or crack
- Replacing a damaged piece means removing several pieces above and beneath the damaged one.
Steel
Advantages:
- Time and cost savings
- Looks freshly painted year-after-year
- Energy efficient and virtually maintenance-free
- Strong enough to withstand significant changes in temperature
Disadvantages:
- Not a DIY project
- Paint eventually oxidizes and fades
Aluminum
Advantages:
- Increases value of house
- Comes in a variety of colors and can also be painted
- Expands and contracts but to a lesser degree than vinyl
Disadvantages:
- More expensive
- More labor intensive to install
- Replacing a damaged piece means removing every piece below and one piece above it.
Review your options carefully. Your choice of siding will undoubtedly be around for a long time to come. Review warrantees offered by manufacturers and have a reputable company do the installation.