The Different Kinds of Siding for Your Home (and How to Choose)

The moment someone builds a house, nature begins the process of destroying it.

Thats why houses are always clad in siding of some sort.

But siding isnt cheap.

Its a terrific investment.

There are a lot of siding options for your house.

Heres a rundown of your choices and how to decide whether they’ll work for you.

Vinyl siding

Vinyl siding is basically plastic, but dont let that fool you.

Pros:Vinyl siding is relatively affordable,averaging about $11,100per installation.

When to choose:When cost is a main consideration.

Pros:Most metal siding will lastbetween 30-50 years, and its very low maintenance.

It also offers a distinctive look to your home.

Cons:Metal isdurable, but it weathers unpredictably.

Metal is also a poor insulator and sound barrier and can conduct sound into the house.

There are also manufactured (aka engineered) versions made from a combination ofwood fibers and a resin binder.

Pros:Classic, traditional look.

Environmentally friendly, as its manufacture doesnt require any toxic materials and its a renewable material.

Cons:Requires more maintenance.

Pros:This stuff lasts: You should get at least 50 years out of fiber cement siding.

Its also comparable to vinyl in terms of cost, with most installations runningabout $15,000.

Its also very easy to maintain.

Cons:Like vinyl, it can look a little artificial compared to wood or metal.

But anything that covers your homes exterior is siding, and that includes brick and stone facades.

Pros:Brick and stone siding offers a classic, traditional look.

Its also very low maintenance, and can lastas long as 100 yearsif properly maintained.

When to choose:When you want your siding to outlive you with minimal maintenance.

Its also price-friendly, with an average cost ofunder $10,000.

Cons:Stucco is porous, and wont do as well in cold or damp climates.

Its alsomaintenance-intensive, as weather and settling can create cracking that will need repair on a relatively regular basis.

When to choose:When costs or energy efficiency are the main thing.

Of course, part of choosing siding for your home will be your neighborhood.

You just need to balance cost, durability, and aesthetics.