Good morning everyone!
Today we’re going to quick chat about siding options. There are many options boasting different advantages. What is right for you will depend on style, and desired performance/maintenance routines. This will serve as a quick introduction as there is a vast amount of resources and information out there and to get through all of it would be very time consuming.
From typically most expensive to cheapest:
- Brick/Stone. Natural brick or stone is one very appealing option. Due to its cost/square foot it is typically used as an accent option rather than a full wall product. It is very durable and depending which line you choose, very eco-friendly as well.
- Natural wood siding. Typically this is a cedar plank or shingle siding. The advantage is that it’s a natural product. Easy to work with and with the proper staining will look amazing. However it is costly and you should expect to re-stain it every 2-5 years to prevent it from going grey.
- Metal Siding. There are many profiles and colours to choose from. Advantage is very low maintenance, very high durability, recyclable and affordable cost. The disadvantage is that it’s difficult to create much outside of a commercial look. Companies like Superior Seamless are branching into board looking steel siding but that’s more expensive than board products. Long lasting and seamless joints are a big plus!
- Cement Board Siding (Hardie). This product is very popular these days. Often will be used at least for an accent wall because of it’s pleasing design, variations in colour/texture, and durability. Easy to work with and coming in a bit cheaper than Superior’s seamless metal siding makes it an attractive choice! The one negative is despite having good warranty offered, it has been tough in the past to use your warranty.
- Vinyl siding. Vinyl has come a long way in the past 20 years. It used to have a bad rep for boring colours and quick fading. These days it’s quite impressive what you can do with vinyl that will last. Consider dressing up vinyl with 4″ KWP trims to give it a more substantial look! At a lower cost point than Hardie, and similar look the biggest drawback is durability.
- Stucco. The cheapest option often is stucco. You’re very limited in colour selection (unless you go to an acrylic stucco which is more than double). Stucco also doesn’t let a house breath to the outside as well as the other products, which can become reason for concern. Ultimately very good for parging, and often used for the “back three sides” of the house.
I realize this list isn’t conclusive. I know I left out composite wood sidings, EIFS, concrete, panel siding, copper/brass, etc. There are many more options available and we’d love to chat about them. The six above are mentioned for their commonality.
Most very attractive houses combine elements of 3 or more of the above options. The way you’re crafting your house is up to you and there are great examples to be found online of aesthetically brilliant combinations of siding materials. Commonly you’ll see brick/stone, cement board and stucco. But we’ve also combined metal and natural wood. There are many ways to design a gorgeous home, we at Dueck Homes want to be involved in your design. Give us a shout whether it’s a renovation or a new custom home!