There are many components that go into a home’s structure, some more important than others. One of the most versatile and important components is siding. Siding comes in many different shapes and sizes, and serves many purposes. Siding adds aesthetic appeal, protects from weather, and can even increase value of your home, depending on the style you choose. Even with its great importance, many remain uninformed of the many different, styles, uses, and materials used in siding your home. We’ve created this Siding 101 Guide so that you can make an informed decision before you choose the siding for your home!
Currently there are two main types of siding used in the home improvement market: Vinyl and Fiber Cement. Both have various styles, benefits, and cost factors. Here’s what you need to know:
Vinyl
- Features
Vinyl Siding has many beneficial features. The most obvious is the durability of vinyl siding. Thanks to PVC resin, vinyl siding maintains its color for years, and is both impact and pest resistant. Vinyl siding is relatively inexpensive to install and maintain. Any good contractor can install vinyl with ease, and maintenance is as easy as a good scrub down with soap and water. - Styles
Vinyl siding comes in many different shapes and sizes that allow for a variety of style choices. Smooth vinyl siding is the basic vinyl style. It creates a minimalistic appearance by having no surface texture. For a different appearance, you can consider board and batten vinyl siding. Board and batten siding will give your home a more rustic appeal with its rough texture that is similar to wood. Lastly, the most widely used style of vinyl siding is the beaded seam. Beaded seam siding is versatile and can be used to achieve many different styles. Lines are emphasized in this style, and can give a handmade appeal. - Cost Factors
Vinyl siding owes a great deal of its popularity to its inexpensive nature. Vinyl siding averages around $5 per square foot, which is much cheaper than wood or other forms of siding. Still, you should assess your home for various cost factors such as size, amount of old siding that needs removed, and unusual design features.
Fiber Cement
- Features
Fiber cement siding has many features to consider. Fiber cement has a more natural, wood-like appeal than even board and batten vinyl siding. It comes painted, typically does not need a new coat for years, and is fire-resistant in nature. Though, fiber siding has many benefits, is tends to be a heavy material, which can make the installation process tedious and often more costly. With fiber cement, the decision must be made between aesthetic appeal and ease of installation. - Style
Fiber cement siding has a variety of styles, but is not as versatile as its vinyl counterpart. It is meant to emulate cedar wood siding, so think cedar shingles when you think of fiber cement siding. Fiber cement is great if you have a very specific home style in mind, but vinyl might be better if you are considering a variety of different options. - Cost Factors
The cost factors of fiber cement siding are greater than vinyl siding shingles. Due to the heavy material, installation prices are traditionally much higher than other forms of siding. Also, fiber cement siding requires more man power to install, which will add to the overall cost.
While vinyl and fiber cement dominate the market, the difference between the two is great. Vinyl siding is more versatile, cheaper, and easier to install. Fiber cement is storied, looks more like wood, and is fire resistant. Once you come to a decision, find a quality contractor to install your siding. The award-winning contractors at AROCON Roofing and Construction are experienced in both vinyl and fiber cement installation are here to assist you with all your home improvement needs!
