13 Common House Siding Options—Plus How to Pick the Right One

Learn how to take side that will be the best pick for your home based on strength , style , and sustainment demand .

The right railroad siding can dramatically advance your exterior ’s coming into court . Whether you ’re renovating or building new , you ’ll require to take the sign sidetrack choice that estimable suits yourhome ’s styleand take on your needs for maintenance and enduringness . habituate our guide to the most pop exterior home side options to encounter your material match .

Choosing the Right House Siding Option

When select theatre sidetrack ( also known as cladding ) , there are six cardinal considerations beyond the initial cost :

Stucco Siding

sanely price and available in various applications , stucco has been used as a house side optionfor C of years . Traditional stucco siding is a cementum mixture added to sand or birdlime . Because it can be shaped and textured , stucco is used to reach an regalia of architectural styles . Generally , applying stucco siding involves cover a wooden paries with galvanized metal cover and tar paper , then cover it with stucco . Stucco is often hold to brick or stone surfaces , as well .

Vinyl Siding

Since its introduction in the sixties , vinyl cladding has become the most popular house turnout selection in the United States because of its price , versatility , and low maintenance . Hundreds ofvinyl colour choicesare usable in profiles , include horizontal and vertical panels , shakes , shingles , Pisces scale , lap , and beaded designs . The only routine maintenance isan occasional wash , and vinyl group manufacturers ' warranties are in general womb-to-tomb and transferable . you could buy vinyl siding at most rest home centers .

The vinyl siding price savings extend to installation . It ’s the least expensive of all siding materials to instal , and the costs can be dramatically rationalize if you may do the body of work . In addition , it want only a few tools to install . Thishouse sidetrack option must be installedon level surface , so the rampart must be line with 1/2 - inch - heavyset piece of paper of unbending foam board to ply a nailing surface .

Wood Siding: Bevel Siding

Bevel ( also call clapboard or lap ) siding is one of the old forms of exterior habitation railroad siding . plug-in are resawed at an angle to create two while that are thickset on one edge than on the other .

Pine , spruce , cypress tree , and Douglas fir tree are the favored wood choices for this household siding choice because of their length of service and price . Cedar and redwood are great options , as they contain natural rot resistance but price more .

Bevel siding is instal horizontally , with the upper piece overlap the humble . Sir Henry Joseph Wood siding is install over a square surface , such as plywood , with a moisture roadblock between the two . There ’s a finish coat ( either paint or stain ) and caulk on the outside . To forbid conditions damage , all wood railroad siding requires ongoing upkeep , includingpainting and caulk the siding .

white country house with fiber cement siding

Credit: Greg Scheidemann

Wood Siding: Shakes and Shingles

Another option for forest turnout is shiver or shingles . Shakes are machine- or hand - sawn from wooden blocks called bolts . Shakes are dense than shake and less uniform in coming into court and thickness , but they last longer . Wood shingles are sawn for a smooth and coherent look and can be cut into various shapes to produce visual interest group . Both arrive from dissimilar Wood , but Western red cedar tree and redwood are the most common mansion siding options .

Shakes and shingles are available with a attack - retardation treatment , which is need in eminent - risk locating . They’reinstalled over a substantial surface , such as plywood , with a wet roadblock between the two and a finishing coat ( paint or stain ) and caulking on the exterior . Shake and shingle railroad siding requires occasional care , include painting and caulk , to forestall weather damage .

Metal Siding

metallic element sidetrack , typically made from sword or aluminum , covers the exterior of many modern - feel homes . aluminium sidingis an specially lightweight and cost - effective house siding option .

Whether copper , zinc , aluminum , or one of the various type of steel , the beauty of metals is builder can organise them to conform to desire shapes , curve , and boundary . In addition , the strong point and longevity of metals surpass most stock house siding options presently on the market .

The app process in the main requires a human body for seize the turnout , a support stuff such as plyboard , and a moisture roadblock ( these need will vary depending on the specific material and the theater ’s positioning ) . The surface of atomic number 29 and weathering sword will change when exposed to conditions , but most metallic element will keep up the mill finish indefinitely . Metal siding can also be paint but will likely take retouching later on .

White brick house porch

Credit: Paul Dyer

Wood Siding: Board-and-Batten

Board - and - batten sidingis an American classic used since our nation ’s early days . Board - and - batten , sometimes prognosticate barn turnout , is a erect design created using wide boards , such as cedar or pine tree , spaced with narrower strips ( the battens ) covering the places where the wide boards come together . There are no received board or batten widths or spacings , so find free to innovate . To create further interest , you may install boards of different breadth in vary patterns , such as 1x3 - in battens and 1x10 - inch instrument panel alternated with 1x3 - in batten and 1x5 - inch boards .

This mansion siding option can be installed directly over a flat surface , such as plywood , with a moisture roadblock between layers . Wide board are placed first ; then battens are used to handle the place between the boards .

Wood Siding: Split Logs

Using split logarithm to side a home gives it a traditional mountain orrustic feel . logarithm turnout is typically made from cedarwood , cypress , sequoia , or pine logs . The logs are dry out and treat for a farsighted life span . This Sir Henry Wood turnout can be painted or stained but is generally used in its natural state with a clear - coat sealer .

Log siding is expensive and ask more maintenance than most other types of house siding . Regular treatment against insect infestation and the waterproofing of fissure in logs are needed to deter decay . Installation and maintenance of logarithm siding are not unlike maintenance for other shape of wood siding , but it ’s intriguing , and only a professional or knowledgeable householder should take it on .

Engineered Wood Siding

Engineered woodsiding is made with wood castoffs , such as sawdust , and bonding agents . It ’s a strong , lightweight , and less expensive menage siding option than natural forest . mastermind forest comes in an regalia of typical wood siding styles . It doesneed paintfor weatherproofing purposes , but factory - apply finishes are useable . If installed right and maintained , the received life expectancy for this star sign siding pick is about 20 - 30 twelvemonth .

Engineered wood can be cut , deal , and applied like solid - wood turnout , but you do n’t have the imperfections that often accompany lifelike Mrs. Henry Wood .

Stone Siding

Stone is among the most durable of all edifice material . Granite , limestone , slate , and other types of stone are beautiful and nearly impervious to the weather . In addition , because rock is a natural material , stone siding is environmentally favorable and has long - endure advantages .

In most cases , the initial material cost of stone are more than other types of siding — often considerably more . The level of difficulty in adding Harlan Stone side to an be social organization is high-pitched , and employment should be done by a professional , which further increases costs . As time go , however , the upside of the investment becomes apparent . Stone as an exterior turnout will be as raw and attractive decades later as when first put in , with short maintenance needed .

Brick Siding

The strength , light maintenance , and Greco-Roman appearance ofbrick sidingmake it a popular house siding option with homeowners . Brick is made of fired clay and comes in different colors , textures , and sizes . Brick siding is generally not a morphological part of a family but rather a veneer constructed on the exterior of the wood skeletal system structure . The brick veneering is hold together with mortar , a mixture of cement ( or unslaked lime and gumption ) , and water .

piss can penetrate brick veneer , so a water membrane must be set up between the woodwind instrument and brick layers to protect the household . Due to the cost of installation and material , brick is at the higher end of the siding cost graduated table . Under normal conditions , brick siding will last the life of the building , with nothing more than the occasional wash want .

Brick Veneers and Fabricated Brick Siding

Thebrick veneersand manufacture brick siding manufactured today are in the main molded from actual clay , brick , or other natural stuff or polyurethan . These siding option are long-wearing , naturalistic - sounding , lightweight , and prosperous to install .

Since no footings or founding are necessary , do - it - yourself homeowner can generally instal the siding panels for a fraction of the money and meter actual brick requires . The software typically take a theoretical account attached to a funding material like plyboard . However , many intersection today have simple command : Glue in place andcaulk the seams .

Stone Veneers and Fabricated Stone Siding

Like fabricated brick , the stone facing and construct gemstone sidings fabricate today are molded from factual John Rock , Harlan Fiske Stone , or other innate materials . They ’re just as indestructible , naturalistic , lightweight , and light to set up .

Fabricated I. F. Stone siding control panel can typically be DIY installed , as no footings or foundations are necessary . The software process is generally quick and more cost - effective than raw stone or stone . It usually involves a framework attached to a backing material such as plywood . you could glue in place and calk the seams of other stone veneer products .

Fiber Cement Siding

fibre cement siding come in an array of textures that give the coming into court of factual types of wood . It ’s more durable than wood house siding choice since it istermite - resistant , water - resistant , fireproof , and typically guaranteed to last 50 years ( depend on the producer ) . vulcanized fiber cementum siding is pen of cement , sand or fly ash , and cellulose fibre .

fibre cement siding is typically more expensive than vinyl siding but less expensive than wood siding . It ’s install over stud or exterior wall sheathe on a wet roadblock . Factory painting is highly recommended and mostly under warranty for 25 years .

Add Curb Appeal to Your Home

Curb ingathering adds value and dash to the exterior of your home and is an introduction to what ’s inside . Start withthe entrywayto tot up an inviting feel for visitant , whether you have anexpansive front porchor a small landing . TheseDIY projects , from build article of furniture to put in a brick paver pathway , can be done in a weekend and will like a shot refresh your home ’s look . Do n’t bury about greenery ! Addingplanters with colorful flowerswill contribute nature to your front door . Chooselow - maintenance plantsto make planter easy to take forethought of .

stucco exterior with gray shutters and pavers to door