There are many different types of siding for the exterior of your home. The type you choose should depend on a variety of factors, including the climate where you live and how long you plan to stay in that location. If you’re looking for information about popular types of siding, then read this article!
The type of siding or other building material you select for your home’s exterior should complement its character and design. Installing vinyl siding on a Victorian home or costly wood siding on a beachfront home exposed to the elements, is not a good idea.
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Siding replacement or repair can be costly and time-consuming, costing anywhere from a few dollars to $30 or more per square foot. However, if you prefer anything long-lasting, you can save money in the long run on maintenance costs.
The longevity of different types of siding is determined by the environment in which you work. Some types of siding will need to be repainted or refinished on a regular basis, while others may crack due to expansion and contraction during extreme temperature changes.
Reasons for Changing Your Home Exterior
There are several reasons why you might decide it’s time to replace your home’s siding:
New siding spruces up a home’s look and enhances its desirability.
Increase potential resale value: New siding provides a boost to consumers by extending the exterior life of a house.
Lower energy bills: Insulating under siding creates a moisture barrier and keeps outside temperatures from disrupting the interior climate balance.
Reduce maintenance costs: Depending on the siding, a fresh coat of high-quality paint will last up to ten years. New types of siding are low-maintenance, if at all.
Types of Home Exteriors Available
On the exteriors of modern homes, there are nine different materials:
1. Brick
Brick is a durable material that can last a century or more. Brick does not burn and is resistant to dry rot since it is made of fired clay. If you don’t have brick on your original building, you can apply it by installing a brick veneer, also known as a brick face, rather than full bricks.
Repointing—that is, replacing mortar between the bricks—is an essential part of brick maintenance. Cement, water, lime, and sand are all ingredients in mortar.
2. Stucco
Stucco can be applied in a number of ways, but the best form is hand troweled. It can be smooth, rough, or in the middle. Watertight stucco is needed. If water seeps through the stucco, the material will break from the building.
Stucco is applied over wire mesh, wood slats, paper, and sheathing for the first time. It is recommended that you dry between coats. Over original stucco, re-stuccoing is permitted.
3. Vinyl Siding
It is also known as masonite siding . Vinyl siding is made of PVC (polyvinyl chloride) and is available in a wide range of colours. From the bottom row up, galvanised roofing nails are driven through the slots in the panels, exposing the nail head and allowing the panels to move. In hot and cold weather, the vinyl expands and contracts, and it must be able to slip easily from side to side. Vinyl has two major advantages: it is inexpensive and does not require painting.
4. Aluminum Siding
It’s difficult to tell the difference between aluminium and vinyl siding without touching them because they look so close. After WWII, aluminium siding became common.
However, unlike vinyl, the colour of aluminium will fade and it can be dented. Temperature fluctuations often cause it to expand and contract. Aluminum siding may be painted, and oil-based paint is preferred over latex by experts.
5. Wood Siding
Shake, clapboard, singles, and lap are some of the different styles of wood siding available. Panels may be installed vertically or horizontally, with a variety of finishes ranging from stains to paint and sealants.
To prevent water from seeping into the wood, it should be built over a moisture barrier, and some contractors recommend priming the back and sides of the wood. Wood is beautiful, but it needs to be maintained and can rot.
6. Log Siding
Covering the exterior of your home with log siding will give it the appearance of a log home without having to rebuild it. Quarter logs and half logs are the two types of log siding available. Smooth, knotted, or hand-hewn finishes are available for the authentic log-home look.
Any log siding isn’t really wood, but it looks like it, and it’s made of vinyl or steel. Pine and cedar are common log siding options.
7. Glass Block Walls
Glass block walls are load-bearing but not load-bearing. Panel anchors are installed to the jambs, expansion strips are installed around the opening, and panel reinforcing wire stabilisers are installed every third or fourth row. The blocks are placed in a glass-specific mortar. A glass block wall should be no more than 144 square feet in size. A glass block wall allows light in while also revealing interior shadows from the street. Exterior caulking should be done on a regular basis.
8. Composite Siding
Manufactured siding can be made out of almost any material and can be made to look like real wood. Shredded wood, binders, glue, and Portland cement are used to make some composite siding. James Hardie is a well-known manufacturer of fiber-cement products, which are designed to withstand rain, wind, hail, and insects. This siding comes in a range of colours and comes with a 30-year limited warranty.
9. Stone Siding
For millennia, stone has been used. Natural or simulated stone siding is available today. Artificial stone faces are lighter and simpler to mount than natural stone faces. Real stone siding is one of the most expensive siding options available. Most applications support a first layer of wall sheathing, which is protected by water-resistant paper and then sealed with metal lath. The stone is then placed in the mortar and set.
