9 Types of Siding to Consider For Your Home (and Their Pros & Cons)
Siding does two important things for the home: First, it ensures that your home is strong enough from the outside to withstand the elements and maintain a comfortable indoor temperature. Second, it adds to your home’s curb appeal.
Having said that, there are a lot of factors that go into choosing the perfect siding for your home. This would primarily include the type of siding, as well as the materials and colors. Of course, these decisions are much easier said than done. That’s why we’ve created a list of the different types of siding available, as well as their pros and cons.
Let’s dive in.
The 9 Types of Siding All Homeowners Should Consider
Keep in mind that the exterior material of your home is a big deal. Not only will it be one of your biggest investments, but it’s the first thing people will notice about your home. Therefore, you’ll want to read through your siding options carefully — especially the pros and cons — before coming to a decision.
These are some of your best options:
1. Vinyl Siding
Vinyl siding is a synthetic material that’s very popular among homeowners for several reasons, including:
- They’re the most familiar and recognizable
- They’re affordable
- They’re versatile and low maintenance
Vinyl siding also comes in a wide range of color options to match the color schemes of all homes. There are even options that mimic the look of more natural materials, like cedar and other types of wood. This makes them even more convenient for homeowners looking for a quick and simple option that won’t break the bank.
✅The Pros:
- They’re affordable, versatile, and readily available.
❌The Cons:
- They’re not as durable as other materials as they succumb to damage from hail and other heavy objects that may hit them during a storm
- They also can’t be painted.
2. CertainTeed Vinyl Siding
There’s vinyl siding, and then there’s CertainTeed vinyl siding. CertainTeed is a type of insulated vinyl siding, which makes it more durable. It’s also more sustainable since it lasts longer compared to its regular vinyl counterpart.
What’s more, with CertainTeed you can opt for CedarBoards insulated siding or Monogram Siding, which is a choice between the look and feel of natural wood or a vast color selection.
✅The Pros:
- It has a natural look and feel with rigid foam insulation and soundproofing capabilities.
- It’s more durable and backed by a lifetime warranty
❌The Cons:
- It’s more expensive than regular vinyl siding
3. Engineered Wood Siding
Engineered wood siding is designed to look just like real wood in texture, feel, and aesthetics. This is much different compared to vinyl siding made to look like wood, as this type is actually made from real wood — as in various wood fibers and strands that are combined to create a wood product.
Engineered wood siding comes in a variety of styles. It’s also much lighter than real wood siding, which makes it considerably less expensive than the “real thing”. Despite being lighter, however, engineered wood is still very durable as it holds up against moisture, fire, insects, extreme temperature, and weather.
✅The Pros:
- It’s essentially a lighter form of wood sidings
- It’s relatively inexpensive
- It’s more durable than real wood
❌The Cons:
- Depending on the type of engineered wood you use, you may have to repaint it every 5 to 10 years
- It’s not real wood
4. Fiber Cement Siding
Fiber cement siding is made from a combination of wood fibers, cement, and sand. The idea is to mimic the look and feel of natural wood siding – minus the maintenance, insect damage, and potential risk of rotting.
Overall, fiber cement is a great choice when you want a natural look but also something that’s more durable and easier to maintain over time. It’s also less expensive than real wood but a bit more expensive than engineered wood due to its material makeup.
What’s more, fiber cement can be manufactured in virtually any color and design. It can even be made to resemble brick, stone, or other textures beyond wood. You also have the option to purchase it painted or natural, so you can paint or stain it yourself after it’s installed.
✅The Pros:
- It’s extremely durable and won’t fade from sun exposure
- It’s low maintenance
- It resembles real wood
❌The Cons:
- It’s more expensive compared to vinyl and engineered wood
- It needs to be repainted about every 15 years
- It’s not real wood (or brick, or stone)
5. Wood Siding
Wood siding is exactly what it sounds like — real wood. It’s available in several different species and styles, from cedar to pine and board and batten to clapboards. Wood siding is surprisingly quick and easy to install, and you can either leave them in their natural state or choose to paint or stain them, depending on your preference.
Real wood is incredibly popular simply because it’s natural and beautiful. However, it is high maintenance, and its durability level directly depends on the species of wood. For example, redwood and cedar are much more durable compared to other types of species.
✅The Pros:
- It’s natural and beautiful
- It’s available in a wide variety of styles and species
- Installation is relatively inexpensive and quick
- It’s flexible in that you can leave it alone, paint, or stain it
❌The Cons:
- It’s high maintenance, requiring staining every 2-3 years and repainting every 4-5 years
- It’s expensive to purchase and maintain
- It’s not fire-resistant and is prone to damage from insects, woodpeckers, and rot
6. Solid Brick
Solid brick is another favorite among homeowners because it’s extremely durable and long-lasting. It’s also fire-resistant and won’t fade, decay, mold, or rot. It’s also very easy to maintain as it doesn’t require refinishing unless it’s painted.
However, solid brick is on the more expensive side when it comes to purchasing the actual product and the installation. It should also be noted that while solid brick is very durable, it’s not very water resistant, and it doesn’t provide the best insulation.
✅The Pros:
- It weathers nicely
- Is durable and easy to maintain
- It can last 100+ years
❌The Cons:
- It doesn’t provide good insulation
- It’s expensive due to the cost of materials and the labor-intensive installation process
7. Brick Veneer
Brick veneer is made up of a thin layer of real brick that’s anchored to a wooden frame. It’s less expensive than traditional solid brick and is actually more durable. What’s more, it provides a decent amount of insulation. It’s also applied more like regular siding versus the way solid brick is laid.
While brick veneer is more affordable than its solid counterpart, it’s still substantially expensive.
✅The Pros:
- It’s cheaper than solid brick
- It’s incredibly durable, and won’t fade or rot
- It provides insulation whereas solid brick does not
- It’s easy to maintain
❌The Cons:
- It tends to retain moisture in climates with heavy rainfall
- It’s still expensive compared to other siding options
- It’s not real brick
8. Natural Stone
Natural stone is arguably the most aesthetically pleasing of all types of siding. It’s beautiful and versatile in its colors and the ways the pieces can be cut. It’s also extremely durable, even in the most extreme weather, and is resistant to fire, moisture, and insects.
Of course, natural stone is very expensive and must be sealed properly during installation. Even still, it will last you a lifetime.
✅The Pros:
- It’s a natural and durable product
- It’ll last a lifetime with minimal maintenance
- It can stand alone or be mixed with another type of siding, such as wood, engineered wood, vinyl, or brick
❌The Cons:
- It’s very expensive
- It requires proper installation
9. Stone Veneer
Stone veneer is manufactured using cement, lightweight natural aggregates, and iron oxide pigment (for color). It’s meant to look exactly like natural stone and for only a fraction of the cost.
Just like real natural stone, stone veneer is highly durable. However, it doesn’t hold up as well to excessive moisture or extreme temperatures. This is especially true if it isn’t properly installed. Of course, it’s still very easy to maintain.
✅The Pros:
- It looks just like natural stone
- It’s less expensive to purchase and install
- It’s very low maintenance
❌The Cons:
- It doesn’t hold up as well as the real thing (it won’t last a lifetime either)
- It’s still expensive compared to other siding options
- Proper installation is crucial
Need Help Choosing the Best Siding For Your Home?
Choosing the right siding for your home is no easy feat. There are all different types of siding options out there, and aside from the aesthetics, you have plenty of other things to consider that may nudge you in a different direction than what you initially thought you wanted.
If you’re having trouble figuring out which type of siding is best for your home and budget, get in touch with us today. Our team at ARCH Exteriors will happily walk you through your options, installation costs, and more!