If you’re ready to improve your home exterior, don’t forget about the siding. It not only protects your house from the effects of mother nature, but also boosts curb appeal. Here is a guide to help you get started.
Types of Siding
There are many types of siding available on the market for home exteriors. Here are some of the common ones.
Wood Siding
Wood siding comes in many styles, but pine and cedar are the two main types of wood used for exterior siding. Kinds of cedar siding include Eastern white cedar, red cedar, and Alaskan yellow cedar. The color speaks for itself. Unlike pine, cedar won’t expand, contract, crack, or warp. Pine siding is much more affordable but is unable to resist rot and insects.
No matter what type of wood you choose, make sure it has a protective finish and meets local building codes.
Engineered Wood
If you like solid wood, but don’t want the high price of cedar siding or the low durability of pine, engineered wood siding may be the best choice for your home exterior.
This type of siding is generally made of wood chips, bound together by resin. These products are designed to eliminate flaws, resist deterioration, and are affordable to install and maintain. Engineered wood is about half the cost of real wood and is also environmentally friendly. Plywood is a common type of engineered wood that is one of the most useful building products around.
Stone Veneer Siding
This siding is a nice upgrade to concrete foundation walls and has the look of stone. It is often installed on the lower half of main level walls or structures. Stone veneer can be adhered directly to cement. It can also be applied to wood-frame walls, but there is more work involved. The good news is, once the installation is complete, very little maintenance is required.
Vinyl Siding
Vinyl siding is likely your best bet. It is tough, long lasting, affordable, and easy to install. There are also a wide variety of styles and colors to choose from and dings and scratches don’t show. A brush and garden hose are all you need to clean it. Vinyl siding can also be applied directly over existing masonry or wood siding.
Aluminum Siding
It has all the benefits of vinyl siding, plus it can be painted. Aluminum siding has some disadvantages. Style choices are limited. It doesn’t have the same resilience as vinyl and can dent from hard impacts. If you want a low maintenance siding that can be painted in the future, aluminum may be worth considering.
Fiber Cement
This composite material made from cement and cellulose fibers is solid, durable, versatile, and easy to paint. It’s resistant to moisture and rot, pests, and weather, and is non-combustible. It also fends off salt water and high winds. It’s a perfect choice for homes in coastal areas prone to hurricanes, storms, and flooding. It’s fire resistant and is the siding of choice in areas prone to wildfire.
Turn to Us for Your Power Washing Needs
If you are ready to spruce up your outdoor space, the professionals at Peak Power Wash can help. We can clean your home exterior or tackle your deck, fence, sidewalk, or driveway. We use a technique called “soft wash”, which uses a much lower amount of pressure and reduces potential harm to surfaces. Contact us at 443-686-WASH or visit our website to request a free estimate.
