What to Consider Before You Buy Siding

Because your home’s siding is an essential guard against the elements and greatly influences your home’s appearance, style, and value, you want to be sure to make an informed, thought out decision. With better quality and more choices than ever, you should know all your options when considering a change.

Obviously the hardest decision will be picking the material type you want on your home. In choosing material, consider appearance, suitability to your house and environment, installation, longevity, and maintenance. Wood, particularly durable cedar, is a popular, traditional, and attractive choice which can provide country charm or classic elegance. Vinyl and fiber cement are low maintenance and long lasting options offering increasingly more attractive appearances. Stone, either manufactured or genuine, provides a polished and traditional look at a high price tag. Stucco, best for dry climates, and brick, a classic and labor-intensive choice, are other options.

For many consumers, the choice often comes down to wood or a manufactured material, such as vinyl or fiber cement. Vinyl siding and fiber cement siding are generally designed with features, such as grain and texture, to mimic the look of wood. The highest quality choices come close. For some buyers, given the fact that these products require very little maintenance and have a lower cost than wood, they come close enough. For others, the look of real wood can’t be beat, and a quality wood, such as high grade cedar, does not require much more maintenance. Wood basically just needs painting or staining every few years.

Other materials, such as stone, brick, and stucco, offer completely different appearances from wood. Some of these, such as stone or brick, are often used as a partial accent to wood, vinyl, or fiber cement siding. These choices are typically going to have a higher price than wood siding, vinyl siding and fiber-cement siding.

Once you have made your decision on siding material, the next decision involves the style and install of the material you picked. Depending on type, siding can be installed in horizontal or vertical formations. Shakes, shingles, clapboard, and more are options that will influence your house’s look. It is important to see the choices for your material so that you can decide what is most appealing to you. Some installations are more traditional, some contemporary and polished, and others rustic. Most importantly, a style should appeal to you and suit your house and surroundings.

Proper installation will always play a role in longevity. It is a good idea to hire a licensed and insured Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas contractor who is experienced in installing the material you choose. A qualified contractor can also help you determine what materials and styles will work best for your home. Be sure to check local codes and requirements in case there are any permits or regulations that apply to your project.