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Siding protects home and enhances its curb appeal
Published 12:00pm Monday, March 19, 2007There are several options available for those seeking to side their homes with a protective layer against the deteriorating effects of the sun and the weather while greatly enhancing the curb appeal.
But choosing the right one for your home and budget requires some comparative information.
Vinyl siding
Vinyl siding today is not the same as what was sold when it was first introduced nearly four decades ago. Today, it is easily the most popular siding material in the United States and is quickly gaining momentum around the world. It costs considerably less than than either steel or cement board.
“Vinyl siding has a 40 or 50 year warranty,” Henning Lumber owner Jim Waskosky said.
It’s benefits include ease of maintenance and repair, insulated backing and color which is mixed through the vinyl, so it never needs painting.
“Just wash it once a year, like the warranty says to, and it should keep its color in good shape for the duration,” he said.
Many contractors have plenty of experience with it and so can have your house prepped and sided in short order. Labor costs will vary depending on how many windows, doors and corners you have to be sided.
It is commonly available in three thicknesses, he said, and a wide selection of colors.
Steel siding
Steel siding is also available in lots of colors. The colors stay without fade for about 50 years in the better quality products, and the warranties are good for as long.
However, steel does cost nearly twice as much and is more labor-intensive to put on. It is also more difficult to work with when replacing a damaged piece, and will dent under a hard hail storm.
Fiber Cement Siding
Fiber cement or cement board siding is a mixture of cement, wood fibers, finely ground sand, additives and water. Once it hardens, it becomes a building material that resists fire, insects, water, hail and wind.
“It typically carries a 50-year warranty,” he said. “It holds paint very well because some materials in the siding are the same as in latex paint, so it bonds better.”
Though it can be put up with nails, it is labor-intensive because so few contractors yet have a lot of experience with it, he said.
“As it becomes more popular, and people get used to working with it, that will change,” he said. “In 10 years, this will be the number two siding. Vinyl will lose a lot of customers to this.”
Many insurance companies also discount homeowner policies for houses that have fiber cement siding.
