Find Your Perfect Exterior: A Comparison of 9 Popular Siding Materials

Siding does more than only improve the appearance of your home. It can also enhance its structure by acting as an outer skin, protecting against the weather and lowering long-term housing care costs. To add the most value to your property, choose siding that combines pleasant looks with durability and ease of care.





How do I select the proper siding?

With so many materials and profiles to pick from, selecting external cladding for your home can be difficult. Today's sophisticated consumers want low maintenance, while architectural trends favor mixed-material styles with varying textures and colors. Finding the ideal balance between fit and function is critical.



Keep climate and weather in consideration. The Pacific Northwest receives a lot of rain, but the Southeast gets powerful storms, hurricanes, and intense sunlight. To identify the best siding for your home, homeowners should choose siding that can survive the elements in their area and work with a local professional who is familiar with their local climate.





The Most Common Types Of Siding

To help you narrow down your options, below are the most typical home siding alternatives for building or upgrading.





Natural Wood Siding

Natural wood siding remains one of the most popular solutions due to its elegance, timeless design, and suitability for modern or old properties. Although the texture and curb appeal are difficult to beat, natural wood is also one of the most expensive and high-maintenance siding options for initial installation and long-term upkeep.



Pros:

• Exhibits high-end appeal
  
• Simple to change color by restaining or painting
  
• Styles include bevel, tongue-and-groove, clapboard, shingle, and shake
  
• Environmentally friendly
  

Cons:

• Expensive compared to alternatives
  
• High upkeep and can warp, rot, or fade over time
  
• Pest prone
  





Engineered Wood Siding

Engineered wood siding is an excellent choice for achieving the look of natural wood without the need for ongoing upkeep. This composite paneling is often constructed from a mixture of wood fibers held together by polymer or resin and then pressed to mimic the grain of real wood.



Engineered wood comes in a variety of shapes and hues. You have the option of purchasing a product with baked-in color or painting it yourself for a more personalized look.



Pros:

• Achieves similar curb appeal to natural wood with lower installation and maintenance costs
  
• Available in panels or long boards for convenient installation
  
• Style options include bevel, tongue-and-groove, clapboard, shingle, and shake
  
• Eco-friendly
  

Cons:

• Susceptible to mold and mildew if moisture accumulates behind it
  
• Some brands' color or stain tint is permanent, therefore you won't be able to change it later
  





Vinyl Siding

One of the most popular alternatives, this material is a crowd-pleaser because of its low cost and unlimited variety of colors and shapes, from basic horizontal "boards" to fashionable square "shakes" or even scalloped panels. Vinyl siding, which is one of the easiest sidings to install and maintain, might be an excellent choice if you have a limited budget.



Pros:

• Low cost for installation and maintenance and the most cost-effective opiton
  
• Wide range of shapes and colors available
  

Cons:

• Low R-value and minimal insulation impact.
  
• Color is baked in and cannot be repainted, so you're stuck with the color you chose.
  
• Known to trap moisture behind walls, resulting in mold and rotting;
  
• Can reduce the value of your home, especially if used to cover the original wood siding.
  
• It contains PVC, which is not environmentally friendly during production or use.
  
• Difficult to recycle.
  





Insulated Vinyl Siding

Insulated vinyl, a step up from its stripped-down version, provides all of the benefits of conventional vinyl siding plus insulation, which reduces utility expenditures and increases longevity.



This improved vinyl alternative is more expensive, yet it still one of the most inexpensive siding options. There are many colors and styles for you to choose from. Many manufacturers have improved the quality with UV-resistant coatings and increased rigidity to handle high winds.



Pros:

• Relatively affordable with low cost of installation and upkeep
  
• Insulation can cut your energy expenditures and protect against ambient noise.
  
• The insulating foam inside the panels makes them less susceptible to dents and cracks than ordinary vinyl siding.
  
• A variety of colors and styles that resemble real wood.
  

Cons:

• One of the least durable siding forms.
  
• Cannot be repainted if it fades or you wish to change the color.
  
• Moisture might get trapped inside the walls, causing your house's wood frame to deteriorate.
  
• May reduce your home's value, especially on historic homes.
  
• PVC is not environmentally friendly and difficult to recycle.
  





Steel or Aluminum Siding

Despite its high initial cost, metal siding is becoming a more popular alternative due to its durability and low to no long-term maintenance.



The appearance of metal siding has substantially improved, with several brands offering designs and textures that closely resemble natural wood. Pre-painted metal siding has a natural resistance to the environment, mold, insects, and fire, so it may provide up to 20 years of maintenance-free service.



Pros:

• Aluminum siding is affordable to purchase and install.
  
• Aluminum and steel are extremely durable and low-maintenance.
  
• Environmentally friendly (aluminum is recyclable).
  

Cons:

• Steel siding is expensive to purchase and installation can be time-consuming, increasing overall costs.
  
• Aluminum siding can dent, and the color might fade or become chalky with time.
  
• Steel siding is prone to rusting.
  
• Aluminum and steel siding are not effective insulators of temperature or noise.
  





Fiber Cement Siding

Fiber cement is manufactured by combining wood pulp with cement as a binder. It combines the benefits of masonry with the visual appeal of painted wood. Fiber cement siding is fire, moisture, and pest resistant, as well as easy to maintain. It may be painted any color. It comes in a variety of styles, including clapboards, panels, and outside trim.



Pros:

• Highly durable siding that can withstand UV exposure and wind.
  
• Holds paint well—when coated by the manufacturer, can last up to 15 years.
  
• When removed, they degrade into inert chemicals, making them environmentally neutral.
  

Cons:

• Inadequate insulation due to low R-value.
  
• Compared to vinyl siding, this option is more expensive and requires professional installation.
  





Stucco

Stucco has existed since ancient times. Its timeless elegance, durability, and adjustable palette of colors and textures make it a perennial favorite for exterior cladding.



Modern stucco is made from a combination of Portland cement, limestone, sand, water, and additives that increase its strength and flexibility. It is often applied in three coats and can endure for decades if well maintained.



Pros:

• Durable and low-maintenance.
  
• Can be tinted with any hue, and the top layer can be smooth or textured.
  
• Resistant to fire and insects.
  
• Provides some insulation from temperature and noise.
  

Cons:

• Susceptible to cracking during earthquakes, settlement, and temperature fluctuations.
  
• To maximize its lifespan, it must be installed by qualified personnel.
  
• Subsequent paint treatments might trap moisture within the stucco, resulting in mold or paint blistering.
  





Brick Veneer Siding

You might be shocked to hear that many brick houses are actually brick veneers, a form of siding that is less expensive and easier to install than the genuine thing while providing similar benefits. This sort of home exterior has grown in popularity over the last few decades since it improves a property's curb appeal and value while costing less than actual brick.



Pros:

• Durable, fireproof, and low-maintenance.
  
• This product has the same heat and noise insulation as natural brick and can increase the value of a home.
  

Cons:

• Higher cost compared to other siding options.
  
• Longer installation time and potential for future mortar joint repair.
  
• A foundation evaluation may be necessary to determine appropriateness.
  





Stone Veneer Siding

Stone veneer, like brick veneer, provides the same value-enhancing elegance and durability as its natural counterpart but at a lower cost. Most stone veneer siding is composed of lightweight concrete or clay blended with polymers for strength and pigments to give the completed product the appearance of real stone.



Pros:

• Lighter, cheaper, and faster to install than actual stone.
  
• Low maintenance, requiring only occasional mortar joint repair.
  
• Installation is easier than with genuine stone because specialist masonry skills are not required.
  
• It comes in a variety of shapes and colors and gives a nice texture to exteriors.
  

Cons:

• Mortar may break due to earthquakes, settling, temperature changes, excessive traffic, or freezing moisture.
  
• Improper installation might allow moisture to enter behind the panels, causing rot and mold.
  
• Lower-quality stone veneer is occasionally painted rather than colored, thus it may fade over time.
  



The correct siding improves a home's curb appeal, strengthens its structure, and adds value. Discover the type of siding that's best for your home only at Arlington Coal & Lumber. We provide everything you'll need to make your concept a reality. Please do not hesitate to contact our friendly staff for assistance! Let us make your siding the most effective protection for your home, even in the most severe weather conditions.