Interesting Materials to Use for Siding
The siding of any building is the first part most people see when they approach your property. Choosing the right siding material is therefore important as it allows you to achieve the look you want.
Certain factors come into play when choosing siding. These include:
- Aesthetic versus durability
Aesthetics is one of the factors that you need to consider. But even more importantly, you need to consider whether the material you’ve chosen will be durable, resist water, install easily and if it’s versatile. This is because the most important function of siding is to offer protection to the building’s occupants and property.
- Budget
Choice of siding also has to do with your budget. Not all siding material is created equal and for this reason, some materials are more expensive than others.
- Climate
The climate of an area will also influence your choice. Locations close to the sea, areas prone to hurricanes and blizzards or geographies with high humidity will all have varying effects on different siding material.
- Style
Additionally, certain looks can only be achieved with specific siding material. If you want to paint your house for instance, wood siding might be a more reasonable option. Nowadays though, it’s not uncommon to find designs that incorporate different types of siding on the same building. For instance, wood can be laid side by side with vinyl or bricks.
With that said, the following are five types of siding material to choose from when building your house:
- Vinyl siding
It’s low cost and easy to maintain and is therefore quite popular among many people. Though some might find that it tends to have a ‘plastic look’, there are varieties that are made to resemble real bricks or wood. Vinyl is also very customizable as it comes in a variety of styles and colors. Additionally, vinyl is not prone to moisture penetration therefore you won’t have to worry about mold.
- Wood siding
Wood is one of the best building materials for achieving a rich cottage-like look. However, to maintain its appearance, you need to periodically paint or stain it to protect against moisture and dust. Insects and rodents find it easy to bore into wood, therefore you have to be vigilant and exterminate rodents or prevent their attacks.
There are various types of wood siding such as clapboard, which are planks of wood that are installed to overlap each other horizontally. Other varieties include shingles and shakes. If you want to give your house more character, shingles are a better option as they come in different shapes and sizes which can be installed in interesting designs.
- Brick siding
Genuine bricks are made from clay and are baked in a kiln. Brick designs today tend to use veneers which are reinforced to wooden frames and stuck together with mortar.
Water can penetrate bricks, therefore it’s important to seal them and install insulation between the brick veneers and the house.
- Fiber cement siding
This is a low maintenance, termite resistant and fire resistant material that offers a great alternative to real masonry, wood or stucco sidings. It’s very customizable as it comes in a variety of styles, textures and colors.
- Stone siding
Natural stone is undoubtedly one of the strongest and most durable building material. However, it tends to be expensive and is an option for those who are not cost conscious. Stone veneers are a less expensive options to natural stone and can either be synthetic or natural.
