At Paramount Siding and Windows in Denver, we know how overwhelming it can be to choose a home siding material. There are dozens of options out there, and as technology develops, even more products are introduced to the market, compounding the confusion.
Luckily, our team can help you figure out how to choose the right siding for your home. We’ve analyzed the pros and cons of some of the most popular types of siding to help you make the right decision.
Ultimately, there should be at least one material that satisfies your requirements. Before whittling down the options, create a checklist of your priorities: initial cost, energy efficiency, color, style preference, durability, ease of maintenance, and the level of physical protection from the elements required.
Now, you can move forward knowing exactly what you want and need in a home siding material. Let’s take a look at some of the more popular options and a newcomer (that we love) to the market.
VINYL SIDING
The most popular and affordable home siding material, vinyl siding offers long-lasting protection with very little maintenance. Vinyl is a synthetic product derived from PVC resin, so it’s fully waterproof.
The other significant advantage to vinyl siding is its flexibility for designs, finishes, and colors. Vinyl can be molded to look like traditional brick, wooden shakes, or rustic stone. With its affordable price point, your imagination is the limit when it comes to creating the look you want for your home.
Some customers may be concerned about the ability of vinyl siding to protect their home from intense wind, harsh sunlight, snow, and heavy rain. Certainly, in harsher climates, it is important to consider the insulation and energy efficiency rating of your siding. Fortunately, you can take advantage of insulated vinyl siding which creates a stronger barrier between your home’s interior and the cold outside.
While vinyl is affordable, be sure to explore beyond the cheapest possible option, especially vinyl that imitates other materials. There are a lot of bottom of the barrel versions out there that will only require repairs and even replacement sooner rather than later, which can cancel out the initial cost savings.
FIBER CEMENT
Fiber cement board siding, also known as HardiePlank, continues to grow in popularity. It is available in panels or traditional shiplap boards, making it a great option for homeowners who want to create the appearance of wood lap siding without dealing with the problems of real wood.
Fiber cement is a composite mixture made from sand, cement, and cellulose fiber. Unlike wood, it will not suffer from termite problems or mold, and it’s very fire resistant. Homeowners may even benefit from lowered insurance premiums on their home when using fiber cement siding instead of wood.
Plus, if properly cared for, this home siding material can potentially last forever.
This composite siding can vary in cost but is generally more expensive than vinyl siding. It also offers less possibility for design modifications, accents or added trims. Homeowners trying to conform to a look found in a historical neighborhood could have difficulty doing this with fiber cement siding.
BRICK SIDING
Brick has been used in home construction for thousands of years. In addition to creating a strong, stable siding for many types of buildings, brick also looks fantastic and does not suffer much fading or aging. If you’ve wondered why there are so many brick bungalows in Denver, this is why. Brick just lasts.
With brick siding, there’s no worry about termites, dents, rust, repainting or damage from rotting. Brick siding can last for centuries and provides excellent sound insulation. Traditional brick cladding can also add to the resale value of your home and significantly improve its external appearance.
Brick siding is the most expensive option for home siding. Genuine clay bricks are costly, and installation requires extensive professional labor. However, compared to other home siding material options, brick siding will usually outlive its competitors, and the investment will pay itself back over time.
There is virtually no upkeep required for brick siding, beyond touching up the mortar now and again, so the one-time cost is just about all that’s needed to create a durable finish on your home.
LP SMARTSIDE® WITH DIAMOND KOTE® PRE-FINISHING
Wood siding was once all the rage for home exteriors. But, due to the many inherent problems such as heavy maintenance, vulnerability to water damage, fire damage and termites, it has fallen out of favor with both homeowners and developers.
Fast forward to the present, and Paramount Siding & Windows has found a cutting-edge product that just might take the place of traditional wood, LP SmartSide® with Diamond Kote® Pre-Finishing. Try saying that five times fast. Right out of the gate, it’s lighter than fiber cement, making the install process faster and easier with no special equipment necessary.
This home siding material is a highly durable, engineered wood that comes pre-finished. It looks like wood but doesn’t need the maintenance or repainting required by old-school wood siding. LP SmartSide resists moisture, termites, fungi, grime build-up and can take an impact (hail resistant). The paint finish is perfection, resistant to ultraviolet rays and won’t peel or flake.
As for style, you’ll have over 30 colors to choose from. LP SmartSide also comes in cedar shakes and decorative shapes like scallops. So, whether you have a Craftsman or Victorian home, all that trim work can be replaced with this incredibly resilient new home siding material.
HELP CHOOSING A HOME SIDING MATERIAL
If you are still unsure about how to choose the right siding material for your home, Paramount Siding and Windows in Denver can help. Our team of experts specializes in residential siding installation, and we’ve been helping homeowners in the metro area with home siding, windows and doors since 2008.
With our extensive experience working in the harsh climate of Colorado, we understand which siding options are going to best serve the needs of our customers. Give us a call today, and let’s get started.
