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Replacement Siding for
the Home.
Nothing will impact the appearance
of your home more dramatically than the exterior siding you choose. As
you shop
for exterior siding, look for a siding material that suits the style of
your
house and also fits your lifestyle. Listed here are the most popular
materials
for exterior siding, along with links to resources to help you choose
exterior
siding.
1. Stone
and Cultured Stone Siding
If you think of
ancient monuments and temples, you know that
stone is the most durable of all building materials. Granite,
limestone, slate,
and other types of stone are beautiful and nearly impervious to the
weather.
Unfortunately, they are also extremely expensive. Precast stone veneers
and
facings look and feel like real stone, but the prices are more
affordable.
Cultured Stone® from Owens Corning is one popular brand of precast
stone
veneers.
2. Brick and Brick
Veneer Siding
Made of fired clay,
brick comes in a wide variety of earthy,
eye-pleasing colors. Although it is expensive, brick is desirable
because it
can last centuries and probably won't need any patching or repairs for
the
first twenty-five years. Quality brick veneers are also attractive and
durable,
although they don't have the longevity of solid brick.
3. Cedar Shingle Siding
Homes sided in cedar
shingles (also called
"shakes") blend beautifully with wooded landscapes. Made of natural
cedar, the shingles are usually stained browns, grays, or other earthen
colors.
Shakes offer the natural look of real wood, but usually require less
maintenance than wood clapboard. By using stain rather than paint, you
can
minimize peeling.
4. Wood Clapboard
Siding
Modern science has
given us many synthetic wood-look
products, and yet solid wood (usually cedar, pine, spruce, redwood,
cypress, or
Douglas fir) remain favorite choices for finer homes. With periodic
care, wood
siding will outlast vinyl and other pretenders. As with cedar shingle
siding,
wood clapboards can be stained rather than painted. Many wood frame
houses
built centuries ago still look beautiful today.
5. Cement Fiber Siding
Fiber cement siding
can have the appearance of wood, stucco,
or masonry. This durable, natural-looking material is often called by
the brand
names HardiPlank® and HardiPanel®. If you want the look of
authentic wood with
a bit less maintenance, cement fiber is a good options. Fiber cement
siding is
fireproof, termite-proof, and may have a warranty up to fifty years.
6. Stucco Siding
Traditional stucco is
cement combined with water and inert
materials such as sand and lime. Stucco has been used since the days of
Renaissance Italy, and it can be finished in many ways for many
different
looks. Walls made of genuine stucco are hard, solid, and moisture
resistant.
Many homes built after the 1950s use a variety of synthetic materials
that
resemble stucco. Synthetic stucco will look authentic, but may not
offer the
same durability.
7. Engineered Wood
Siding
Engineered wood, or
composite wood, is made with wood
products and other materials. Oriented strand board (OSB), hardboard,
and
veneered plywood are examples of engineered wood products. Engineered
wood
usually comes in panels that are easy and inexpensive to install. The
panels
may be molded to create the look of traditional clapboards. Because the
textured grain is uniform, engineered wood does not look exactly like
real
wood. Still, the appearance is more natural than vinyl or aluminum.
8. Seamless Steel
Seamless steel siding
is very strong and resists shrinking
and bulging when the temperatures change. The siding is custom fit to
the exact
measurements of your house. You can purchase steel siding with a
wood-look
texture. Or, for a modern house, consider the industrial look of
corrugated
steel.
9. Aluminum
You may think of
aluminum siding as an old-fashioned option,
but some builders offer it as an alternative to vinyl. Both materials
are easy
to maintain and fairly durable. Aluminum can dent and fade, but it
won't crack
the way vinyl will. Also, aluminum is fireproof and is not usually
considered
harmful to your health or the environment.
10. Vinyl Siding
Vinyl is made from a
PVC (polyvinyl chloride) plastic.
Unlike wood or cedar, it won't rot or flake. Vinyl is usually less
expensive to
purchase and install than most other siding materials. There are,
however,
drawbacks. Vinyl can crack, fade, or grow dingy over time. Vinyl is
also
controversial because of environmental concerns.
11. Vinyl Coatings
If you like the idea
of vinyl but
don't like the look of vinyl panels, another option is to have a pro
spray on a
liquid PVC coating. Made from polymers and resins, the paint-like
coating is
about as thick as a credit card when it dries. Liquid PVC became widely
available only a few years ago, and reviews are mixed. The damage
caused by
poor application can be devastating.
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