At John B Anderson Roofing, we don’t just do roofs, we do siding too! No matter what type of siding you need or style of home, we have the materials to do it and know-how to do it right. We can also walk you through the decision-making process to help you find the best siding options available for your home and budget.
How to Choose the Right Siding for Your Home
Since your siding is your home’s protection, it’s a good idea to consider the types of protection your home will need, not just the cost. There are five main things you should consider when selecting the siding material for your home: cost, durability, styles available, maintenance required and the types of damage your home needs protection from.
- Cost–Vinyl siding is by far the least expensive, but fiber cement is also very cost effective. Aluminum siding is the next most affordable followed by brick & veneer and stone & slate. Some of the most expensive sidings available are log and natural stone, which can run as high as $20 a square foot. But they are also some of the most durable sidings available.
- Durability–You longest lasting siding will be brick, veneer, stone & slate with most lasting more than 100 years. After that, wood & cedar and log can last well over 50 years. Fiber cement lasts between 30 and 50 years while wood shake siding lasts between 25 and 40 years. After that comes aluminum and vinyl which last between 20 and 30 years.
- Styles Available–Aluminum, fiber cement, wood shake and wood have the fewest style options available while vinyl and stone & slate are the most versatile.
- Maintenance Required–Vinyl siding is known for its easy care, but aluminum, brick & veneer and stone & slate are also very easy to care for. After that, fiber cement needs quite a bit of upkeep, but the most high-maintenance sidings are log siding, wood shake siding and wood & cedar siding.
- Damage Protection–Since your siding is the shell of your home, your foremost concern should be the type of damage your siding might face. For instance, Bucks County is no stranger to wild fire. If you live in an area prone to this problem, steel and aluminum siding are both remarkably resistant to fire. Steel is a great choice if you need siding that is extremely resistant to impacts. You can purchase steel siding in many different textures and colors including wood. Aluminum on the other hand, does not have the same impact resistance as steel, but it is completely resistant to fire. The enamel coating on aluminum siding can duplicate the look and feel of many other different types of siding. Fiber cement siding is a very versatile option that is also completely fire resistant, as well as resistant to wind, insect damage and rot. It usually costs a bit more than vinyl, but it also lasts longer–up to 50 years in some cases.
As you can see, there are a lot of materials available and a lot of factors to consider when choosing your siding options and siding contractors.
John B Anderson Roofing will help you make the best choice for your siding needs while staying within your budget. Call us today for more information about our siding services and a completely free estimate with a smile.