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There are several elements that can date the inside of a home, but worn siding can quickly reveal a home’s age on the outside. Return on investment is always an important consideration for a home remodeling project, and siding replacement is one renovation that typically carries a good return—anywhere from 80 to 84 percent depending on the product you choose, according to Remodeling magazine’s 2015 Cost vs. Value Report. If you’re considering updating your home with a new exterior look, read on for six siding ideas. We’ll explore three popular choices today, and you can check in with us later this week for three more ideas.
Vinyl Siding
Vinyl siding is one of the lower-cost types of siding on the market. It is lightweight and durable, and in many cases, it can be installed over existing siding, which makes it an excellent choice for retrofitting. Another benefit to vinyl siding is its ease of care. While most other siding products require periodic maintenance, vinyl siding can simply be washed off with a hose when it gets dirty. Vinyl siding options are plentiful, especially when it comes to color and style. If you choose standard planks, however, be mindful that the typical length is 12 feet, so your siding contractor may need to overlap them. This causes seams that some people don’t like, but if you don’t mind paying a bit more for the job, your contractor can order extra-long siding planks for you.
Wood Siding
Wood siding is a beautiful, classic choice for an exterior remodeling project. It does require more maintenance than other options, but when properly taken care of, it is an incredibly durable product. Cedar and redwood are considered the best options since those varieties naturally resist decay. Wood siding is, of course, more flammable than synthetic siding products, so it’s important to look for options that have been treated with flame retardant. If you’re considering wood siding for your home, remember that you’ll also need to figure in the cost of painting or staining the siding every three to five years.
Fiber-Cement Siding
Fiber-cement siding is very popular with today’s homeowners. It carries a higher cost than other siding options, but it is virtually maintenance-free and resistant to both critters and the effects of inclement weather. Another bonus is that this product can be molded to almost any form desired. Although fiber-cement plank siding is most common, it can also be manufactured to look like stucco or stone. Fiber-cement siding can come prefinished in a range of colors, so painting or repainting for maintenance purposes isn’t a concern—or an additional cost. If, however, you’d rather have the siding painted at any point, fiber-cement products accept exterior house paint quite well.
Vinyl, wood, and fiber-cement siding are some of the most popular siding options on the market today, but if you’d like to explore even more possibilities for your home’s exterior, check in with us later this week as we investigate three more types of siding.