Choosing the right siding for your home is one of the most important decisions you can make as a homeowner. Siding not only protects the structure of your home, but it’s also how you present your home to the world!
There are so many different options to choose from when you want to replace your existing siding. We’ve laid out everything you need to know about seven of the most popular siding choices to help you find the best siding for your home.
Seven popular siding options
1. Vinyl siding
Average price range: $4.50–$8.19 per square foot
Pros of vinyl siding: Low cost with high variety
Popular brands: Alside, CertainTeed, Exterior Portfolio
Vinyl siding comes in a variety of colors and styles, so you can achieve the look you want without having to sacrifice durability. Image source: A-Top Roofing & Construction
Vinyl siding is one of the most popular siding materials in the U.S. thanks to its low cost, durability, and versatility.
Made of PVC plastic resin, vinyl siding is weather resistant and requires little to no maintenance. Vinyl siding also comes in a variety of colors and styles, so you can style your home to your tastes!
Perhaps the biggest draw to vinyl siding is its low price. However, the style of the siding can impact how much you pay. For instance, vinyl shingle siding is more expensive than clapboard style vinyl siding.
Most homeowners don’t see significant issues with their vinyl siding, however, if it’s not installed properly it can cause a variety of problems. A faulty installation can result in significant damage from storms and cause moisture to build up in the structural framework behind the siding.
2. Wood siding
Average price range: $6.51–$11.85 per square foot
Pros of wood siding: Classic look that increases curb appeal
Popular brands: TruWood, WoodTone
Wooden siding provides a traditional, but attractive, look for your home. Image source: TR Building & Remodeling
Wood siding has been around for centuries, but there’s a reason people continue to use it. Homeowners are attracted to the classic and rustic look of wood siding to boost the curb appeal of their house. It’s no wonder that other siding types are trying to mimic the look of natural wood!
Wood siding also comes in a variety of styles, types, and colors to achieve any look you want. The wood species and style of siding you choose will influence the overall cost, durability, and look of your home’s exterior.
Hardwood siding, like teak, tends to come at a higher price tag but is more resistant to rot. Softwood siding is cheaper, but it is also more vulnerable to water damage. However, all wooden siding options are more susceptible to rot and pests, like termites, than other siding products.
You can prevent these issues by properly maintaining your wooden siding. This includes refinishing or staining your siding every 3 to 7 years, quickly repairing any damage, and properly cleaning your siding annually. Installing engineered wood siding, as opposed to real wood, can also help mitigate some of these problems.
3. Aluminum siding
Average price range: $5.58–$10.16 per square foot
Pros of aluminum siding: Industrial look with a low price
Popular brands: Gentek, Mastic, Variform
Aluminum siding is becoming more popular for modern industrial style homes. Image source: Architizer
Aluminum siding became a popular, low-cost alternative to wood siding in the 1940s. However, the advent of vinyl siding quickly pushed aluminum to the side.
Although it isn’t used as often, lightweight aluminum siding is starting to make a comeback because of its sleek industrial look. Its low price point doesn’t hurt either - aluminum is one of the cheapest types of siding available.
Another benefit to aluminum siding is that it is resistant to pests, rust, and weather. It doesn’t require much regular maintenance either, just a yearly cleaning with soap or water to remove mildew or debris.
Aluminum siding does come with its drawbacks, though. For instance, having metal siding can be noisy. The sound of rain, hail, and even wind will be amplified by aluminum siding. While it will be durable enough to protect your home from that noisy hail, aluminum is a soft metal that can be easily dented or scratched and may require repairs.
4. Stucco siding
Average price range: $6.84–$12.44 per square foot
Pros of stucco siding: Great creative potential
Popular brands: OmegaFlex, Sto Stucco
Stucco siding comes in multiple colors and can be installed with various textures so you can get creative with your home’s exterior. Image source: Preferred Exteriors
Traditional stucco siding is typically found in the Pacific, Mountain and South Atlantic divisions of the United States, but it has become a popular choice for homeowners throughout the country. Spanish and Mediterranean style homes are known for their stucco siding, but modern style homes are beginning to take advantage of this low-maintenance option.
Traditionally, stucco is made of a mixture of Portland cement, water, and sand, which makes the materials relatively low-cost. Plus, stucco is extremely fire resistant! However, the labor costs for installing stucco can be quite high, since the installation is intensive and requires skilled labor. This also means that if you’re looking to DIY your new siding, stucco probably isn’t the best choice.
Stucco siding is prone to cracking as your home expands and contradicts with changing temperatures. It may also crack if your home’s foundation settles. This is something to keep in mind if you live somewhere with big temperature fluctuations. It’s also not ideal for damper environments because it can become oversaturated. However, newer products, like OmegaFlex, provide a stucco appearance with a 100 percent acrylic base that is flexible and more durable than traditional stucco.
5. Fiber cement siding
Average price range: $3.32–$6.03 per square foot
Pros of fiber cement siding: Expensive look with excellent durability
Popular brands: James Hardie, GAF, Nichiha
Fiber cement siding has a classic look, despite being one of the newest siding options. Image source: James Hardie
Introduced in the 1990s, fiber cement siding is the new kid on the block - but it’s becoming increasingly popular with homeowners. It was created to make a siding option that was as durable as masonry options while having the look of wood siding.
Fiber cement siding is made of water, wood pulp, cement, and filler. This combination creates a siding product that is fireproof, as well as rot, UV, and weather-resistant. Not only can fiber cement siding withstand the elements, but homeowners will be happy to learn that it also requires very little maintenance!
Fiber Cement siding comes in multiple styles, from shingles to batten board. With a wide variety of colors to choose from, homeowners can even find fiber cement siding with a realistic wood grain pattern!
All of these features do come at a cost - fiber cement siding can be about twice as expensive as other siding materials. The high cost is mainly attributed to the skill needed to install the siding, as it can easily break being transported or when being put in place.
6. Brick veneer siding
Average price range: $15.87–$28.87 per square foot
Pros of brick veneer siding: Traditional charming look for less
Popular brands: Novabrik, Z-Brick
Brick veneer allows you to capture the charm of solid brick for a fraction of the cost. Image source: Stone Selex
Solid brick homes are beautiful and durable, but they come at an extremely high price tag. Brick veneer siding allows homeowners to get the classic look of solid brick, without having to break the bank.
The biggest difference between brick veneer siding and a solid brick home? Brick veneers are not a structural component of the home. Instead, brick veneer siding is held up by the existing framework of the home.
Brick veneer siding is still made of real bricks, so you do retain some of the durability of a solid brick home. Brick veneer siding won’t rot, is fire-resistant, and doesn’t require additional maintenance like painting or staining.
Like all siding options, brick veneer does have its downsides. Bricks are porous and will retain moisture when it rains. This moisture can seep through to the framework of your home and cause water damage. However, if your siding installation was done properly, your home’s exterior will have been properly waterproofed and protected from moisture damage.
7. Stone veneer siding
Average price range: $32.62–$59.36 per square foot
Pros of stone veneer siding: Rustic look with a lower price tag than complete stone siding
Popular brands: Coronado, Eldorado Stone, Veneerstone
Stone veneer siding can be used across your whole home, or as a beautiful accent. Image source: Table Rock Stone
Similar to brick veneer, stone veneer siding allows you to achieve the look of natural stone at a much lower cost. Natural stone siding can cost as much as $30 per square foot, as well as high-end stone veneer that can go up to $30 per square foot.
Stone veneer siding is made from a mixture of portland cement, pumice, and iron-oxide pigments, that is then molded to look like genuine stone. The result is a lightweight, quality faux-stone that can be easily installed while still looking great. Keep in mind – stone veneer tends to fade over time.
The biggest drawback to stone veneer is that the stones will repeat themselves. With natural stone, each rock has a different shape, color, and texture, which is what makes stone siding so beautiful.
The variety in your stone veneer is limited by the number of molds and colors available from the manufacturer. While you can purchase stones of different sizes and colors, they will start to repeat. However, this will go unnoticed unless you have a trained eye.
What house siding is best for you?
There are a lot of things to consider when you’re looking to replace your old siding. Overall, what siding is best for you boils down to what you want out of your siding, the look you want to achieve, and how much maintenance you do (or don’t!) want to put in.
If you want to boost your home’s curb appeal, consider wood, brick veneer, or stone veneer siding. These exterior siding options give you a great return on your investment by increasing your home’s value.
When durability is your main concern, vinyl, fiber cement, and stucco sidings are all great choices. These siding options will protect your home without sacrificing the look!
Having a tight budget doesn’t mean you have to get low-quality siding. Vinyl and aluminum siding are low-cost options that effectively shield your home’s framework from the elements.
No matter what you’re looking for, there’s a siding option for you to turn your house into your dream home!