Siding

Talking about siding doesn’t sound very fun but it’s a very important part of your house and therefore a very important part of your home. As unexciting as it may seem, you still need to put as much effort into it as you would any other part of your house. Check out some of the options available to you:

• Vinyl siding is at the tops in most people’s minds. Although, some people don’t like the plastic-like appearance of certain types of vinyl siding but the low cost and low maintenance make it a very popular siding option. It can be purchased in a variety of styles from standard horizontal siding to vertical options.
• The rich look of wood siding makes it a popular option for bungalows, Cape Cod style homes and cottages. Wood requires more maintenance than vinyl but not so much that it you wouldn’t consider it. It’s available in clapboard, shakes and shingles. Clapboard involves installing planks of wood horizontally where the upper piece overlaps the lower piece. Shakes and shingles provide a smoother, more uniform look.
• Brick veneer is commonly used on colonial style homes but looks amazing on any type of home as long as the brick is installed correctly. Water can penetrate brick and mortar so waterproofing and regular maintenance is required to prevent cracks and spalling.
• Fibre cement requires very low maintenance, is non-flammable and termite resistant but isn’t completely resistant to elemental damage. Problems related to moisture are an occasional problem for fibre cement siding and be aware of the possibility of asbestos in the fibre cement siding on homes older than the late 1980s — removal requires the assistance of a professional abatement contractor.
• Stucco can last the lifetime of your home with regular maintenance — it’s made up of sand, cement, lime and water. The installation process includes applying a waterproof paper barrier and galvanized metal screening over the wood walls of the home before applying the stucco mixture.
• Stone and stone veneer has a natural looking quality that works great on nearly any home type. Yearly cleaning and maintenance ensures that this type of siding will look amazing and last for the life of the home.

So there’s more than a few types of siding to choose from and who’s to say you have to choose just one? You can mix and match different types of siding, according to your outdoor home decor — something unique for every area.