What Is the Best Siding for a House?
Selecting the best siding for your home is essential. There are a variety of different siding options, each with respective pros and cons. It is essential to consider these for each type of siding before deciding which one best fits your needs.
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What Is the Best Siding for a House?
There’s no one factor that determines which siding is best for your home. You’ll want to evaluate each siding separately before choosing the one best suited to your needs.
Vinyl
Vinyl is a tough form of plastic and is one of the more affordable siding types. It will likely cost between $4-$9 per square foot to install vinyl siding on your home.
Pros
- Offers a diverse range of aesthetic options
- Lightweight and relatively easy to install
- Inexpensive relative to other types of siding
- Low-maintenance
- Pest-resistant
Cons
- Not very durable
- Not very energy efficient in non-insulated form
- Cracks over time
Aluminum
In general, metal siding is an incredibly durable form of siding. While aluminum siding is not as strong as steel siding, it offers great durability and is cheaper than steel. It will likely cost between $5-$8 per square foot to install aluminum siding on your home.
Pros
- Lightweight relative to steel
- Easy to install relative to steel
- Reflects sunlight which keeps homes cooler in the summer
- Structurally durable
- Fire, water, and pest-resistant
- Environmentally friendly
Cons
- Corrodes and fades over time
- Reflects sunlight which makes homes cooler in the winter
Steel
Steel siding will probably outlast the rest of your house. Steel is a heavy-duty metal that is capable of withstanding harsh weather and time. It will likely cost between $6-$11 per square foot to install steel siding on your home.
Pros
- Exceedingly durable both structurally and aesthetically
- Reflects sunlight which keeps homes cooler in the summer
- Fire, water, and pest-resistant
- Does not corrode and fade over time
Environmentally friendly
Cons
- Heavy and therefore harder/more expensive to install
- Relatively expensive
Fiber-Cement
Fiber-cement siding imitates wood siding and is usually significantly cheaper. Fiber-cement is a composite of cement and cellulose fibers. Fiber-cement is also more durable than wood siding. It will likely cost between $6-12 per square foot to install fiber-cement siding on your home.
Pros
- Structurally durable
- Fire, water, and pest resistant
- Offers a diverse set of aesthetic options
- Requires less maintenance than wood siding
Cons
- Heavy and therefore harder/more expensive to install
- Will aesthetically degrade over time
- Shows scratches
- Will crack when improperly installed
Wood
It is exceedingly common for fiber-cement, and vinyl siding to imitate wood and for a good reason. Wood is the aesthetically ideal choice of siding for many homeowners. If the wooden aesthetic is crucial for you, no imitation will match the real thing. It will likely cost between $4-$14 per square foot to install wood siding, and the more attractive wood tends to be on the pricier side.
Pros
- If properly maintained, wood siding can last a lifetime
- Increases the value of a home
- Environmentally friendly
Cons
- Flammable
- Improper maintenance can lead to irreparable damage
- Susceptible to damage from pests
Stucco
Stucco is a composite made from cement, sand, lime, water, and epoxy. Stucco is wear-resistant and requires minimal aesthetic maintenance. The installation costs of stucco are higher than most other materials, but the material prices are very low. It will probably cost $8-$13 per square foot to install stucco siding.
Pros
- Low maintenance
- Insect and fire-resistant
- Durable
- Increases the value of a home
Cons
- Requires costly professional installation
- Limited set of aesthetic options
- Can crack over time
- Can sustain moisture damage, especially when improperly installed
Brick and Stone
Brick and stone siding has an undeniable visual appeal. It’s also highly versatile and can conform to sophisticated artistic desires. Brick and stone siding is often considered the premier siding, due, in large part, to it being its steep price. Installing brick or stone siding will likely cost you between $15-$26 per square foot.
Pros
- Aesthetically versatile
- Increases the value of a home
- Incredibly durable
- Can blend with other siding styles
- Resistant to weather, fire, water, and pests
Cons
- Expensive
- Will require costly maintenance over time
- Can trap moisture
Faux Stone
Faux stone is usually a composite made from cement and iron oxide pigments. Faux stone siding is equally as beautiful as genuine stone but without many of its downsides. Faux stone is equally or more expensive than real stone and will likely cost you between $15-$31 per square foot.
Pros
- Much lighter and easier to install than genuine stone
- Highly versatile
- Can increase the value of a home
- Durable
- Can blend with other siding styles
- Fire, water, weather, and pest resistant
Cons
- Cheap faux stone composites scratch easily
- Can crack in extreme winter conditions
- Susceptible to chemical stains
- if installed improperly, it can trap water
Choosing the best siding for your situation can be challenging, but making the correct choice is essential. If you are choosing between siding options for your home, it is wise to contact an experienced roofing professional that can provide personalized advice.