House siding comes in a variety of materials all with different advantages and disadvantages. As it is one of the easier parts of a residence’s exterior to renovate, siding is a good project for soon to be home sellers or just home owners who want to update their exterior’s look. siding comes in wood, plastic, metal and brick / mortar. Often, one of the first three types of siding is used to cover up concrete, stone or brick work that has not been attractively finished. Understanding the differences between the different siding materials is important not only for renovators, but to new home buyers as well.
First, wood siding, or clapboard, is a series of overlapping board and is extremely common. Sometimes, wood siding is of the shingle variety, but the relative advantages of wood remains the same. Depending on the type of wood used, wood siding can be very weather resistant. Usually cedar is the best at preventing water intrusion. Although versatile, wood siding requires more maintenance than other options. It is, however, easy to repair and replace. Wood is the most attractive form of siding, as it can be painted or stained just about any color imaginable and the different looks that can be achieved are endless. The cost of wood siding depends on the material used, but it is often the most expensive type of siding, though the cost is often worth the quality and austere look that can be accomplished.
Plastic siding often is designed to imitate wooden clapboard siding. While older plastic sidings used to crack and bend quite easily, modern construction materials are of either vinyl or plastic and tend to be very durable. Plastic siding is also easy to install, as it is lighter than metal and less complicated than wood. The low maintenance involved in plastic siding make it attractive to the home owner. However, plastic siding is usually a sign of cheapness and is generally thought ugly in appearance, so it may devalue a home.
Metal siding is as durable as plastic and requires little maintenance, although it provides little insulation. While most often associated with remodeled urban and industrial buildings, private home owners can achieve a unique look by employing corrugated metal siding in their design. The most distinct advantage to metal siding is its resistance to just about any deteriorating factor such as bugs, rot and weathering. Also, metal siding is usually less expensive than wooden clapboard or shingles. However, since it is so heavy, metal siding can be difficult for the weekend construction warrior to haul from the metal yard to the home and even more difficult to install without a few able helpers.
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