The siding on your building plays an aesthetic as well as a practical role – your siding panels are responsible for conferring to your home curb appeal as well as for protecting it from the elements, from heat and from cold. Properly installed siding is not mounted directly on the walls of the building – whatever siding material you choose, you will need a suitable layer of insulation between the exterior walls and the siding panels –, but your choice in terms of siding material can have an impact on the comfort inside your building as well as on your heating bills. Here are some of the best and strongest materials used for siding.
Stone Siding
You can hardly find a material that is stronger and more durable than stone, so the siding panels made from the natural material are also among the strongest. Stone siding confers a uniquely attractive appearance to your building, while also offering you other benefits, such as superior durability, resistance to any weather, even to extreme events and excellent thermal performance that will help you reduce your heating and cooling bills. The initial costs of getting your panels and getting them installed are relatively high, especially as you will need a professional mason for putting up your stone panels, but the great features of the material make it worthwhile.
Stone Veneer Siding
Also known as faux stone, stone veneer siding is made from synthetic material that replicates real stone and is also able to offer similar durability and resistance, but is much cheaper than the natural version of the material. Besides offering excellent thermal performance and attractive appearance, synthetic stone siding comes with the additional benefit that the material is suitable for DIY installation as well.
Brick Siding
Another traditional material used for making siding and one that has stood the test of time, too. Brick siding is somewhat more expensive than synthetic solutions, but the special aesthetics, the durability, the resistance to harsh weather, to fire and to pests, the energy-efficiency that you will enjoy with your brick siding make the material worth considering.
Cement Fiber Siding
The material is very popular among homeowners because it is available in varieties that resemble other materials, such as brick, wood or stone and a stucco-like appearance can also be obtained. Cement fiber siding panels are easy to install and to maintain, they can be painted and repainted, they will stand strong in front of any weather and they are unattractive for pests.
Vinyl Siding
Vinyl is a cheap, durable, resistant and versatile material and so are the siding panels made from it. Your vinyl panels will never warp, they can maintain their color for a very long time and they can stand up to almost any weather.
Plastic Siding
Plastic is another durable, low-cost solution that is available in a wide range of styles, colors and textures. Plastic can be made to resemble almost any of the more expensive, natural or synthetic materials used for making siding panels and the additional benefits of the material include very low upkeep and repair needs. To help you decide what type of siding is best for your home, talk with a professional roofing Minneapolis MN contractor for advice of products they use in the local communities.