Getting new siding for your home is one of the most exciting exterior projects. It’s a great opportunity to completely transform and update the look of your home by changing the color and the materials used. There are a lot of options for siding materials that you can choose and each of them has their own style and benefits. There is a material, or materials, that can fit nearly any budget.
Vinyl Siding
Vinyl is a great, low-cost siding option that many homeowners choose. It’s the most commonly used siding material on newly constructed homes. It’s popularity is due to the many color and style options available to give your home a personal look.
Vinyl siding also requires very little maintenance because it is easy to clean and won’t need to be repainted. Depending on the type of vinyl siding your choose, you can expect to pay anywhere from $2 – $7 dollars per square foot of materials.
Fiber Cement / Engineered Wood Siding
Fiber Cement siding: is a mixture of wood fibers, sand, and cement. Popular brand: James Hardie®
Engineered Wood siding: are wood strands that are coated with a resin binder, compressed to create a board of superior strength and then treated to protect against termites and rot. Popular brand: LP Smartside®
Both products are made to mimic the look and feel of natural wood siding, with less hassle of maintenance and cost. The interest of this type of siding has risen dramatically due to its durability and low-cost wood alternative. It is available in many styles and colors in both brands – James Hardie® and LP Smartside® .
Pricing is dependent on the brand and finishes you choose.
Wood Siding
Wood is the classic siding. It brings homeowners back to a time when most homes used this material. It’s great for homeowners looking for a natural, cabin in the woods type home. It’s also a very sustainable option for those who are more environmentally conscious.
The main drawback to wood is the maintenance it requires. It must be painted or stained to avoid rotting and weather damage. With proper maintenance, wood has a pretty good lifespan and will maintain its natural beauty for decades.
The pricing of wood varies because there are so many different options to choose from. You can expect to pay anywhere from $6 – $12 per square foot depending on which type of wood you choose.
Metal Siding
Like metal roofing, metal siding is not just for commercial buildings. Many homeowners, especially in Minnesota, are turning to this material because of its durability and resistance to harsh weather. It’s also recyclable, making it a very popular material for people with sustainability in mind.
Your home can take on a very modern or rustic look with your metal siding. It all depends on the style and color you choose. Yes, metal siding comes in a full range of colors, not just grey or silver!
The prices per square foot can vary greatly depending on whether you choose aluminum, steel, copper or one of the many other metal siding materials.
Brick Siding
Brick is the siding that stands the test of time, and it’s possible to install on nearly any home. Very old houses may be built out of brick, but more modern homes are constructed with a wooden frame and a brick veneer wall is put up on the outside. This siding is extremely resilient, sustainable and designed to last.
The main drawback is the lack of color options. There are few natural brick colors. You can opt to paint the brick, but not every color is very appealing when painted over brick, and people tend to go with this siding option because they like its natural look.
You can expect to pay between $7 – $15 per square foot of brick siding.
Stucco Siding
Many Twin Cities siding companies do not work with this material very often. This is because it is more commonly used in Southwestern and coastal homes. Still, we have seen quite a few Minnesota homeowners opt for this material, and it looks great.
Stucco siding has attractive natural colors that don’t need to be painted, and it’s also low maintenance material that is resistant to insects, humidity and fire. It’s main drawbacks are the lack of colors to choose from and the difficulty in installing it. This can add to the cost of hiring a contractor, and you can expect to pay at least $5-$9 per square foot of materials.
You Don’t Have to Choose Today!
Still have more questions on the pros and cons of each siding option? Want to know which is best suited for your particular home? Contact Schmidt Roofing today to talk about your options.
