Choosing Siding for Your Home

When you are looking at the options that are available for siding your home - whether you're renovating the property or you are going to be building a new home from the foundation up - there are a number of things that you will want to consider. One of the primary choices that you will need to make when you choose siding for your home involves the type of siding that you will use.

The appearance that you want your home to have, your lifestyle and even the construction of your property will have an impact on the exterior siding that you choose - and the material that the siding is made of. Therefore, when you are looking into the options that are available for siding your home, one thing that you'll want to be sure of is that you understand what siding materials are available.

The most basic siding that you're going to find is made from sheets of PVC plastic. While vinyl siding will not rot, there are some concerns about the impact of PVC plastics on the environment and there are also cases in which vinyl siding cracks, fades or simply stops looking as nice as it did when you installed it. Similar to vinyl sheet siding - if you like the idea of siding with vinyl but don't like the look of the sheets - is vinyl coating. When it's done well, it looks great, but there have been a number of complaints from homeowners whose contractors did not properly mix the polymers and resins before applying them to the home.

Those who are looking for the easy maintenance that comes with vinyl siding who are looking for an alternative to vinyl are going to want to be sure that they are looking into aluminum siding. This option is fireproof and won't crack the way vinyl sometimes does, but the color can fade and the material can dent. Seamless steel siding is also available for those who are looking for something that's tailored to their home; likewise seamless steel siding holds up to temperature changes, is custom fit to your home by a reputable contractor, and comes in a variety of looks and textures.

Of course, other options are available as well. If you are choosing siding for your home and you are looking for a more traditional look, you will also be able to look into stucco siding or synthetic stucco. For those who want to have a home sided with wood, cedar shingle siding is an option - and, for those who are looking for the look of wood who want something more durable as well as those whose areas require them to have fireproof materials, there is cement fiber siding that requires less maintenance but just as much character.

Character is important to most homeowners, but the reality is that there are going to be a number of questions that go far beyond the types of siding available. If you focus on working with a contractor who will be able to explain your options, the benefits and drawbacks of each and who will be able to help you find your best option.