Nothing gives your house a whole new life like a new layer of siding. It gives your home a fresh new face, new color and usually further benefits of insulation and protection. Before you make your decisions on new siding, you should do a little research into your options first.
Vinyl cladding prices tend to be low, but is it the best product? What about natural cladding like brick, wood or stone? You need to know the details on the various products before you make your choice.
Vinyl
Many people first look at vinyl cladding or siding when they begin their renovation planning. It’s a light material so the installation can be easy enough to do on your own, and it’s quite cheap compared to other siding materials. It comes in a range of colors but they will fade over time if your home gets a lot of direct sun exposure. Not only can it fade, if exposed to a lot of temperature swings (hot summers and very cold winters), it may crack or warp after a few years.
Wood
There is a rustic appeal to natural wood siding, whether it’s applied as boards or smaller shingles. Your color choices are almost unlimited as you can mix up paint or stain in absolutely any shade you wish. You can also change colors when you want by simply adding a new coat.
One significant drawback with wood is that it can be damaged by insects and even weather. You can treat wood to make it more resistant against insects but in an area where termites or other boring insect are common, this may simply be too risky.
Brick and Stone
Brick and stone are another two wonderfully natural cladding choices that are durable, protective and can last a very long time. They will protect against weather, insects and even fire.
A possible problem with brick or stone is the weight. Considering the hundreds of heavy pieces of stone that are going to be built onto the outside of your house, its structure may not be able to safely handle it. There are ways of reinforcing the walls or foundation but you’ll want to talk to a professional before moving ahead with a brick or stone installation.
Even if the weight of the material isn’t a problem, you still have the cost. Brick and stone are some of the most expensive cladding options though it can work out nicely if you are only doing a small portion of your exterior this way. Maybe to accept one part of the house when the rest is done with another material.
Palliside
Lastly, we come to a newer product that addresses a lot of the problems we’ve been discussing. It goes on in a similar way as strips or boards of vinyl but it’s a heavier and sturdier product that will not warp, fade or crack.
You will have a more limited choice for colors with Palliside since it is still a new item on the market but you can usually get a set of options in most neutral colors to suit your design plan.
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