How to Choose the Right Siding for Your Home

Siding is a very important segment of a home for a multitude of reasons. Siding protects the house and its residents from the outside elements (snow, wind, rain, and so on) and is important in keeping the house safe and secure. Siding also protects from the invasion of insects and has a myriad of appealing designs that can best fit your home. 

If you’re considering adding, repairing, or replacing siding on your home, read on for a comprehensive rundown of the various types of sidings available. This information can help you choose the right siding for your home, and we’ll even help you find a great professional siding company to handle the job!

Types of Siding

There is a variety of siding materials that can be used depending on your house’s location, environmental surroundings, the weather, and the overall design, among other factors. The most common materials include fiber cement siding, cedar ridge siding, and vinyl siding. 

Fiber Cement Siding

Fiber cement siding is made of sand, cellulose fibers, and cement. This siding gives off a natural painted wood and shingle effect. Fiber cement is an excellent option to protect against storms and other elements such as rain, fire, snow, insects, and wind. However, fiber cement is most efficient in warm and humid weather since it will never rot. 

Therefore, fiber cement siding is an excellent option against Georgia’s humidity. Did you know that Georgia is the third most humid state in the United States? Fiber cement siding can last approximately 50 years, but it is recommended to be repainted every 10 to 15 years. 

History

Fiber cement was first invented in the 19th century but was originally made with asbestos, causing many fatal and painful illnesses. Once fiber cement was recreated with cellulose fibers, it grew in popularity for siding and roofing in the 1980s with many unique designs. 

Vinyl Siding

Vinyl siding is three-in-one, being visually appealing as well as useful and resilient for years. It is easier for property owners to maintain this siding as compared to other sidings. This is what makes it so popular. Vinyl siding proves more resilient compared to many other siding options, including wood and aluminum. Vinyl siding is great for insulation, and thus protects against outside noise pollution and increases your house’s energy efficiency by reducing cooling and heating loss. 

History

Vinyl siding, usually made out of polyvinyl chloride (PVC), grew in popularity in the late 1950s and early 1960s as a replacement option for both wood and aluminum siding. PVC was first reproduced in the laboratory in 1872. Aluminum siding stopped being used as often in the 1970s as vinyl siding grew in popularity. Currently, vinyl siding has proven to be the most popular siding in the United States. 

Cedar Ridge Siding

Cedar ridge siding is another beautiful and appealing siding. Cedar ridge siding is energy-efficient since it is a completely insulated vinyl siding. This siding is easy to maintain and reduces noise pollution by a maximum of 45 percent. Cedar ridge siding is durable and weather resistant. 

Cedar ridge can be wind resistant by up to 200 miles per hour, as well as has excellent moisture management, and is approximately 240 percent more impact-resistant than general fiber cement. Therefore, it can help protect Georgia homes from bad weather, such as storms, hurricanes, and flooding. Some of cedar ridge’s siding materials include graphite, which helps with heat insulation. 

Board and Batten Siding Design

Board and batten is a popular siding choice design due to its detail and shading. Battens are made when narrow wooden strips alternate over the joints and seams of boards to give an almost geometric and layered effect. Board and batten siding is best used for porches, exterior walls, gables, and even parts of the interior of the home. Board and batten are low maintenance, with a realistic texture, timeless appeal, and durability. 

Board and batten is not only aesthetically appealing and durable but is energy efficient. Board and batten is energy efficient because of its complete thermal insulation support system automatically provided by the materials. 

History

Board and batten siding originated in Europe and by early settlers in the United States. At this time America had a multitude of flourishing trees, which served as ideal siding for the settler’s homes or log cabins. The board and batten idea came to be when trying to protect against the harsh elements. 

Even when inside a house, before board and batten siding, the harsh winds would still sneak in. By sawing and hacking the tree trunks and branches into wood planks, early settlers were able to build a design that protects the residents and their homes from the outside. 

Soffit, Trim, and Fascia

Fascia is a horizontal rim you can see at the edge of the rafters, while a soffit compliments the fascia. The soffit is located below the fascia and rafters. The fascia is another excellent option for energy efficiency since it provides much insulation. 

Soffit, trim, and fascia are useful for those with an attic because the soffit ventilates the moisture from the attic to reduce molding and decay. This type of siding repels insects, birds, and squirrels. 

High Cost of Siding

Siding can be somewhat pricey depending on the material. This is because it takes a lot of time and attention to detail to protect your home properly. Due to the difficulty and longevity of this process, installation can be somewhat pricey. 

Why You Should Let Professionals Install Your Siding

Installing siding can be a difficult and cumbersome task. Building siding incorrectly can cause many issues for your home, such as less protection from the outside weather. Therefore, trying to DIY siding can lead to disastrous effects for the home and residents. Siding professionals are licensed and insured, with the proper permits and knowledge of building codes. 

Siding experts have the proper tools necessary to install the siding correctly. If someone chooses to DIY siding, the necessary and expensive tools will be purchased just to be used once and sit in storage for who knows how long. If someone chooses to DIY siding it can take several years, compared to experts which would not even take a full year. 

If there is any major hazard or disaster that occurs siding professionals have warranty coverage. Lastly, siding professionals generally make the process easier. They prep for the installation process, install the siding and clean up after the siding is installed. 

Choosing the Right Siding for Georgia

There are many types of siding that can be beneficial to Georgia homes. With Georgia’s warm and humid client some of the best options are vinyl siding and fiber cement. Vinyl siding lasts approximately 50 to 60 years and can withstand harsher climates. 

Vinyl siding helps repel moisture from the walls and has a lot of stylish and trendy designs for your home. Vinyl siding is also economically feasible and eco-friendly since it provides excellent insulation from hot and cold weather. 

Fiber cement is also an attractive siding option because of its durability, being one of the most reliable siding materials. Fiber cement also provides many designs that can be installed in your home. Fiber cement is also fire resistant, which is important for Georgia residents as wildfire season worsens and extends longer. 

When to Replace Your Siding

Just pay attention! Look to see if your siding is cracking or falling apart. Depending on the material, siding can last approximately 50 years. But if it suffers a lot of damage due to intensified weather patterns, that can be caused by climate change, the siding may need to be replaced earlier. 

Before selling your home, always check out the siding as well. If the siding is worn down it can decrease your home value. Alternatively, newer well-maintained siding can increase your home value. 

Importance of Having Proper Siding

Having improper siding can cause a laundry list of problems for your house. Improper siding can leave a house vulnerable to mold, and ineffective insulation leaves the residents exposed to the elements. If installed poorly, weather and moisture can cause warping of the siding materials. Improper installation of vinyl siding specifically can leave this siding material even more susceptible to warping and buckling. 

As we noted, having well-installed and maintained and visually appealing siding can increase your home’s property value. Thus, maintaining your siding and replacing it when necessary will give you a high return on investment (ROI). And since siding has both short- and long-term impacts on your home, make sure to choose wisely. 

Finding the Proper Professional

Finding the proper siding to fit the design of your home and protect your home is essential. Choosing the proper siding material can make a huge difference when it comes to keeping your home looking great and feeling comfortable inside. Using a local professional can help ensure the job is done well for a fair price. 

And when you use a TrustDALE certified professional, you're always protected by Dale's trademark $10,000 Make-It-Right Guarantee. So start looking for a trusted professional siding company in your area today!