What Do Siding Contractors Say?
What’s one of the first things you notice about a house when you pull up to it? I am always drawn to the color of a home which in turn draws me to the siding. You would be surprised at how many people notice the siding on your home first. Why?
The siding on your home makes a statement and that statement can say extraordinary, ordinary, or just plain dumpy! Think about the kind of first impression people have of your home when they pull into the driveway. The next choice you make about what type of siding you put on your home needs to be an informed choice.
Today we are going to look at two of the most popular types of siding, vinyl and fiber cement. We will review a quick description of each type of siding and then touch on the pros and cons of the different materials. Finally, we will share which type siding we recommend using.
Vinyl Siding
Material and History
First let’s discuss what vinyl siding exactly is. Vinyl siding is a synthetic man-made material and can comes in an insulated and non-insulated version. It is a type of plastic created from mixing ethylene and chlorine together and produced in a variety of styles and colors. Vinyl siding was first introduced in the 1960’s but didn’t seem to do really well until the 1970’s. The use of vinyl siding has grown each year since it has been around and remains the most popular type of home siding today.
Pros and Cons
Let’s weigh the pros and cons of vinyl siding. We will begin with the pros:
Pros
- Variety of colors and patterns – there are endless color and pattern selections you can choose from. Note also that the colors stay vibrant.
- Strength & Durability – Because vinyl is so flexible, it is rather hard to chip and crack.
- Energy Efficient – Insulated vinyl siding will make your home more energy efficient. By choosing insulated vinyl siding you will be adding another layer of insulation to your home, which in turns saves you money on your energy bills.
- Inexpensive - Compared to other types of sidings, vinyl is one of the least expensive ways to go.
- Low-Maintenance – Vinyl siding has very little maintenance unlike other siding options such as wood, stucco, or metal siding. Vinyl was created with little to no maintenance in mind.
Cons
- Seasonal Maintenance – Like any siding, you will need to make sure each season you wash down you siding to remove any dirt or grim that develops.
- Extreme Temperatures - There are chances that during extreme cold spells or extreme heat waves that your vinyl siding may act up. If there is extreme cold temperatures your vinyl siding may crack, during extreme heat waves your siding could melt. Again this only happens in very rare extreme temperatures.
- Fading – Because your siding is exposed to the sunlight most of the day, there are chances of fade over the course of many years.
Vinyl siding has truly improved over the course of 50+ years. It is truly an amazing product when it comes to making a statement about your home.
Fiber Cement Siding
Material and History
Fiber cement siding is often used as an alternative to real wood. Cement, sand, and cellulose (wood) fibers make up the construction of fiber cement siding. Fiber cement was first invented in the late 19th century but fell out of use because of the incorporation of asbestos fibers. The product was redesigned during the 1970’s without the asbestos and begin to rise in popularity and use.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Durability – Fiber cement has the durability of cement.
- Look – Like vinyl siding, fiber cement has a wide variety of colors and patterns you can choose from.
- Cost effective alternative to wood – The cost of fiber cement is below that of wood and the maintenance involved with wood siding requires more time and money.
Cons
- Energy-Efficient – Unlike insulated vinyl siding, fiber cement siding isn’t nearly as energy efficient.
- Higher costs – not only does fiber cement material cost more than vinyl, the installation costs are more as well.
- More Maintenance – Along with periodic washing, your fiber cement siding will also need to be painted and re-caulked.
Conclusion
Now you that you have a little more information about these two types of siding, you will be better able to compare and come to a decision about what is best for your home. Both vinyl and fiber cement are good reliable types of siding material. Our team at Windows, Doors, & More install both vinyl siding and fiber cement siding depending on what material you choose.
Vinyl Siding vs Fiber Cement Siding Infographic
We have included a shareable infographic "Vinyl Siding vs Fiber Cement Siding" to help you compare the two types of siding materials. You can download it and send it to any friends or neighbors that may find it useful.
Home Siding Recommendation
We highly recommend using insulated vinyl siding purely because the benefits this material bring far outweigh all other siding options from a performance and maintenance standpoint. Insulated vinyl siding adds a higher R-Value and noise reduction the other materials can’t compete with.
Des Moines Area Home Siding Contractor?
If you are considering making the switch to insulated vinyl siding or just have questions about what type of siding works best for your home and budget, contact us today. If you are in the Des Moines, Iowa area we would love to schedule a meeting to review your home siding options and give you free estimate for your home siding project.