Are you bored with how the exterior of your house looks or tired of having the ugliest siding on the block? You certainly aren’t alone. There are millions of homeowners who are looking for ways to turn their siding from zero to the hero.
In this quest to beautify your home, you’ll need to consider the siding options that are available to you. It’s also important to consider whether or not your home is deemed to be a historic structure. If this is the case, you will need your city or town’s approval before making any changes. In most cases, these structures are considered to be a part of our shared history; therefore, you must follow specific guidelines during any renovations. These guidelines are in place to ensure that the historical legacy of the structure remains intact.
Other considerations for new siding applications include:
- Your budget
- Cost of materials
- Cost of installation
- Durability and service life of the material
- The contractor and manufacturer’s warranty
- Duration of the project
- Building permits
- Zoning laws preventing particular siding or colors
- The material’s resistance to fire, wind, water, and other elements
- Cleaning and maintenance requirements
Pro Tip: If you want to skyrocket your home’s appearance from hero to zero and be the envy of the neighborhood, it’s important to take notice of the siding and colors of other homes in your immediate location. For example, if most of the homes have vinyl siding, and vinyl siding is your choice, don’t pick the same color as all the other houses. Instead, talk to your siding contractor about a different color scheme that includes stone or brick vinyl siding in key areas. At the same time, you still want your home to look like it belongs in your neighborhood, so try to stay in keeping with the general style of the houses around you.
Considerations Before Installing New Siding
Replacing or upgrading your siding generally requires the removal of the old siding; however, certain circumstances allow for new siding to go over existing siding. There are several things to consider when removing your existing siding. For example, it is a prime opportunity to inspect the energy-efficiency of your exterior walls. There’s a good chance that if you’re faced with installing new siding, you may need to upgrade your windows and doors as well.
Your best course of action is to consult with your siding contractor. If your windows and doors are outdated, you’re losing a significant amount of money in heating and cooling costs, and this is the perfect time to install new windows and doors. Once the siding goes on, the cost to replace them down the road will cost more because some of the new sidings may need to be removed for proper installations.
Another key factor that most homeowners are unaware of is the condition of plywood sheathing. If you had problems in the past with rotting siding, water stains, or peeling paint, your plywood sheathing might also be rotted in certain areas. The damaged sections should be replaced before siding your home. Additionally, this is a great time to add house-wrap or increase your exterior wall’s R-value by installing insulating foam boards before installing the new siding.
The Top Zero to Hero Siding Materials
Modern residential home construction today utilizes a variety of siding applications for energy-efficiency, aesthetics, colors, textures, and styles that were simply unavailable to consumers in the past. Siding materials have improved drastically over the last few decades with innovative properties that reflect heat, resist moisture and fire, maintain their color, offer low-maintenance, and provide a longer service life.
Below is a list of the top 20 siding products currently being installed on residential homes throughout America:
- Wood
- Vinyl
- Metal
- Brick
- tone
- Stucco
- Fiber Cement
- PVC
- Imitation Brick/Stone
- Concrete
- Engineered Wood
- Steel Log Siding
- Glass Siding
- Board and Batten
- Cedar shingles
- Log siding
- Vertical or Horizontal Wood Boarding
- Lap siding
- Half-Timbering on Stucco
- Solar Panel Siding
Pro Tip: To ensure proper installation and get the most out of the manufacturer’s warranty and your investment, you should always use a professional siding contractor for the best results.
What Siding Materials Offer the Best Energy-Efficiency?
When it comes to the best siding materials for energy-efficiency, siding materials such as concrete, fiber cement, stucco, log siding, brick, stone, and solar panels stand out from the rest. On the other hand, any of the siding products mentioned above can offer the same energy-efficiency by adding foam board insulation and vapor barriers to the exterior walls before siding.
In terms of affordability, vinyl siding is the clear winner for a lot of homeowners. If properly installed with insulating foam boards or manufactured insulated siding, vinyl siding can be very energy-efficient. It has many extended benefits that not only boost curb appeal, and it offers a wide range of colors, styles, and textures from which to choose. Vinyl siding also does a great job of protecting your home from the elements.
The Next Step for Going From Zero to Hero
If you’re ready to start your siding project and go from zero to hero in your neighborhood, you will need to find a professional siding contractor in your area. During the initial consultation with your siding contractor, you can find out if the siding you’re considering is the right choice for your geographical location. If it’s not, be open to what your contractor suggests for your specific application and weigh out the pros and cons of each material before you sign the contract.
Additionally, you should discuss all other phases of the project with your contractor. These include the removal and disposal of the old sidings, as well as whether or not new windows, doors, insulation, and house wrap is feasible or necessary to maximize your investment. If you’re ready to put on the hero’s cape and get started, fill out the contact form below and get started today!
