There are several choices for siding
You Get to Choose Your Favorite Style
Few home projects enhance the performance, curb appeal, and value of your house like new exterior siding. Siding not only offers protection and insulation but also dramatically influences your home’s style. Before upgrading your siding, it’s essential to educate yourself on the different choices, so you can attain the aesthetics you desire within your budget.
Keep on reading to learn about the most popular types of siding, their features, pricing, and maintenance considerations.
Wood Siding
Wood siding is the most attractive of home siding options and will typically increase your home’s value. Classic and welcoming, wood siding comes in a variety of species, including spruce, pine, fir, cedar, redwood, and more. Style selections include clapboard, shakes, shingles, board-and-batten, and more.
With dedicated maintenance, wood can last for generations. Neglecting maintenance can become costly over time, leading to rot. Clear finishes should be reapplied every 2 years; semi-transparent stains every 3 years; and paint every 5 years.
Pros: Raises home value, classic original feel, and rot issues become visible quickly.
Cons: Expensive to maintain, requires re-painting, and has potential for wood rot.
Vinyl Siding
Vinyl is by far the leader in new home siding installations. While some design professionals and homeowners are turned off by the “plastic look,” the endless color options and styles, durability, and low cost are significant factors for its popularity.
Vinyl siding has a lifespan of 30-40 years. Because the color is throughout the material, nicks and scratches don’t show up, and it never needs repainting. It’s also very low maintenance: power washing once in a while is all you need to keep it looking new.
For areas like Vermont, there is an insulated vinyl siding that features a layer of expanded polystyrene foam, providing an insulating value of R-2 to R-6. It’s more expensive than traditional vinyl siding, but you will recoup the cost through energy savings.
Vinyl siding is water-resistant but not waterproof. Poor installation can allow water to seep behind the paneling, leading to mold and rot. Lower-quality vinyl siding is known to warp in extreme heat or cold, and Vinyl siding is not the most eco-friendly material. Its manufacturing can produce dioxin and other toxins. If not recycled properly, it can last centuries in landfills.
Metal Siding
Metal siding has evolved over the years into a very low-maintenance and popular siding choice for newer homes. It offers a modern aesthetic and can make a bold statement when appropriately installed. The most popular types are aluminum and steel. Aluminum siding is a soft metal, so it can be dented easily. Steel siding is heavy and takes longer to install, making it a more expensive option.
Metal is fire-resistant and can outlast most other siding materials. Although it does not get rot or mold, it can rust if not well-installed and finished.
Metal siding, particularly steel, comes from recycled sources such as junked cars and scrapped building materials. Steel is easily recyclable, making it a viable option for environmentally friendly siding. Metal siding helps conserve energy in the summer or year-round warm places because it reflects heat, but it’s a poor insulator in the winter because it does not does retain warmth.
Fiber Cement
One of the latest developments in residential siding, fiber cement, is durable and very low-maintenance. It is made from a mixture of wood fibers, sand, and cement and built to mimic the look and feel of natural wood siding, with less maintenance. It installs like wood siding and comes in beveled-plank, shingles, shakes, and stucco-panel styles. Trim and millwork pieces are also available to create high-end finishes.
Fiber cement is extremely fire-resistant with a Class 1A fire rating. Rot- and decay-resistant, it fares well in salty air, making it suitable for coastal areas.
Fiber Cement comes in many designs and color options, including brick and stone textures. Most manufacturers offer a 15-year guarantee against fading and chipping. After that, it needs to be repainted.
Because it is made from natural and recycled materials, fiber cement is a greener material than vinyl siding. The biggest con of fiber cement is its weight. This siding is quite heavy, so it is more expensive to install. Special cutting tools are also required.
Shingles & Shakes
When you picture a cozy, welcoming home, one with character that only gets better with time, there’s a good chance you’re imagining shingles or shakes. These classic siding styles have been trusted for generations, not just for their beauty but for the way they transform a house into something warm, inviting, and uniquely personal.
Shingles offer a smooth, uniform look with clean, crisp lines. They’re perfect if you love a refined, polished appearance that still feels natural.
Shakes, on the other hand, bring a beautifully textured, handcrafted feel, slightly rugged, rich with depth, and full of personality.
Both choices age gracefully, standing strong through the seasons while developing a charm that newer, trendier materials simply can’t imitate. They’re durable, dependable, and most importantly, designed to protect your home for decades.
If you’ve been thinking about upgrading your siding, this is a decision that pays you back in curb appeal, long-term value, and that indescribable sense of pride every time you pull into your driveway. Your home deserves that.
Brick Siding
Brick Siding: Classic Beauty With the Strength to Stay That Way. Brick has a way of making a home feel instantly timeless, solid, warm, and beautifully grounded. It’s one of those rare materials that looks just as stunning decades from now as it does the day it’s installed. That’s part of what makes brick such a standout choice for homeowners who want long-lasting style without constant upkeep.
With its rich colors, natural textures, and unmistakable charm, brick adds character that other materials can’t replicate. It doesn’t just cover your home, it defines it. And behind that beauty is serious performance: exceptional durability, excellent insulation, fire resistance, and a lifespan measured in generations, not years.
If you’ve been thinking about making an upgrade that truly lasts, brick is a decision you’ll appreciate every day. It’s an investment in curb appeal, in safety, and in the long-term value of your home. And the sooner you choose it, the sooner your home can start looking and feeling as strong and welcoming as you’ve imagined.
Stone and Veneer Siding
Stone & Veneer Siding: Timeless Style With Lasting Strength.
Stone has a way of making a home feel rooted, confident, and beautifully crafted. Whether you choose complete stone or modern stone veneer, you’re choosing a siding option that instantly elevates your home with natural texture, warmth, and undeniable curb appeal.
Complete stone offers unmatched durability and a truly timeless presence, with every piece unique and every surface rich with character.
Stone veneer delivers that same high-end look but with a lighter weight and a more flexible installation process, making it a wise choice for adding luxury without the complexity or cost of traditional stone.
Both options give your home a sense of permanence and protection, standing strong through the elements while maintaining its beauty year after year. And while trends come and go, the look of stone never loses its appeal.
If you’re envisioning a home that feels solid, refined, and built to last, stone or veneer might be the upgrade that finally brings that vision to life. It’s a choice you’ll appreciate every time you pull into your driveway, one that pays off in both value and everyday enjoyment.
Board and Batten Siding
Board & Batten: Clean Lines, Classic Charm, and a Look That Stands Out.
Board-and-batten siding has a way of turning a simple exterior into something striking. With its tall, clean lines and timeless charm, it brings a sense of structure and style that feels both modern and rooted in tradition. It’s the kind of siding that catches your eye, not because it’s loud, but because it’s effortlessly beautiful.
What homeowners love most is the versatility. Go rustic or go contemporary, Board-and-Batten adapts to your style. Its distinctive vertical design adds height and dimension, giving your home a fresh, polished look that doesn’t fade with passing trends.
But it’s not just about looks. Board-and-Batten is known for its durability, weather resistance, and ability to create a tighter seal against the elements. It’s a siding choice that works as hard as it looks good.
If you’re ready to give your home a transformation that feels both bold and timeless, Board-and-Batten might be the perfect next step. It’s a change you’ll notice every time you pull into the driveway, and one you’ll appreciate for years to come.
Log Siding
Log Siding: Natural Beauty That Turns Your Home Into a Retreat.
Log siding brings a feeling to your home that few other materials can match. It’s warm. It’s inviting. It’s full of natural character. With its rich grain and rustic charm, log siding transforms an ordinary exterior into a peaceful getaway every single day.
What makes log siding so appealing is the authenticity it brings. Real wood texture. Natural warmth. A sense of comfort and craftsmanship you can see from the curb. Whether you’re going for an actual cabin look or want a touch of rustic elegance, log siding creates a home that feels grounded and one-of-a-kind.
But beauty isn’t all it offers. Modern log siding options are engineered to be durable, weather-resistant, and easier to maintain than traditional full logs, giving you that classic log-home feel without the heavy upkeep. It’s a smart way to get timeless style with today’s performance.
If you’ve been dreaming of a home that feels more like a retreat, something warm, welcoming, and uniquely yours, log siding might be precisely the update you’ve been waiting for. The sooner you start, the sooner home starts feeling a little more like your favorite place to escape.
Dutch Lap Siding
Dutch Lap siding brings a distinctive charm to any home with its subtle shadow lines and smooth, sculpted profile. It’s a style that feels both familiar and elevated, classic, but with just enough detail to make your home stand out in the best way.
Homeowners love Dutch Lap for its crisp, tidy look. The beveled design creates depth and character, giving your exterior a polished finish that’s easy on the eyes but hard to forget. It’s the perfect blend of traditional appeal and modern simplicity.
Beyond its beauty, Dutch Lap siding is built for everyday life. It’s durable, low-maintenance, and designed to hold its shape and color through the seasons, making it a wise, long-lasting choice for busy homeowners who still want a home that feels perfectly put together.
If you’ve been wanting a siding option that offers both style and reliability, something that quietly elevates your home’s curb appeal, Dutch Lap might be precisely what you’re looking for. It’s a choice that brings instant charm and lasting confidence to your exterior.