How to use Siding to Improve the Appearance of Your Home

Choosing the right siding can dramatically improve the appearance of your home. When it comes to choosing a siding for new construction or a remodeling project, it’s important to choose a siding that gives your home the greatest curb appeal. Fortunately there are a number of products and styles to choose from. This article will provide you with several different products to review and select from.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Measuring tape
• Calculator
• Pad and pencil

1. Measure how many square feet you will need to purchase based on the area of your home that you want to cover with siding. Add and additional 20% to the amount. You will use this figure to calculate the cost of each type of siding that you are interested in putting on your home. After all, there are always budget considerations that have to be taken into account.

2. Review design and architectural magazines to see how the different types of siding look on different styles of homes. Then visit a home center or supplier to see the actual products that you are most interested in. Make sure that you review the different levels of quality that each manufacturer has and the difference in the price of each.

3. The next step is to pick the type of siding that best fits you tastes and budget. The following are several of the most popular types of siding used today:
   
   1. Aluminum siding has been one of the most popular in postwar America.
   2. Vinyl siding has become the siding of choice for both builders and those that are remodeling. It has improved over the years and now comes with realistic wood grains and deeper profiles. Its’ advantages are that it never needs painting and it is impervious to rotting, peeling or chipping. Therefore it needs very low maintenance.
   3. Insulated vinyl is now available that is backed with expanded polystyrene foam for support and insulation value. Insulated vinyl is more impact resistant and can reduce outside noises by up to 50 percent as well as improve the R value of your outside walls. The only drawback is that it does cost more than conventional vinyl siding.
   4. One of the newest products on the market is liquid vinyl siding. This is a paint like coating system made from polymers and resins and dries to the thickness of a credit card. It will expand and contact as the temperature changes to allow the cladding behind it to breathe.
   5. Another alternative is fiber-cement board siding. This siding is made of cement, sand, cellulose fibers and water. They are moisture and decay resistant and hold paint up to four times longer than wood and they rarely peel or blister. However, they do cost between 10 and 50 percent more than vinyl.
   6. Wood clapboard and shakes are still available but cost more and require considerably more maintenance. While considered upscale when compared to other types of siding, they are not recommended in areas that are susceptible to wild fires.

Tips & Warnings

• Siding is usually sold in squares the same as roofing shingles. A square is equal to 100 square feet.

[nancys123]

on 10/4/2009 Good info on How to use Siding to Improve the Appearance of Your Home. 5*

[lighthouse1958]

on 9/17/2009 I have always liked color instead of brick. Brick homes as a better value than siding but I would still perfer siding. The homes are so much prettier. We had our house appraised once and they said our house was much prettier than the brick ones but the brick homes brought more value. Brick lasts forever and it can take beatings from the weather better. Great topic to write on. Oh by the way, My house has yellow siding on it. 5*

[canoeswamp]

on 8/20/2009 Excellent info on how to use siding to improve the appearance of your home. 5*

[sonni57]

on 7/6/2009 There's a lot of old houses that need to be resided thanks for the good details.

[baysidefright]

on 7/5/2009 Thanks for the information on improving the appearance of your home with siding. 5*