Siding is a significant purchase for homeowners and is often the most visible part of your house. It gives you a backdrop for your windows and doors, helps protect against weather and pests, and provides an aesthetic to enhance your home’s look.
This exhaustive guide will show you what to look for when you’re choosing a siding for your home and how to maintain it so that it continues to look great. Also, this blog will help you understand what options are out there beyond the apparent wood siding options. So that you can compare them and choose the one that best suits your home, let’s jump in.
What Is Meant By House Siding?
Before moving forward with the blog, let us understand the meaning of siding. Simply speaking, it is a type of protective material that is used to cover the outside of your house.
This exterior protective layer serves as a shield between your home and extreme weather conditions like snow, rain, or sun. It also helps mitigate dents or dings on your house caused by falling tree branches or twigs. However, its primary function is to protect your home’s structural integrity and viability.
Why Should You Be Extremely Careful Before Purchasing Siding For Your Home?
It plays a vital role in our home’s exterior. It protects it from getting damaged and also adds value to your home. This is why this decision should not be taken lightly. Here are some reasons why choosing the right material is important:
- Siding is a long-term decision. It has an important place in the home exterior and requires a lot of work that cannot be done frequently.
- It is expensive. The installation requires the expertise of professionals.
- Siding plays a vital role in your home’s exterior. It acts as the first line of defense against weather conditions and insects and termites.
Factors To Consider Before Buying SIding
Cost
It does not come cheap. Therefore, you have to make sure that the amount you spend is within your budget. When talking with a siding contractor, you should know the average cost of a siding replacement project and how much the materials will cost you. Be sure not to forget about any additional expenses you might experience while renovating your home.
Durability
This is a significant factor. No one likes replacing siding every few years, so picking the suitable material for your property is essential. In addition, some states, like New Jersey, experience stronger winds or heavier snowfall than other states— so you should pick a material that will stand up to the climate.
Visual Appeal
It is a given that you want your home to look nice and attractive, as it is visible to the world. Siding is an excellent way of improving your home’s appearance while protecting it from the elements. At first glance, there are a lot of factors that go into a siding – color, shape, etc. – but it all comes down to aesthetics. Choose a siding that is beautiful and fits your home style.
Energy Rating
Energy efficiency is one of the best ways to reduce your carbon footprint and save money on utility bills. High-performance material can play a significant role in this effort. Therefore, it’s essential to choose siding products with effective R-values to reduce the amount of energy your home consumes.
Siding Types Available In Southern New Jersey
When it comes to siding, there is no one-size-fits-all type of solution. Instead, the southern part of New Jersey has many options, and each has its own unique set of benefits and drawbacks. Here are some of the most popular types of siding available to make an informed decision.
Vinyl siding
Vinyl is one of the most commonly used siding materials in New Jersey. It is one of the most popular options for home exteriors, and for a good reason. Moreover, it’s a durable form of plastic exterior wrapping engineered primarily from polyvinyl chloride (PVC) resin.
- The most affordable form of siding, costing way less than its metal and cedar counterparts
- Installation process for vinyl is straightforward. No high-grade tools are required
- Very durable and can withstand harsh conditions
- Insect and rot proof
Fiber cement
Fiber cement is one of the most popular options today when it comes to cladding. It offers you a sustainable, strong, and beautiful exterior for your home. It is primarily composed of Portland cement with materials such as sand, water, cellulose complementing it. It is an excellent alternative if you want to change from vinyl.
- One of the most vital sidings that has a longer lifespan
- These fiber cement sidings do not catch fire and are pest/termite resistant
- Low maintenance
- Specialized installation may be required
- Available in a variety of styles.
Natural wood Siding
While wood may not be as popular with today’s homeowners, it is still a great choice if you want an elegant, traditional look for your home’s exterior. The main components are cedar, pine, and redwood.
- The wood siding looks great and makes a home’s appearance more distinct than other options.
- Wood requires regular maintenance and can be susceptible to damage from termites
- It comes in several colors and is an eco-friendly building material.
Engineered Wood Siding
Though natural wood has a distinct, heart-pleasing appearance, they are costly and require high maintenance. As the name suggests, Engineered wood is a manufactured product made from fibers, plastics, and wood.
- It’s incredibly durable and temperature-resistant
- Available in a massive range of colors and finishes
- A cheaper alternative to natural wood and generally requires lesser maintenance
Metal Siding
Metal can be your go-to option if you want to choose a strong material that can protect your house for years to come. When we talk about metal siding, we generally talk about metals such as aluminum and steel.
- It’s fire-resistant and protects against hail, hurricanes, tornadoes, and earthquakes.
- Very light-weight composition, making it easy to install
- Metals are easily recyclable; thus, they do not harm the environment.
- They can be more prone to dents from hail, stone, etc.
Stone Siding
Stone or Stonewall is an exterior wall covering used for centuries. They are available in granite, sandstone, limestone, slate, etc.
- Durable and resistant to the elements, natural stone siding can last for several decades
- One of the most beautiful materials, natural stone has a beautiful and timeless design
- Stone siding is one of the most expensive material due to its natural effect
How Do You Know If You Need Siding Repair Or Replacement
How To Maintain Your Siding?
Keeping up your exterior maintenance is essential. Even if you live in an area without extreme weather, you’re still going to want to maintain your siding as it has an essential purpose in your home.
Here are a few tips to help you properly maintain your cladding to perform optimally and protect your home for longer:
Thorough Inspection
The first way to make sure your siding is in the best condition possible is to perform regular inspections. The first step is to make it a habit to walk around and check for damage every 6 months or so. Depending on the material, you may need to inspect it more frequently. For example, if you have vinyl siding, its damages may be harder to contact. Therefore, it is advisable to contact a professional siding contractor for an inspection.
Clean Your Siding Regularly
No matter the material, all of them require frequent cleaning so that you can boast an impressive view.
You can clean the dirt on the siding with a solution of water and soap. However, a robust solution and equipment are needed if you need to clean mildew.
Maintain Your Surroundings
Another way to improve the longevity of your cladding is to make sure the home’s garden/surrounding is in check. Overgrown bushes and trees can rub up against your home and cause damage over time. Your home will remain safe and look its best by keeping bushes trimmed to the correct height and trees pruned!
A Fresh Coat Of Paint
Siding such as vinyl, though cost-effective, will start to fade to a weathered, dingy look over time. You can update the look of your home by applying exterior latex paint.
The same goes with wood, which might need painting sealing to reduce moisture.
Choose The Best Siding Contractor In New Jersey
Siding is an investment in your home. It will look good for many years to come and can increase the value of your home. Choosing the right contractor is crucial to ensure the job is done correctly and you’re satisfied with the results.
Champion Exteriors is one of the best roofing and siding contractors that operate in Hainesport and Villas, NJ. We have been in this industry for more than 86 years and consistently deliver high-quality services to our customers.
We offer a wide range of exterior services like window replacement, deck repair and gutter installations. You can always connect with us at (609) 845-3576 for more information on siding installation.