Top 7 Building Materials for a Long-Lasting Exterior Siding

“Menards near me.” 

“Closest Home Depot.” 

“Best building materials store.”

Do you find yourself typing queries like that into your search engine time and again? It’s okay if you do; we all do it every once in a while. 

After all, you want your home to have curb appeal. But you also want it to feel unique and ensure its building materials are durable at the same time. 

We get it! As always, we have a solution for you. For ideas and the best building materials for your home’s siding, read on. 

What is House Siding?

You have seen siding countless times before, even if you did not realize what it was at first glance. 

Recall the following: you are driving down one of the many neighborhoods in your area. It could be suburban, rural or anything in between. You see a lot of houses that look the same. Their colors may vary from grey to blue to a faded off-white. Regardless, each building has one thing in common: that plastic-looking exterior. 

Siding is a building material, typically vinyl, and is the literal “siding” on houses and apartments. It can serve as a weather-proofing and built-to-last material. It has two primary functions. One: to protect your house from the elements like rain and serve as your home’s first entry barrier. And two: aesthetics. 

Do you want in on a little secret? This sort of building material does not have to be a one-size-fits-all eyesore. In fact, it should never be that. There are endless ways that you can maximize its potential and elevate your home’s curb appeal with it. 

From decorative allure to structural strength, siding has a ton of advantages– you just have to learn how to unlock them. 

What is the Most Popular Type of Siding Material?

The next time you are trolling the aisles of your local home improvement stores for your “Next Big Project,” consider the incredible benefits of new siding. You might run into a dilemma along the way, however, depending on what you want from your home. 

Do you want to go for the most popular type of siding for your new building materials? Or do you want to throw popularity out the window and opt for a fresh take on your house exterior? 

Either way, let’s talk about the most popular type of siding building materials. You can find inspiration from it or go the opposite direction entirely. 

As far as common building materials go, vinyl is the siding you see the most often. It is low in both cost and maintenance. You can go for any number of colors with vinyl siding, as well as either horizontal or vertical panels. Textures vary here, too. 

But if you do choose vinyl siding the next time you are picking out your building supplies, there are a couple things to keep in mind. 

First, vinyl can crack during colder weather if it faces an impact. Also, you have to install it in the exact right way. Otherwise, your vinyl siding buckles or warps. For professional help or advice on your exterior projects, be sure to contact your local landscaping experts. 

Best Materials for Your House Siding

Do you consider yourself to be a part of that second group of people? The ones who want one-of-a-kind solutions for your home? Maybe you started small, with eye-catching hardware on your kitchen cabinetry. You might like fun carpet designs in your living room or dream about a botanical garden for your pool surrounds. 

But you know that boosting your home’s curb appeal is a top priority to check off your to-do list. Do not doubt the power of new-and-improved building materials for a fresh take on your house siding. 

Here, we get into the top seven building materials that are sure to make your home stand out and last. Concerned about pricing or potential cons of a particular material? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered there, too. 

1. Fiber-Cement Siding

Average installation price: $5 to $10 per square foot

Pros: Cost-effective and fire-, rot- and insect-resistant

Cons: Tricky to install on your own, can absorb moisture, requires maintenance 

Fiber-cement siding is relatively new to the building materials scene as far as siding, but it is on the rise. As you can tell from its name, it is a cement-based material. But do not confuse it with the cold, standard look you might associate with typical cement. 

A lot of these fiber-cement building materials look like cedar siding or wood clapboards. 

If you have a craftsman-style home, use fiber cement siding to turn your house exterior into a modern bungalow or lodge. 

2. Aluminum Siding

Average installation price: $14.5 thousand total for a typical home 

Pros: Long lasting, rust- and mildew-resistant, low maintenance

Cons: Cost can fluctuate depending on market conditions, can experience “chalking,” prone to dents

Aluminum siding is a great choice if you own a newer home. You can choose between horizontal and vertical panels. But there is also the option of aluminum shingles for your siding here. 

Do you usually associate aluminum with wood as far as appearance? No. But in reality, this sort of metal siding looks a great deal like wood, which is fun if you want the best of both worlds with siding aesthetics. 

A-frame houses look great with aluminum. The same goes for contemporary styles of homes. 

3. Engineered-Wood Siding

Average installation price: $3 to $10 per square foot

Pros: Impact-resistant, does not warp under extreme temperatures, eco-friendly

Cons: Color can fade over the years, does not have the same grain variations as natural wood, not a lot of research since it is fairly new to the market

Do you love the gorgeous and natural look of wood? Do you not want to spend vast amounts of money on natural wood’s initial cost and upkeep? Engineered wood is a manufactured building material and comes in either sheet panels or lap panels. 

Plus, you can choose whether you want a smooth or embossed look for your engineered-wood siding. 

A lot of them come with extended warranties, and they also resist termites and fungus. If this option sounds great for all its added benefits but you have an inclination for cedar shake or stucco aesthetics, worry not! A lot of experts can make engineered-wood siding look like either of those. 

You can take these modern building materials to refresh vintage home exteriors. Victorian-, ranch- and farmhouse-style are just a few examples of house styles that benefit from this type of siding. 

4. Brick Siding

Average installation price: $5 to $15 per square foot

Pros: Fire-, wind- and pest-resistant, very durable, holds up against the elements

Cons: Sometimes issues with moisture, costs a good bit more for proper installation, mortar can crack over time 

All-brick homes are often pricey. This is why you might want to consider brick siding as a more cost-effective alternative. Though inexpensive for siding, this material can skyrocket your home’s property value. 

It is a stunning, durable choice for any style of home. Yet there are some that brick adds that extra pop more so than with others. Greek-revival and colonial-style houses are popular types. But do not overlook the value of brick siding on English cottages and ranch houses. 

5. Stone-Veneer Siding

Average installation price: $5.5 to $10.75 per square foot

Pros: Lightweight, natural appearance, minimum maintenance, recyclable 

Cons: Cheap/painted stone veneer wears over time, nearby heavy traffic and freezing temperatures can crack the veneer, susceptible to chemical erosion 

Do you lean towards natural accents for your home? If so, stone-veneer siding could be your new best friend. It is not as expensive or eternal as real, natural stone. But it gives you the same appealing effect just the same. 

You can go for a lot of different shades for your stone-veneer siding. And it looks phenomenal on modern, historic, federal-style or Tudor houses in particular.

6. Wood Siding

Average installation price: $6 to $12 per square foot

Pros: Biodegradable, several choices for type, can increase property value a lot, durable with the right maintenance

Cons: Expensive to maintain, attracts termites, can lead to interior water damage without proper maintenance, a lot of wood is not fire-resistant

You cannot argue that wood siding is an ideal choice for any home. It always has been, and it always will be. It takes a lot of upkeep, but think about those attention-grabbing historic homes that stand out because of it. 

It is an organic take on the modernized concept of siding. Rustic log cabins, Northwest and Tuscan houses pair well with wood siding. 

7. Traditional Stucco Siding

Average installation price: $5 to $9.58 per square foot

Pros: Durable, aesthetically pleasing, low maintenance, fire- and insect-resistant, muffles noise, helps with insulation

Cons: Can crack as temperatures change, may not stand up well in the case of an earthquake, requires professional installation

Traditional stucco will always have a place at the table for siding. It adds texture, protects your home with its tough material and gives your dwelling an edge on your residential street. 

There are too many architectural styles that look fantastic with traditional stucco siding to count. Mediterranean, luxury-style, Tudors and Spanish Colonials are just some. 

Conclusion

Did we pique your interest? You have a lot of inspiration to work with now. 

And you might not know where to direct all that inspiration. But we do. 

Every great idea starts with a little inspiration and a big vision. What’s yours? At Exscape Designs, we work with you to bring your vision to life. 

Our end goal? We use our proven process for landscaping designs and building to turn your house into your sanctuary. We can help you some more with our helpful property tips and tricks on our blog. 

But the real magic happens when we start getting our hands dirty. Contact Exscape Designs today for a consultation.