Seamless Remodeling: Siding

Vinyl Siding

Vinyl siding is made from Polyvinyl Choloride (PVC) and offers a relatively inexpensive yet durable option. However. there are different levels of quality and grades, with higher grade vinyls and molded products coming in at higher price points. Vinyl also offers a variety of looks: shakes, shingles, even stone veneers.

Advantages of Vinyl Siding:

• Relatively durable product
• Low cost depending on grade of vinyl chosen
• Low maintenance – no painting required
• Available in a variety of colors
• Available in several forms that mimic wood siding (lap boards, shakes, shingles)
• Won’t rot or fade
• Greater ability to flex and absorb energy compared to metal siding which can dent

Disadvantages of Vinyl Siding:

• Cheaper, lower grade vinyls = poorer performance
• Can crack if struck hard enough particularly if the vinyl has no backing
• Susceptible to fading in sunlight
• No ability to change the color of the house (not paintable)
• Seams visible where lap siding pieces come together
• No ability for custom colors like you have with paintable surfaces (you’re limited to the colors they make)
• Can be difficult to successfully match a “patch” repair piece unless you have extra material

Wood Siding

Wood siding is natural, attractive, and comes in a variety of forms but it also requires upkeep. Wood can be painted or stained and some types of wood like cedar can be left untreated to age and patina over time.

Advantages of Wood Siding:

• Offers long life and natural looks
• Can be painted/stained so color can be changed later on if desired
• Eco-friendly (renewable resource and biodegradable)
• Multiple styles are available like clapboard, shingles, shakes, and vertical boards for a range of looks

Disadvantages of Wood Siding:

• Requires paint/stain more frequently than other forms of paintable siding
• Flammable unless treated with flame-retardant
• Natural product that’s susceptible to rot, insects and other natural forms of decay (though cedar and other woods have natural decay resistance)
• More overall maintenance required compared to other materials
• Can be more expensive depending on type of wood, form used (individual shakes vs. boards) and required labor

Wood Cedar Siding

Cedar siding is great options for that traditional American look of clapboard or shingle style siding. Cedar siding is typically made from Western Red Cedar, but sometimes White Cedar is used. It can be applied in the form of horizontal lap panels or traditional shingles or “shakes.” It can be painted or treated with stain, oil, or even left untreated.

As Wood Cedar Siding Contractor serving homeowners in Westchester County, NY and Fairfield County, CT, we want to make things easier. We are proud to work with Maibec Wood Siding. With Maibec you can achieve stunning effects with the right mix and match of various types of profiled siding (horizontally and vertically), or even combine profiled siding with white cedar shingles.

Fiber Cement Siding

Fiber cement is made from sand, portland cement, wood fiber and other additives. It forms a stable (doesn’t shrink or expand very much) and durable product that accepts paint well. It comes in various forms like panels, boards and shingles and it’s made to mimic the various forms of natural wood siding. Fiber cement is available in pre-primed and painted versions.

Advantages of Fiber Cement Siding:

• Durable product that’s impact resistant, won’t rot and is impervious to moisture, insects and pests
• Made in styles that mimic traditional wood siding like shake and lap
• Dimensionally stable – won’t expand/contract to the degree that other materials like wood will allowing paint to adhere longer
• Fireproof
• Available in both primed and pre-painted versions
• Long warranty

Disadvantages of Fiber Cement Siding:

• More expensive than typical vinyl products but expense is dependent on style of fiber cement chosen (shakes, panels, etc.)
• Pre-painted fiber cement is more expensive than the primed unpainted option
• Product is heavy and cutting produces lots of dust making installation more challenging
• Visual similarity to real wood siding varies by individual due to some fiber cement products being thinner than wood (some products made thinner to counteract the heavier weight of fiber cement)

Seamless Remodeling: Siding
Now that you know your options and have an understanding of the basics, call the pros at Seamless Remodeling and see why – for more than 25 years – the majority of our customers call us for their every home improvement need.