Home Siding Guide
Choosing to side your home is an important decision. When deciding which siding type is right for you, keep these points in mind.
Siding Cost
While steel siding does not have the lowest purchase and installation costs, year over year, the maintenance costs are so low they offset any upfront costs. By comparison, wood siding is tempting with its upfront costs but can end up costing more in ongoing maintenance. Fiber cement also boasts fairly low maintenance costs but has a bigger price tag at the start. Vinyl siding is affordable for its upfront costs, but its faster deterioration means a little more maintenance over its entire lifetime.
Steel Siding
Medium upfront cost. Very low maintenance cost.
Steel Siding
Medium upfront cost. Very low maintenance cost.
Wood Siding
Low upfront cost. High maintenance cost.
Wood Siding
Low upfront cost. High maintenance cost.
FIBER CEMENT
High upfront cost Low maintenance cost.
FIBER CEMENT
High upfront cost Low maintenance cost.
VINYL Siding
Low upfront cost. Mid-low maintenance cost.
VINYL Siding
Low upfront cost. Mid-low maintenance cost.
PAINTING & STAINING
Steel siding arrives as a finished product, with color and finish that lasts a lifetime. Compared to wood, which needs regular repainting, or fiber cement siding, which needs repainting every 10-15 years, steel siding is an easy, low-work choice. Vinyl siding can be repainted, but suppliers generally recommend replacing instead.
Steel Siding
Never needs staining or repainting.
Steel Siding
Never needs staining or repainting.
Wood Siding
Repaint or stain every 3 to 5 years.
Wood Siding
Repaint or stain every 3 to 5 years.
FIBER CEMENT
Repaint every 15 Years.
FIBER CEMENT
Repaint every 15 Years.
VINYL Siding
Suppliers recommends, replacement over, repainting
VINYL Siding
Suppliers recommends, replacement over, repainting.
Siding DURABILITY
Your siding is continually exposed to the elements. Options like steel and fiber cement are more durable against rot, insects, fire, and weather than wood siding. And while vinyl siding is technically fire-resistant, after the fire reaches a certain temperature, it will warp and melt. Vinyl’s fire temperature threshold will vary by manufacturer.
Steel Siding
Rot proof
Insect proof
Fire resistant
Weather resistant
Steel Siding
Rot proof
Insect proof
Fire resistant
Weather resistant
Wood Siding
Rot inspection
Insect inspection
Danger of Fire
Weather damage
Wood Siding
Rot inspection
Insect inspection
Danger of Fire
Weather damage
FIBER CEMENT
Rot proof
Insect proof
Fire resistant
Weather resistant
FIBER CEMENT
Rot proof
Insect proof
Fire resistant
Weather resistant
VINYL Siding
Rot proof
Insect proof
Fire resistant
Weather resistant
VINYL Siding
Rot proof
Insect proof
Fire resistant
Weather resistant
Siding REPLACEMENT
Wood siding may need to be replaced piece by piece, year after year. Fiber cement siding stands up better, with many products lasting 30 to 40 years, while vinyl siding needs to be replaced every 20 to 30 years. But if you want something that will truly last, steel is your choice material.
Steel Siding
Up to 50 years.
Steel Siding
Up to 50 years.
Wood Siding
Some sections may need replacement annually.
Wood Siding
Some sections may need replacement annually.
FIBER CEMENT
30- 40 years.
FIBER CEMENT
30- 40 years.
VINYL Siding
10- 20 years
VINYL Siding
10- 20 years
VOC POTENTIAL
VOC exposure can pose a number of human health risks. With steel siding, there is virtually no potential for VOC off-gassing. With wood and fiber cement siding, the potential for VOC exposure depends on the type of paint or stain selected. For vinyl siding, VOCs may be released, but the majority are released during manufacturing.
What is VOC? Volatile Organic Compounds, which the EPA defines as gases emitted from certain solids or liquids, like paints, cleaning supplies, furnishings, pesticides, building materials, adhesives, and more. Categorically, a VOC can encompass a medley of chemicals, and some of those have varying degrees of both short- and long-term adverse health effects.
Steel Siding
Up to 50 years.
Steel Siding
Up to 50 years.
Wood Siding
May produce VOC's, depending on the paint or stain used.
Wood Siding
May produce VOC's, depending on the paint or stain used.
FIBER CEMENT
May produce VOC's, depending on the paint or stain used.
FIBER CEMENT
May produce VOC's, depending on the paint or stain used.
VINYL Siding
May produce VOC's, depending on the paint or stain used.
VINYL Siding
May produce VOC's, depending on the paint or stain used.
SIDING MAINTENANCE
Steel siding is long-lasting and rarely-if ever-requires maintenance. Install it and enjoy your property for years to come. By comparison, wood and vinyl siding need regular maintenance to prevent staining and discoloration. Fiber cement siding needs less maintenance to keep it looking good, but caulking should be checked annually, and a pressure washer used to prevent mold and mildew growth.
Steel Siding
Pressure wash as needed, usually less than once a year.
Steel Siding
Pressure wash as needed, usually less than once a year.
Wood Siding
Annual cleaning with soap, pressure wash before repaint, check for cracks, insect holes and make repairs.
Wood Siding
Annual cleaning with soap, pressure wash before repaint, check for cracks, insect holes and make repairs.
FIBER CEMENT
Annual caulking inspection and pressure wash to prevent staining.
FIBER CEMENT
Annual caulking inspection and pressure wash to prevent staining.
VINYL Siding
Annual pressure wash to prevent staining.
VINYL Siding
Annual pressure wash to prevent staining.
SIDING COLOR & TEXTURE
Most every siding option today offers a wide array of color and texture options. No matter what siding you choose, you are sure to find something to match your style.
Steel Siding
40+ Color options and available in woodgrain textures.
Steel Siding
40+ Color options and available in woodgrain textures.
Wood Siding
100+ color and stain options and available in many textures.
Wood Siding
100+ color and stain options and available in many textures.
FIBER CEMENT
40+ color options and limited textures available.
FIBER CEMENT
40+ color options and limited textures available.
VINYL Siding
100+ Color options and many textures to choose from.
VINYL Siding
100+ Color options and many textures to choose from.
SIDING SUSTAINABILITY
Green building isn’t just a trend. It’s a requirement. Steel is durable, needs no ongoing treatment or maintenance, and is fully recyclable at the end of its usable life. Wood siding may be a natural product, but its finishing process and potential depletion of forest resources mean it may not be a long-term sustainable solution. Fiber cement siding has not been in use long enough for the industry to know if it is biodegradable in landfills. Vinyl siding is a plastic-based product but is not easily recycled in most.
Steel Siding
Environmentally friendly.
Steel Siding
Environmentally friendly.
Wood Siding
Potentially Environmentally friendly.
Wood Siding
Potentially Environmentally friendly.
FIBER CEMENT
Potentially Environmentally friendly.
FIBER CEMENT
Potentially Environmentally friendly.
VINYL Siding
Harder to recycle.
VINYL Siding
Harder to recycle.