Exterior siding adds attractive color and texture to your home and also helps protect it from weather and other environmental challenges. There are many different options to choose from, so let’s break down some of the best options available in Springfield, IL.
Most Durable Exterior Siding Options for Springfield, IL
Traditional Wood Siding
Traditional wood siding offers a classic look and can be quite durable if properly maintained. Keep in mind that this choice requires periodic chalking, staining, or painting to protect against weather damage, and you’ll also need to guard against rodent or insect infestations. If left unprotected, traditional wood is subject to rotting and warping.
Wood siding comes in either clapboard or shingles. Clapboard, also known as lap or bevel siding, uses planks that are installed horizontally, with the upper piece overlapping the lower. Shingles offer a more consistent, uniform look and can be cut into different shapes to suit your visual taste. Some shingles can even be treated with fire-retardant chemicals, which is sometimes a requirement in certain high-risk locations.
Cedar Shake Siding
Cedar shake provides a handsome rustic look for any home but is particularly sought after for cabins, cottages, and chalets. While it initially gained popularity for its use in rural areas, today it is commonly used in cities like Springfield, IL. Classic cedar shake design uses natural stains for protection, but today’s homeowners have expanded the visual possibilities with the use of more modern paint colors and stains.
The main appeal of this type of exterior siding is that it provides an interesting visual texture to a home or building, which in turn increases curb appeal and can add to your home’s value. As with traditional wood siding, it’s important to factor in the cost of maintenance and protection against both weather conditions and insect infestation.
Engineered Wood Siding
As its name suggests, engineered wood is a synthetic product that replicates the attractive appeal of natural wood siding but is more resilient and easier to maintain. To make this product, natural wood fibers are bound together with a resin composite material and exposed to extreme heat to join everything together. This process increases the strength and durability of engineered wood.
Once it is all bound together, it is then treated with compounds that improve its resistance to fungus and insect infestations. The binding process also makes for lighter weight, which provides more versatility when it comes to cutting the wood into various shapes and sizes to suit all types of home design. Engineered wood delivers the visual beauty of natural wood, but will last longer and be far easier to maintain.
Brick Siding
Genuine brick siding is made from fired clay and comes in many different sizes and textures. It is an external layer typically constructed outside of a home’s wood-frame structure, using mortar to hold the bricks together. Once completed, it provides a classic look that is commonly seen in colonial, Tudor, and English cottage-style homes. The process is quite labor-intensive, so it sometimes costs more than other exterior siding options in Springfield, IL.
It’s important to note that water can penetrate brick exteriors, so installation often includes a membrane between the external brick siding and the home’s internal framing and structure. If installed correctly, brick siding will provide a classic look that can last the entire lifetime of your home.
Aluminum Siding
Depending on where you live, aluminum can be a great option for external siding. Its main advantage is durability, and this is particularly true for colder climates and coastal areas with heavy moisture or salt spray from the ocean. Aluminum is available in different thickness options and comes in either horizontal or vertical panels, which adds tremendous versatility. It is also commonly used in trimming, as it is easily bent to desired sizes and shapes.
Aluminum siding also provides excellent insulation to promote moderate temperature and reduce heating and cooling costs and is very easy to maintain. It is naturally waterproof and insect-proof and needs little more than perhaps a fresh coat of paint every 10 to 12 years. One exception is the need to address occasional dents that may occur. Depending on the severity, this may involve either patching in a new piece of metal or replacing entire aluminum panels.
Vinyl Siding
Vinyl is the most popular choice for siding material in the United States. This is due to its low cost, versatility, and overall ease of maintenance. Vinyl siding used to carry the stigma of providing an artificial “plastic” look, but modern technology has seen tremendous improvement and a variety of new product options. It also does not need painting, as color is baked in to the vinyl during the manufacturing process.
This not only removes the need to re-paint your siding, but gives you more control over your choice of color before the siding is installed. Furthermore, vinyl siding is highly water resistant and very easy to clean with a long-handled soft-bristle brush and simple cleaning solution, which can either be a general household cleanser or your preferred homemade solution. If in doubt, check with your local siding expert for the best cleaning options.
Fiber Cement Siding
Fiber cement is typically composed of cement, sand, water, and cellulose fibers. It can be made in a variety of different colors and textures to resemble other materials such as masonry, stucco, or wood, and is available at a lower cost than these options. It is non-flammable, termite-resistant, and very easy to maintain.
Many fiber cement products can either come prefinished or be painted on site. Prefinished options can offer better protection and durability depending on the climate you live in, so it’s important to ask your local siding expert about what’s best for your home.
These are some of the best and most popular modern siding options for today’s homes. As you can see, these not only provide multiple options for home beautification but will go a long way toward protecting your home from all sorts of weather and pest infestations. Contact Sutton’s to learn more about the siding options available to you, and protect that valuable investment that’s protecting you and your family.
