One of the most important, sometimes overlooked aspects of building a home is choosing exterior siding. Exterior siding contributes significantly to your home’s “look.” The material and color you choose will provide curb appeal and reflect your family’s style for years to come.
Not only is exterior siding an architectural statement that gives your home personality, but it also offers your home protection from the elements. The siding you choose will shield you and your loved ones from harsh weather conditions, pests, and mold.
When building or renovating your home, it’s important to choose an exterior siding option that’s sustainable and durable to fit your needs, while also offering a touch of character to the place you call home. The best siding reflects your personality and is functional, too!
Types of Siding
Exterior siding comes in a variety of materials and styles. One of the most popular is vinyl siding, a cost-effective and versatile option that’s easy to install. Another is wood siding, a classic option that is durable but requires diligent maintenance (i.e. chalking, painting, staining). With proper care, wood siding can last up to a century! Products like LP Smartside are engineered to offer the style of wood with additional durability.
Sustainably made from fired clay, brick siding has stood the test of time as it’s been commonly used for hundreds of years. However, brick is slightly more labor-intensive. It needs to be carefully installed and requires an additional paper membrane to prevent water penetration, but with proper upkeep, it should last the lifetime of your house.
Steel siding is extremely damage-resistant, albeit less aesthetically pleasing. Vinyl is low-maintenance and cost-effective, but less durable when put to the test. Since it’s a synthetic material, it can be made to look like a variety of other materials such as brick, stone, or log. Stucco (made of sand, cement, lime, and water) is another beautiful classic that should last your home’s lifetime. However, stucco also requires an additional waterproof barrier and galvanized-metal screening.
Stone and stone-veneer siding is naturally beautiful and durable–granite and limestone in particular offer serious curb appeal. Stone is slightly more expensive and high-maintenance than other building materials. Stone-veneer siding is available as an affordable alternative, although it still requires annual cleaning and inspection.
James Hardie Fiber Cement Siding
Fiber cement siding and trim is a sustainable material that offers the look and feel of natural wood without the risk of warping and rotting (nor the high-maintenance upkeep). Natale’s Creekwood Meadows community features James Hardie fiber cement siding and trim.
James Hardie created fiber-cement siding 30 years ago, and it’s remained a leading siding option ever since. Nearly 15 percent of new homes today are made with fiber cement siding. It’s considered revolutionary since it combines the durability of brick with the versatility to look like other materials as desired (i.e. wood, shingles, stone).
Engineered to protect your home from the elements, James Hardie fiber cement siding can withstand extreme heat and cold and is built to withstand hail and windblown debris. It’s built to last for years on a relatively low-maintenance basis, even in the harshest conditions (and comes with industry-leading warranties to boot).
James Hardie fiber cement siding is also water-resistant, meaning swelling, warping, cracking, and even mold damage are less likely to occur. This material is fire-resistant and non-combustible. It’s unappealing to common pests like woodpeckers and termites but still offers an elegant wood grain finish.
ColorPlus Technology ® means the color you choose will be fade-resistant and your home’s curb appeal will last for years to come.
Choose The Most Durable Siding For Your Custom Home with Natale Builders
The exterior siding you choose for your home depends on your personal aesthetic taste as well as conditions where you live (i.e. weather, potential pests). But one of the most important factors to consider is durability. Materials like wood, brick, stone, stucco, and steel are all durable options with a range of other perks.
When you go through the custom home design process with Natale Builders, we’ll work with you to find the most durable siding that suits your needs!
If you’re interested in a Natale home built with durable exterior siding that will last for years to come, consider attending an open house or contacting us at (716) 580-3318.
