The right siding can dramatically boost your exterior’s appearance.
Use our guide to the most popular exterior home siding options to find your material match.
Traditional stucco siding is a cement mixture added to sand or lime.
Credit: Greg Scheidemann
Because it can be shaped and textured, stucco is used to achieve an array of architectural styles.
Stucco is often applied to brick or stone surfaces, as well.
The only routine maintenance isan occasional wash, and vinyl manufacturers' warranties are generally lifelong and transferable.
Credit: Paul Dyer
you’re free to buy vinyl siding at most home centers.
The vinyl siding cost savings extend to installation.
In addition, it requires only a few tools to install.
Credit: Laurie Black
Cedar and redwood are great options, as they contain natural rot resistance but cost more.
Bevel siding is installed horizontally, with the upper piece overlapping the lower.
There’s a finishing coat (either paint or stain) and caulking on the outside.
Credit: Robert Brinson
To prevent weather damage, all wood siding requires ongoing maintenance, includingpainting and caulking the siding.
Wood Siding: Shakes and Shingles
Another option for wood siding is shakes or shingles.
Shakes are machine- or hand-sawn from wooden blocks called bolts.
Credit: Alise O’Brien
Shakes are thicker than shingles and less uniform in appearance and thickness, but they last longer.
Both come from different woods, but Western red cedar and redwood are the most common house siding options.
Shakes and shingles are available with a fire-retardant treatment, which is required in high-risk locations.
Credit: Werner Straube
Shake and shingle siding requires periodic maintenance, including painting and caulking, to prevent weather damage.
In addition, the strength and longevity of metals surpass most standard house siding options currently on the market.
Metal siding can also be painted but will likely need retouching later on.
Credit: Jean Allsopp
Wood Siding: Board-and-Batten
Board-and-batten sidingis an American classic used since our nation’s early days.
There are no standard board or batten widths or spacings, so feel free to innovate.
Wide boards are placed first; then battens are used to cover the spaces between the boards.
Credit: Werner Straube
Log siding is typically made from cedar, cypress, redwood, or pine logs.
The logs are dried and treated for a longer life span.
Log siding is expensive and requires more maintenance than most other types of house siding.
Credit: Brian Confer
Regular treatment against insect infestation and the sealing of cracks in logs are needed to deter decay.
It’s a stronger, lightweight, and less expensive house siding option than natural wood.
Engineered wood comes in an array of typical wood siding styles.
Credit: Cameron Sadeghpour
It doesneed paintfor weatherproofing purposes, but factory-applied finishes are available.
If installed correctly and maintained, the standard life expectancy for this house siding option is about 20-30 years.
Stone Siding
Stone is among the most durable of all building materials.
Credit: Gordon Beall
Granite, limestone, slate, and other types of stone are beautiful and nearly impervious to the weather.
In addition, because stone is a natural material, stone siding is environmentally friendly and has long-lasting advantages.
In most cases, the initial material costs of stone are more than other types of sidingoften considerably more.
Credit: David A. Land
As time passes, however, the upside of the investment becomes apparent.
Brick is made of fired clay and comes in different colors, textures, and sizes.
These siding options are durable, realistic-looking, lightweight, and easy to install.
Credit: Laura Moss
The software typically involves a framework attached to a backing material like plywood.
However, many products today have simple instructions: Glue in place andcaulk the seams.
They’re just as durable, realistic, lightweight, and easy to install.
Credit: Greg Scheidemann
Fabricated stone siding panels can typically be DIY installed, as no footings or foundations are necessary.
The utility process is generally quicker and more cost-effective than natural stone or rock.
It usually involves a framework attached to a backing material such as plywood.
you might glue in place and caulk the seams of other stone veneer products.
Fiber cement siding is composed of cement, sand or fly ash, and cellulose fiber.
Fiber cement siding is typically more expensive than vinyl siding but less expensive than wood siding.
It’s installed over studs or exterior wall sheathing on a moisture barrier.
Factory painting is highly recommended and generally under warranty for 25 years.
Start withthe entrywayto add an inviting feel for visitors, whether you have anexpansive front porchor a small landing.
Don’t forget about greenery!
Addingplanters with colorful flowerswill bring nature to your front door.
Chooselow-maintenance plantsto make planters easy to take care of.
