Which Siding Option is Right For You?

Whether you've ever bought a home or not, you've no doubt noticed that homes come with different siding options. Each type of siding has different characteristics. Some types of siding can be painted, others are left exactly as is until they're removed. Siding can be water permeable or waterproof. Some types of siding are more sustainable and environmentally friendly than others.

If you're thinking about buying a home or having a home built, you should be aware of the different types of siding for your home. Knowing the different types of siding can make the experience of building a home easier, because you'll know what to expect and what kind of maintenance you'll be expected to perform on a regular basis.

Wood

Wood is the traditional siding product. For hundreds of years, homes have been built from wood. This classic building material is environmentally friendly, biodegradable and attractive. However, wood does have some downsides that need to be considered.

• Wood needs to be painted or otherwise sealed on a regular basis or it will eventually rot.
• Wood is vulnerable to wood-eating pests like termites and carpenter ants.
• This material is very flammable and is not a good material to use in places where wildfires could be a threat.

For a homeowner who would like to change the appearance of their home over many years, wood is a good material because it can be painted in different colours every time it is repainted.

Vinyl

Vinyl looks a lot like wood siding, but it has some advantages over wood. For example, vinyl is resistant to pests and never needs to be painted. Vinyl is easy to clean and rarely needs maintenance besides cleaning. It is durable and relatively low cost. Some things that homeowners should be aware of when they're buying a home with vinyl siding include:

• Vinyl will melt when a grill is kept too close.
• Vinyl can crack easily, and if it does crack, it must be replaced.

Vinyl is one of the most common types of home siding. Buyers who are thinking about purchasing a pre-owned home have a good chance of purchasing a home with this type of siding.

Fiber Cement

Fiber cement is a relatively new type of siding material. There are many advantages to fiber cement siding. It's pest-resistant, fire-resistant, and very durable. Fiber cement can be made to look like wood, but is much stronger and requires far less maintenance.

Perhaps the most obvious disadvantage of fiber cement siding is that, like wood siding, it needs to be painted regularly. However, fiber cement siding does not need to be protected by paint, and thus may not need to be painted as frequently.

Aluminum

Aluminum siding, like vinyl siding, looks very much like wood. Aluminum is relatively environmentally friendly and requires little maintenance. Aluminum does not ever need to be painted, but it does need to be cleaned if it becomes dirty.

Brick

Brick is one of the oldest building materials in use today. New homes that are built from brick are usually made from brick veneer. Brick veneer is a very porous material that looks like brick, but it's very thin and serves no structural purpose. It needs to be properly installed, or the wooden structure underneath the veneer could rot. For this reason, a homeowner who is having a home built with brick veneer siding should be careful to choose a contractor who knows the proper installation procedures.

If you're thinking about purchasing a Canals home, whether you're going to have the home built or it's going to be pre-owned, work with a real estate professional to ensure that the home you buy has all the qualities you're looking for. Siding is just one factor to consider. Your real estate agent can help you decide which home is right for you.