Thinking of renovating your home with all new siding? The amount of exterior siding options out there can be overwhelming, but the experts at Center Island Contracting can help weigh the pros and cons. Whatever siding you choose, it will be a major update to the overall exterior look of your home.
Vinyl
Pros: Vinyl siding provides easy maintenance and comes at a low price tag compared to other siding options. Because of its many pros, vinyl siding is one of the most popular choices for exterior siding amongst homeowners. A lot of times, vinyl siding can be installed over existing siding, which makes it ideal for remodel projects.
Cons: Vinyl siding can dent easily, and there’s usually no way to fix it. Upon replacing it, it will be difficult to match the color of the existing siding because of normal wear and tear. During times of extreme cold or hot temperatures, vinyl can either crack or melt.
Fiber Cement
Pros: Like vinyl, fiber cement is easy to maintain. This type of siding, which is made up of wood fiber, sand, clay and cement, is resistant to insects and fungus. It’s durable enough to withstand a fire and can last up to 50 years. Fiber cement is one of the more sustainable exterior siding options because part of its composition is reclaimed wood.
Cons: The labor to install fiber cement can be more costly than other exterior siding materials, which is something to consider if you’re planning to sell in the near future. In addition, it has to repainted every 15 years or so.
Wood
Pros: Wood is a readily available building material and easy to install and replace. There are many styles and colors to choose from when going with wood siding, and it can be stained or painted virtually any color you choose. Wood scores a lot of points for eco-friendly homeowners, since it’s sustainable, recyclable and renewable.
Cons: Wood siding is susceptible to insect and water damage. With that said, wood requires much more maintenance than other siding materials. If homeowners neglect to maintain wood siding, it can be subjected to rotting or warping, which will cost more money in the long run. Wood should be painted or stained every few years.
Stone
Pros: Many homeowners love the natural look stone provides, making it a popular siding choice. Stone siding can last a lifetime because of its durability when exposed to the elements. It’s considered a sustainable building material because of its abundance.
Cons: Stone is the most expensive siding material on this list, which is one of its drawbacks. As an alternative to save money, you can use synthetic stone instead. Stone can also be difficult to add to an existing home, so it would have to be installed for new construction projects only.
Brick
Pros: Brick is a durable material, making it a low maintenance exterior siding choice. Brick is fire and weather resistant. During a fire, the bricks can contain it to one room or one wing of the house. In addition, brick can block noise better than other siding materials.
Cons: Brick can be a costly siding material. Another con is there can be moisture problems down the line if not installed correctly. A strong connection between brick and mortar needs to be achieved for brick homes to remain stable for many years, but inclement weather can weaken the mortar and therefore, weaken the connection between the two.
Our qualified professional team can assist in accomplishing even the smallest task – from home siding to exterior door installation and everything in between. When you need the most qualified professionals on Long Island, email us or call (516) 481-4707.
