Choosing the right type of siding for your home can be difficult, especially when there are so many options to choose from and contractors all sharing how their options are the best. Remember, contractors are biased! That said, it is crucial for homeowners to do their research to make sure they are putting the product on their home that is going to meet their aesthetic goals, maximize their return on investment, and require as little maintenance as possible. Homeowners should consider these three factors when choosing their new siding material:
Return on Investment (ROI)
Siding is the most visible component of a home, so it’s essential to make sure the project is viewed as an investment and the aesthetic change as well as longevity of the product is considered prior to doing the project. For instance, a yellow sided home is proven to sell for less and takes longer to sell than a grey home. Vinyl sided homes sell for less than composite, steel, or fiber cement sided homes. Siding products requiring little to no caulk are better investments over time due to the expenses required to recaulk and repaint products such as wood or fiber cement siding every 5-10 years. Every time a home needs recaulked and repainted, it can cost anywhere between $8-$12 a square foot when completed by a professional company. On an average 2,000 square feet of siding needing repainted and resealed, this cost is anywhere from $16,000 - $24,000. It makes sense for the homeowner at that time to choose a product that may be a little more expensive initially to save on the maintenance costs down the road.
For Example:
If Everlast Composite Siding is installed at $25/square foot on a 2,000 square foot sided home, the initial cost for that project would be $50,000. When compared to a potential James Hardie quote, quoted at $18/square foot on a 2,000 square foot sided home, the initial cost would be $36,000. At first glance, it looks as if James Hardie would be the better option with it being $14,000 cheaper. If those homeowners were to only be in that home for less than 5 years, James Hardie would be the better option. In this same scenario, if those homeowners were to stay in that home for at least 10 years instead of 5, then they would be due for a reseal and repaint of that James Hardie due to the seams cracking and failing as well as the James Hardie product fading at the touch up spots. The average recaulk/repaint on 2,000 square feet of siding is roughly $8-$12/square foot in 2024. Therefore, hypothetically in 10 years, 2034, with the increase in labor and material costs, the price would be closer to $11-$15/square foot for the same project. That would make the total cost of this James Hardie project $58,000 - $66,000, or $8,000+ more than the Everlast investment.
As you can see in the example above, both the initial costs and maintenance costs (estimated at the time the cost will take place) of a project both need to be heavily considered prior to choosing what siding is right for you. Do not be fooled by solely just the initial price. Maintenance can be extremely expensive and is very often overlooked when doing home improvement projects.
A simple rule of thumb when considering ROI would be:
1.) Does the siding require caulk? Paint? If so, over time, these siding options would end up being significantly more expensive than a vinyl, steel, or composite siding option. Products needing caulk and paint are wood, fiber cement (James Hardie), and LP SmartSide. Therefore, if looking to maximize return on investment, vinyl, steel, or composite siding would be the best siding choices for the project.
2.) Is the color I am choosing a typical color I see on the majority of homes? Greys, whites, dark or light blues, and browns are the most popular siding colors and are the most marketable. Yellows, Reds, and bright greens are the most uncommon siding colors.
3.) Does this product’s manufacturer offer a lifetime warranty? Is the warranty prorated? Does the company provide a workmanship warranty? How long is the workmanship warranty? This is another key factor to consider because in the case the siding prematurely fails due to manufacturing issues, will the manufacturer really cover the costs to fix the product? Will the contractor still be in business or do they have a sufficient warranty? If a company is only providing a 10 year workmanship warranty, but you are going to be in the home for 20 years, is this a risk you are willing to take? If so, you could be liable for repairs required after the warranty period and therefore is another cost associated with that project.
Climates
Different types of siding are more suitable for specific types of climates. For instance, in climates that see a lot of rain and sun, caulked and painted products are not ideal as those products typically hold water and need to be recaulked every 5-7 years. Products that hold a lot of water are wood and fiber cement (James Hardie). In climates that experience a lot of hail, less durable products like vinyl are not ideal. Therefore, considering the lifespan of that siding product varies based on the climate where it’s installed.
Typically, vinyl lasts about 30-35 years in the South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida climates. Fiber cement (James Hardie) can last 25-30 years but requires recaulking and maintenance every 5-7 years due to the high heat and sun exposure to the silicone caulking. Steel (26-Gauge) last about 40-45 years and composite siding lasts 50+ years. Natural stone can last more than 100 years. While siding with a longer lifespan is more expensive, it is also sometimes more worth it financially as you won’t need to replace it as often and typically does not need to be maintained as much.
Aesthetics
The aesthetic of your home is essential, and choosing a siding color and style that suits the look of your home and enhances its curb appeal will improve your property’s value. There are many types of siding, so choosing the right one for your project can be a challenge. Project designers can help tremendously in this area.
The first place to start is choosing the color scheme you would like to go with. Finding exterior color schemes is as simple as getting on Pinterest and Google and searching “Home exterior color schemes.” This will help give the project designer an idea when starting the design of your home.
Next, what style of siding do you prefer? Lap siding, contemporary plank, board and batten, shake, shingle, or panels? This too can be found with a simple Pinterest or Google search. Different siding products can be installed on different areas of the home. When choosing to install different styles of siding on different areas of the home, it is crucial to review the ideas with your project designer. Project designers can help explain the “3 CS” rule when designing home exteriors to make sure these different products and colors are positioned aesthetically on the exterior.
Finally, what trim options are included with those siding products? Are there seamless trim options? Which trim options best suit your home’s style? Sometimes thicker trim options are better for different types of homes. If a freeze board is present, it’s crucial to match the width of the board with the width of all of the window, door, and opening trim boards. If you have a two-story home, two story “seamless” trim options would be ideal for a cleaner look. Are there transition areas where trim boards are not necessary, but would be ideal for aesthetics?This is why a project design professional would be ideal. If the company you are considering has a design specialist, ask them a ton of questions and take advantage of that service. A poorly designed home can detrimentally affect the home’s value. This is why we offer a consultative approach to our siding services and have an in-house architect and design specialist to assist homeowners with their project along with our exterior consultants.
