Investing in new exterior home siding can be one of the most effective ways to help protect your greatest investment, your home. Your home is undoubtedly one of your biggest and most important purchases. Not only that, but that purchase is also an incredibly significant investment, one that you hope will increase in value over the years, so protecting it is important.
The homes in the Chicagoland area, however, are subjected to some of the most severe weather in the midwest, and that weather can take a serious toll on the exteriors of area homes. Our summers see searing sunshine and unbelievable heat sometimes, while our winters showcase some of the most blistering winds and heaviest snowfall for hundreds of miles around. Between these two extremes, we also see some incredible rainfall events.
To protect these homes against the weather, new exterior home siding is a must. Not only does it help keep the elements off of important portions of your home, but it enhances the appearance, and can boost resale value. There are some things to take into account before upgrading your siding, however, and we’re going to take a look at what those considerations are.
What Are The Options For New Exterior Home Siding?
If you are in the market for new siding, here are three of the most popular material options available now. Your siding partner will likely have many other materials as well as variations of these three.
Vinyl Siding
Vinyl siding is one of the options that it seems almost everyone is aware of. It’s incredibly cheap compared to other options, but that economy also comes through in the material. One of the biggest perks to vinyl other than the cost is the variety, there are countless colors and texture patterns to choose from. Vinyl isn’t the most durable siding option, and it can degrade in intense UV exposure, becoming brittle, cracking, and exhibiting fading color. Vinyl also isn’t the most forgiving with impact damage, such as the occasional hail storm, and will retain the dents and dings forever.
Natural Wood
Natural woods like cedar are some of the most beautiful options for siding, but they are also one of the most expensive in terms of initial investment and required maintenance. Wood is a superb insulator, and it can stand up to some truly savage impacts, but it will require consistent maintenance to keep it looking its best.
Engineered Materials
Engineered materials like LP SmartSide or Hardie siding are incredibly durable, but they are also one of the more costly options. They are made using real wood, but the fibers are processed and combined with resins and hardeners and formed to resemble different types of siding. Engineered materials have long lives, need minimal maintenance, and are super durable, but they require a more significant initial investment.
What To Consider Before Investing In New Exterior Home Siding
Before you invest in new exterior home siding, be sure you consider the following:
- You should consider currently damaged areas that may need repair before being covered with new siding
- Consider what labor is needed to repair the potential new siding material
- Consider the maintenance of your siding material choice
- Make sure you are getting something that makes your home look how you want it to look
- If you are siding your home in preparation for selling it, consider the potential return on investment for installing new siding
- Know all of your options for materials
If You Need A Local Home Siding Partner
If you need repairs to your siding, or simply need to schedule an estimate for a new siding, reach out today and speak with a member of our team. You can get answers to any questions you have about your new exterior home siding and professional insight into your project.
