What Siding Materials Should You Choose For Your Home?

There are a wide variety of coatings on the market and making your choice can be a complex decision, especially when aesthetics and budget need to be reconciled. Nevertheless, be aware that it is wise to choose your exterior siding foremost for the protection it offers to the thermal envelope of your home. The most commonly used materials are:

• Vinyl siding
• Aluminum siding
• Treated wood siding
• Fibre cement siding
• Brick siding
• Natural stone siding
• Acrylic siding

Vinyl siding
Vinyl, also known as PVC, is the siding that is most commonly used. It’s known among other things for its finish and because it requires little maintenance. Positive points include its great resistance to the weather and its resilience against termites and mold. In addition, it’s easy to install. As for its negative points, vinyl is partly made with non-renewable natural gas and it may, in some cases, require extra materials to increase its resistance to fire.

Aluminum siding
In comparison with other types of home sidings, aluminium stands out due to its strong weather resistance and finish which can remain intact over the years if it is not subject to imposing physical shock. It’s possible to obtain aluminium home siding in several colours, allowing you to create your desired style, depending on the other colours that match the outside surface of your home. It should be noted, however, that aluminium may be brittle due to its light weight. It’s therefore not invincible against shocks and scratches. If you opt for this choice you must ensure that no heavy objects come in contact with it in force

Wood Fibre siding
Wood fibre, popularly known as CanExel, is an almost perfect imitation of wood while being considerably less expensive. Wood fibre is resistant to heat, wind and other compromising outdoor conditions. Its installation is a little more rigorous than with other materials, hence the importance of having the right experts at the time of the installation to avoid the risks of water infiltration due to poor installation.

Fibre cement siding
This type of coating is made of blocks of rectangular shapes that are affixed one by one on your house facade. It is important to differentiate the quality of the materials and use quality brands since some less expensive brands will use recycled cellulose dust and their products will offer a shorter life span and a greater risk of discolouration over time.
Positive points: Very resistant to mold, pests and high winds, it is easy to install, requires very little maintenance over the years and unlike vinyl, it does not require additional materials to increase its fire resistance. The materials do not absorb water and will not expand. The fibre cement also offers additional soundproofing to your house and is therefore perfect for residences in noisier neighbourhoods.

Acrylic & Stucco siding
Acrylic stucco is a mixture of cement, sand and water and is offered in several colour choices. It’s a diverse material which offers some beneficial insulating properties that other thinner materials don’t. This exterior home siding allows a lot of freedom in the visual aspect due to its different forms. However, stucco can be quite sensitive to changes in temperature and any slight movements of your framing over time, which could cause cracks. Moreover, it’s not very resistant to fire. Its lifespan is generally 25 years or more.

Wood siding
This type of siding is the most environmentally friendly. Its production involves relatively less pollution, generating a minimal amount of CO2. Several types of wood are available on the market depending on the colour, style and strength desired. Although very beautiful aesthetically, wood has some negative points. It’s not very effective against the weather, it’s more difficult to maintain and is not as effective as a firewall, along with having vulnerabilities to pests and mold. Wood siding has an average lifespan of 25 to 55 years depending on how well it’s maintained.

Brick siding
Bricks are very popular all over the world since it adds elegance and value to your home. Not only are there aesthetic attributes, but its strength is its resistance to weather, its performance as a firewall and its lifespan which can reach 100 years if it is well installed and maintained! Its maintenance is minimal and it is not affected at all by pests and mold. Due to its weight and its more-than-rigorous installation that will require expert masons, its cost is the highest on the market.