Types of Siding
| Different Types of Siding: | |
Aluminum: One of the most popular ways to side a home, aluminum is resistant to rust and is very lightweight. Also, aluminum is very well-known insulator of heat and it is also water proof; there’s no painting required which also means relatively low maintenance. A negative though is that aluminum is subject to denting and if it needs maintenance, that task can be extremely hard and take up a lot of a homeowner’s time.
Rectangular Planks: This type of siding is the easiest of the wooded sidings. These planks are extremely smooth and very flat which creates a superior insulator and allows very little moisture to penetrate. One thing, however, is that is must be weather treated annually. |  |
| Clapboard: Clapboard is one of the most used types of siding made from wood and it’s not nearly as smooth as rectangular planks. Unlike rectangular planks, these boards are placed on the house horizontally rather than vertically which creates a look of “evenness” on the house. |  |
| Shingles: Shingles are usually composed of either one of these items: redwood, cypress or cedar. Similar to clapboard, these form rows to overlap each other but are significantly smaller. Many homeowners stain or treat shingles but if they don’t this reduces the life span and a replacement layer would have to come sooner. Lastly, shingles tend to warp after three to four years. |  |
| Shakes: Shakes are somewhat similar to shingles but they’re not created by a machine, shakes are hand-split. Like shingles, staining or treating increases the life span but they still warp after a number of years. |  |
| Stucco: Made of sand, water and concrete, stucco isn't very common and it’s very comparable to plaster found inside one’s home. It is created by being laid over a “lattice-like” wire system inside a wooden frame then its set onto a house. One warning is that stucco isn’t recommended for very cold areas. |  |
| Veneer: A veneer is a wall made up stone or bricks and can last for a very long time. Providing a solid wall of protection from temperature and moisture, it’s, however, more expensive than many of the other sidings. |  |
| Vinyl Siding: Vinyl has many of the same qualities as aluminum; it has a low maintenance requirement and it’s a better insulator than wood too. One large advantage favoring vinyl as opposed to aluminum is it’s resistant to dents and other types of harm. Also, there’s absolutely no painting required and small scratches aren’t seen very well. |  |
Wood Planks: Wood planks are very comparable to rectangular planks but these planks have special grooves in which they can interlock together for a much tighter finish; this tight connection also more additional protection from moisture.
Plywood: Plywood siding is extremely simple; just two pieces of plywood put together with anything from nails to a stronger adhesive. Plus, plywood is very cheap and quite easily installed. |  |
