Exterior Siding - Everything You Will Ever Need To Know
The exterior siding of your home or your business will influence its appearance dramatically. While shopping for your siding, look for the kind of material that will suit the style of your business or home.
1. Stone Veneer
Stone is the most durable material used in construction. For this reason, it was used in the creation of many of the ancient temples and monuments. There are several types of stone used to build with including granite, slate and limestone. Stone is almost unaffected by weather conditions. Unfortunately, stone is also a very expensive material. Today, there are precast stone facings and veneers that are much more affordable. Some of the veneers available are actually one of the most impressive home siding supplies that look very genuine.
2. Wood Clapboard
There are multitudes of synthetic products resembling wood; however, solid wood remains one of the favorite choices for some of the finer homes. These woods include pine, cedar, redwood, spruce, Douglas fir and cypress. Periodic care is necessary with the use of wood siding. By taking proper care of the wood siding, it can actually last longer than vinyl siding which can last upwards of 25 years. Wood clapboards can either be painted or stained.
3. Cedar Shingle
Homes sided with 'shakes' (cedar shingles) blend in beautifully with a wooded landscape. These 'shakes' are generally stained in earthen colors like grays or browns. The cedar shingles offer the look of real wood, but require less maintenance than the wood clapboard. Staining instead of painting shakes can minimize the possibility of peeling.
4. Brick and Brick Veneer
Brick is expensive, but still desirable because of its longevity. It can last for centuries and will not require repairs or patching for the initial twenty-five years. A quality brick veneer is another one of the home siding supplies that is very durable and attractive; however, they do not share the longevity of solid brick.
5. Engineered Wood
Engineered or composite wood is constructed with wood as well as other materials. Since it is formed into panels, they are easy to install and relatively inexpensive. The panels are sometimes molded to create the traditional clapboard look. While it doesn't look exactly like real wood, it certainly has a more natural look unlike vinyl or aluminum siding.
6. Vinyl
Vinyl siding is made from polyvinyl chloride (PVC) plastic. It will not flake or rot. It is usually much less expensive to use than the majority of the other materials used for siding. There are some drawbacks to vinyl. It can fade, grow dingy or even crack over time. It is also not considered an environmentally friendly material.
7. Aluminum
Even though some feel that aluminum exterior siding is a bit old fashioned, builders still offer it as another inexpensive alternative to vinyl. Both of these materials are easily maintained and rather durable. Unfortunately, aluminum can still fade and can be dented but it won't crack like vinyl can. Aluminum is also more environmentally friendly than vinyl.
About the Author
Making your home look great on the outside is just the start and Monte Boddecker starts with siding or brick and great trim work. With materials including new house windows, doors, trim and much more, ProBuild has what you need to make your home look great. Visit http://www.probuild.com/Menu/Products/Siding+%26+Trim for more information.
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