If you are building a new home, or perhaps upgrading your existing one, then it is likely that you have looked at a variety of siding options. Be it making the transition from composite to vinyl, upgrading to brick or using a more natural choice like brick, it is a big decision to change or replace the siding of your home.
But, how do you determine what type of replacement siding should be used? Especially, if you have never done this before? Here are some tips for dealing with siding replacement.
Tips for Buying Home Siding
Have an understanding of what type of siding will be best for your home and region. You can find this out by talking to local builders or home improvement professionals.
Ask an installer to come out and determine how much siding your home will need. Or a simple way to get an estimate is to simply multiply the height times the width of each rectangular section of your house in feet, going by what you can measure from the ground, to determine its area. Multiply the approximate height and width of gables and other triangular surfaces and divide each total by two. Then add all the totals. To allow for waste, don’t subtract for doors, windows, or other areas that won’t be covered. Finally, divide the total square footage by 100 to estimate how many squares of siding you’ll need. A square represents 100 square feet.
Take into consideration the amount for upkeep and cost for the chosen siding. Plastic siding can resemble cedar but will cost more than vinyl and require little to no upkeep. Fiber cement siding is fire and insect proof, but can be subject to water damage; it must be repainted from time to time, though less often than wood. Vinyl siding requires less work of the three and won’t warp or twist, and is lower in price.
Think about the desired finished appearance of your home, then choose siding appropriately. For instance, on a clapboard-style home, vinyl that is raised of inch will deepen shadow lines and give the appearance of wood.
If you want to add more rigidity, then be sure to plan for more foam backing for the insulation.
You can sometimes minimize how many pieces if siding you need, by choosing to use vinyl siding that comes in 16-foot or longer lengths to reduce the number of seams on long, unbroken walls.
Choosing a replacement from your home’s siding does not have to be stressful. But it will require you do some homework. By using these tips, you can simplify the process. You can make things even easier by talking to local home siding experts and learning what to expect with a particular siding option. Don’t put off getting new siding. Talk to a pro today.