If the roof is the most important structure on a home to keep out the elements then the exterior siding is second on the list. Together with the windows and doors they create an impenetrable seal for the protection and comfort of the interior of the home.

Very much like roofing the type of siding that is best for a home depends mostly on the region where the home is built. For example, a home in the Pacific Northwest would not necessarily have the same exterior as one in Tuscon. Because of the wet conditions for most of the year the Seattle home may have vinyl siding whereas the Arizona sun may determine that stucco would be the best exterior covering. This is because a masonry product would reflect the sun's heat whereas vinyl might warp in the intense sun. Conversely, stucco is porous and the moisture may get into the walls behind creating a mold problem or defeating the bond between the stucco and the home.

Wooden Clapboard Siding

Clapboards have been around almost as long the country. The planking was fairly easy to make from splitting logs as the boards came out naturally beveled. Later on they were milled with the top side thinner and the bottom.

This type of siding fits almost any architecture, so much so that it is imitated in other materials. There are some drawbacks to wood, however, which includes painting and repainting every 3-7 years unless you choose cedar and let it fade to an attractive silver color. Wood siding is also a draw for insects so the homeowner has to spray around the lower areas of the home to prevent this encroachment.

Aluminum Clapboard Siding

In the 1950's aluminum took the housing market by storm. It was attractive, light and fairly inexpensive but most of all it was supposed to have maintenance-free, painted surfaces. Structurally this older generation of aluminum siding did stand up well but the sun faded the coloring so many had to have repeated paintings.

The new aluminum siding is powder-coated with finishing that can withstand intense ultra-violet rays. Environmental concerns are almost nil because aluminum is entirely recyclable. However, the only drawback to aluminum is that it will not take a bump very well and will show a noticeable dent.

Steel Siding

Like aluminum steel is a light alternative to real wood clapboard and is imprinted with believable wood-grain finishes. Many of the companies that supply this siding make it to order so that there are no seams like real wood clapboards and vinyl siding. There are two finishes that are available, powder coating and a polyvinyl chloride (PVC) that is touted as 3 ½ times thicker than paint. This will protect the steel from corrosive agents such as airborne chemicals and salt.

Cement Fiber Siding

A unique product featuring a cement clapboard with a fiberglass fiber reinforcing is very popular in areas where stucco-clad homes have dominance. Unlike wood it its is rot-proof, insect-proof and fireproof. The product can be sawed and nailed like real wood and, unlike vinyl, has the heft and weight so it will not be affect by severe windstorms. The only drawback is that the workers have to wear masks when cutting the planks.

(PVC) Vinyl Siding

Probably the most popular siding on the market today is polyvinyl chloride, or PVC. Vinyl siding came around as an alternative to aluminum but the early process made it difficult to maintain color uniformity. Today this siding is made by a coextrusion process whereby the main part of the product, or substrate, is composed of a cheaper material but there is a top layer bonded to this which contains the pigment and the ultra-violet ray blockers.

Thickness decides much of the grade of this siding and go from .35ml up to .52 ml. Because ofthe expansion and contraction ratios vinyl siding is "loose fastened" which means that the pieces can slide with the changes in temperature.

Another vinyl product is siding with closed-cell foam insulation. This foam backed vinyl siding adds extra insulation to the home.

Stucco

A popular masonry siding stucco is a Portland cement-based material usually applied to a screen attached which is to the wall for anchoring. The "scratch coat" locks into the screen and forms a bond for the top coats. The "brown coat" levels the wall and provides the base for the top or finished coat, which can be white or colored. Under the right circumstances stucco will last a lifetime.

Brick

Formerly one of the most popular exteriors in the civilized world brick is used mostly today as a feature wall for the front of the home. From the Industrial Revolution to the first half of the 20th century brick was used for the structural part of many homes as well.

Stone

Rock and cultured stone (made from concrete) are a feature that grace many homes and resorts in the Rocky Mountains. The aura created by the stonework gives a rugged, frontier appearance that goes well with log structures.

Log and Siding

For those who do not have log homes this effect can be created using log slabs which make a home look like a real log house. New advances have allowed the pieces to be hollowed out and filled with foam for up to R-10 added to the existing insulation.

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