The purpose of siding is to both protect the interior walls from the weather and to provide continuity in style for homes exterior. Not long ago sealing the exterior of a home against the elements consisted of plugging up holes between the logs with mud - or "chinking" - or covering up crudely-made brick with a masonry mix. This prevented the wind, rain and sun from making the living quarters uncomfortable.

During the mid to late 1800's, pioneers on the prairies built homes out of the sod beneath their feet. The turf was both a "living" roofing and siding material and kept out torrential rains and and - 40 degree Fahrenheit cold.

Types of Siding

The type of siding chosen for a home largely depends upon where the home is built. In new neighborhoods, for example, there are usually covenants in place so that all the dwellings maintain a similar continuity in appearance. This would be part of a larger plan whereby the homes would have similar facades, driveways and rooflines. Weather plays a large part on exteriors, as well. In the southern United States stucco is very popular whereas in the northeast the freeze-thaw cycle of the seasons is hard on masonry coverings.

1. Brick

Probably one of the oldest siding materials in existence today brick has gone from being a structural necessity to an ornamental attachment. Brick is molded clay which has been oven-fired and it comes in a wide variety of colors, even blues and greens. Although the front-end costs are high the nice thing about brick is that it's extremely durable and will not fade or weather over time. In fact the only maintenance may be to repoint (redo the mortar) in about 25 years or so.

2. Stone

Like brick, stone has evolved from a building material to a decorative one. Real stone is heavy and may not be available locally. This makes it very expensive in some areas. However, cultured stone looks and feels like the real thing and comes ready to install. Although slightly more expensive than brick it will last as long.

3. Wooden Clapboard and Shakes

Wood siding is one of the oldest exterior finishes in America owing to the abundance of wood near the settlements. There are still a few 300-year-old clapboard houses in existence. The wood includes cedar, pine, douglas fir, spruce, redwood and cyprus but pine is the most popular. Some wood products are pre-painted making the installation easier and the wood last longer. Cedar needs no treating but some homeowners apply oil to maintain the rich red appearance. Wood products also come in a variety of other designs such as log facade and tongue-and-groove vertical siding.

4. Engineered Composite Siding

Manufactured in both clapboard and tongue-and-groove planks this siding also comes pre-painted and looks exactly like the real ting. As it is made from wood by-products it is very inexpensive however pits in the surface can allow moisture to get inside and cause swelling. As the continuity of the lumber does not have to be considered this siding can be ordered in very long planks.

5. Aluminum

When aluminum hit the market in the 1950's it revolutionized home siding. Until then wood clapboards were the standard siding and with aluminum siding the homeowner did not have to sand and paint every few years to make the home look nice. Aluminum is a low maintenance, fire-proof product which goes on uniformly and never cracks. In addition, the health risks are non-existent and it is completely recyclable. The drawback to aluminum is that it dents easily and any bumps can put imperfections on the surface. But it is inexpensive and, unlike vinyl, can be repainted if the homeowner wants a color change.

6. Stucco

A combination of cement, sand, lime and water stucco provides a strong and durable exterior for the home which is completely impervious to the weather. The process requires a good base, tar paper and wire reinforcement before the stucco is applied. The "scratch coat" covers the wire and provides the anchor for one or two finish coats. Stucco can be pre-colored so that painting is never required. Although expensive stucco can last the life of the home. However, it is not recommend in areas where a freezing and thawing cycle can cause cracking.

7. Steel

Steel siding is light, durable and can come in many textures and colors. It is cheaper and more dent resistant than aluminum and the pieces can be ordered long enough so that there are no seams. Like aluminum it will not warp or bulge like vinyl. Like any steel product care must be taken to prevent any scratches that might lead to rust.

8. Vinyl

Vinyl siding is from PVC, or polyvinyl chloride. It is probably the most widely used of all siding because it does not have to be painted, will not rot or flake and is very inexpensive. Vinyl by its very nature has a tendency to crack, fade and split but, properly cared for, will last years. The only drawback to using this product is environmental concerns as it is not recyclable and release toxins when burned.

Siding and residing jobs should be performed by qualified tradespeople. They have the proper tools, safety equipment and experience to guarantee a perfect job. Because no one wants to look at a house with shoddy siding.

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