How to Choose the Best Siding for Your Home

Whether you’re building a new home or refurbishing your current home, you should not overlook your home’s siding. Few exterior materials can enhance your home’s resale value and curb appeal than high-quality siding. After all, siding is one of the first features people notice about a home. 

When thinking about siding materials, wood or brick comes to mind for many people. However, numerous siding options have entered the market that could better suit your home. These newer options blend high durability, aesthetic appeal, and affordability. 

Nonetheless, choosing the best siding for your home can feel overwhelming. Fortunately, our team at NOVA Exteriors has helped hundreds of Northern Virginia homeowners determine the right siding for their homes. Read on to learn more about choosing the perfect siding for you. 

NOVA Exteriors offers the finest quality of work throughout Northern Virginia. We’re your go-to siding contractor in Arlington for home improvement projects. Call our team at NOVA Exteriors at (703) 991-0063 for more information and a free in-home quote!

What Matters in Choosing Siding

When selecting your siding, you should first think about the climate surrounding your home. As you know, Northern Virginia gets its fair share of hot, humid summers and snowy winters. Therefore, you should prioritize siding that can withstand heat, humidity, and heavy precipitation. 

Besides the climate, you’ll need to weigh many other factors when choosing the best siding. These factors include:

• Water resistance. Water damage can wreak havoc on Northern Virginia homes that lack water-resistant siding. Therefore, you should put a premium on a material’s waterproofing factor.

• Temperature resilience. You’ll want to have siding that withstands strong temperature fluctuations.

• Eco-friendliness. Especially during humid summers, it’s best to keep your home as energy-efficient as possible. Installing more energy-efficient siding can fortify your home and lower your energy bills.

• Curb appeal. Prioritizing durability doesn’t have to mean compromising on beauty. The siding you choose should please your eye. A visually arresting siding will also raise your home’s resale value.

• Budget. Who doesn’t love a beautiful stone exterior? However, natural stone comes with the highest costs per square foot than any other siding. Especially if you have a large-scale project, be mindful of a material’s costs per square foot, as these costs can easily go over budget.

• Ease of installation. Certain materials are more time-consuming and labor-intensive to install than others. If you don’t want to deal with the hassle of a long installation, steer clear of these harder-to-install materials.

• Maintenance. All sidings look impressive when newly installed, but they will undergo wear and tear over time. Therefore, consider how demanding a material’s potential upkeep may be. Certain materials will require more intensive maintenance, such as painting or resealing your siding.

• Your home’s architectural style. Materials such as wood or brick go nicely with Colonial or Victorian homes. On the other hand, stucco goes hand in hand with Mediterranean or Spanish-style homes. Be sure to consider your home’s architectural style when weighing your decision. 

Each siding type has unique advantages and drawbacks. That’s why it’s vital to establish what qualities are most important to you before deciding on a material or style. Knowing your preferences will help you make the most informed decision on your siding.

Popular Siding Choices in Arlington, Virginia

In Northern Virginia, certain sidings tend to be more popular due to climate factors and decorative trends. Northern Virginia homeowners also select classic siding materials that will probably never go out of style. 

The choices below are among the most popular sidings in Northern Virginia. Besides learning about their strong points, you’ll also learn about their drawbacks.

Vinyl

Vinyl siding is a more modern type of siding that emerged in the 1960s. It comprises a plastic material consisting of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) resin. Since its invention, vinyl siding has exploded in popularity because it’s affordable, easy to install, and easy to maintain. 

To many, however, vinyl’s main drawback is that it has a bland or uninteresting appearance compared to other materials. Also, you can’t paint vinyl, which means that the color you choose will fade over time. Lastly, vinyl is not the toughest material, as it tends to warp from temperature fluctuations.

Brick

Brick is a classic siding material combining beauty and durability. Many Northern Virginia homeowners choose brick because it lends a solid, richly textured appearance. On the other hand, brick costs about $6-$10.50 per square foot and is more time-consuming to install than most other materials. 

However, brick is not the most energy-efficient choice for Northern Virginia’s hot and humid climate. Brick is a “thermal mass” that absorbs outside heat and distributes it throughout a home. In addition, you’ll have to monitor brick for moss growth from excess moisture. 

Nonetheless, if you’re willing to put up with these potential drawbacks, you’ll probably enjoy having brick siding. You may also want to consider brick veneers and fabricated brick. These engineered materials recreate brick’s appearance but are far more heat- and water-resistant.

Wood

Wood is another timeless siding choice, especially for Colonial, Cape Cod, or cottage-style homes. Wood is also extremely versatile since manufacturers can fashion it into various styles. 

Wood siding includes these popular choices:

• Bevel siding. Bevel siding is better known as clapboard, which was the most common siding choice in 17th and 18th-century homes. Many homeowners appreciate clapboard for its historical appeal. This siding consists of horizontal wooden boards, often made of pine or cedar.

• Shingles. Shingles consist of wood cut into the characteristic squares. Shingles lie flat against the house to provide a clean, consistent look.

• Shakes. Shakes are a type of shingle siding typically made of cedar. Shakes are thicker than other types of shingles and do not lie flat when installed. As such, they look somewhat bumpy, although many consider that aspect part of this style’s rustic charm.

• Board-and-batten. Board-and-batten siding is also known as barn siding. It blends wide and narrow wood strips to create a uniquely layered exterior. Because of its agricultural association, board-and-batten is a go-to siding for farmhouse-style homes. 

Wood’s main disadvantage is its less-than-optimal durability. Unless you finish it with protective sealants, wood offers little protection against excessive heat and cold. Wood is also prone to termite damage, rot, and cracking, so it requires frequent upkeep. 

Furthermore, wood can easily crack and bend from temperature changes. As a result, it requires frequent maintenance such as yearly repainting, resealing, and patching as needed. 

However, if you love the look of wood but not its high upkeep, engineered wood might be your answer. Engineered wood combines wood remnants, such as sawdust, with binding agents. This fabricated wood allows you to obtain the look and feel of wood without dealing with natural wood’s high maintenance.

Stucco

Stucco is another classic siding found on many ranch or Mediterranean-style homes. It consists of Portland cement, building sand, water, and lime. Additionally, many homeowners combine stucco with other materials to give their homes a unique, customized appearance. 

Stucco is generally a high-value choice as it is weather-resistant, energy-efficient, and water-resistant when properly installed. Its primary downside is that, because of its rigidity, it can crack over time. Nevertheless, it demands little upkeep.

Stone

The intricate texture of natural stone makes it an undeniably elegant siding choice. However, the steep costs of purchasing and installing quarried stone deter many people from choosing it. Natural stone is also a heavy material that may not be a functional choice for many homes. 

Because of its exceptional sturdiness, natural stone may prove a worthy investment for you despite its expense. It is fire-, water-, and pest-resistant, and it can last for a home’s lifetime. Moreover, because it is so durable, stone demands little maintenance outside of an annual inspection and hose-cleaning. 

Stone’s restrictive price tag does not mean you have to shy away from it altogether. Some homeowners integrate stone with cheaper materials to add visual contrast to their siding. Moreover, an increasing number of homeowners are choosing faux stone, or stone veneer, to get the beautiful facade of natural stone without its expense or potential impracticality.

Fiber Cement

Fiber cement is a relatively new and innovative siding that is skyrocketing in popularity. It combines wood fibers with sand-like grains of Portland cement or silica. Like traditional wood, fiber cement provides a clean look but with the added durability of cement. 

Because it mimics the look of wood, fiber cement is a popular choice for Colonial, cottage, and Craftsman homes. It is also water-resistant, temperature-resistant, and holds paint far better than traditional wood. Price-wise, fiber cement falls between vinyl and wood. 

Fiber cement can also mimic stone or brick while costing far less than those natural materials. Consequently, fiber cement is a fantastic choice for homeowners who want these materials’ aesthetics without compromising on functionality.

Get Further Help from the Top-Choice Siding Contractor

You should now have a better understanding of the right kind of siding for your home. If you’re ready to take the next step, contact our team at NOVA Exteriors for a free consultation at (703) 991-0063. We’re happy to walk you through customized siding choices, budget and financing options, and siding installation plans.

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