Siding

Nothing will impact the appearance of your home more dramatically than the exterior siding you choose. This is one of the many reasons for replacing your home's siding, along with increasing future resale value (as new siding offers a benefit to home buyers because it extends the life of an exterior), decreasing maintenance costs (as opposed to a paint finish), as well as lowering utility bills (adding insulation under siding provides a moisture barrier and prevents outside temperatures from disturbing the balance of interior climates.)

Exterior finishes must be durable enough to resist normal expansion and contraction due to temperature changes, minor impacts from people and objects that can occur from everyday activities and deterioration from exposure to the elements. Replacing exterior wall finishes will help protect your home, preserve the durability and structure and make it more attractive.

Water Damage is the source of many siding problems. Moisture can penetrate the wall due to flawed roof elements or from faulty flashing over windows or doors. Exterior finishes may also suffer from improper fastening or support, or problems with the wall sheathing and sheathing membranes behind the finish The lifespan of various types of siding will depend on the climate where you live. Home siding can require periodic painting or restaining and, in the event of wild temperature swings, some types of siding can crack through expansion and contraction.

Compare Siding Options

As you shop for exterior siding, look for a siding material that suits the style of your house and also fits your lifestyle. Listed here are the most popular materials for exterior siding.

Stucco

Traditional stucco is cement combined with water and materials such as sand and lime. Many homes built after the 1950s use a variety of synthetic materials that resemble stucco. Some synthetic stuccos have been prone to problems. However, a quality synthetic stucco will prove durable. Tint the stucco the color you want, and you may never need to paint.

Stucco can be applied by a variety of methods, but hand-troweled is considered to be the best. It can be smooth, rough or somewhere in between. Stucco needs to be watertight. If water seeps under the stucco, it will separate the material from the home. In a virgin application, stucco is spread over wire mesh, wood slats, paper and sheathing. Like mudding, drying in between coats is recommended. Re-stuccoing is permissible over original stucco.

DISADVANTAGE: Cracks and loose or damaged areas are common stucco problems.

Wood, Wood Clapboard & Log

Wood siding is manufactured in a variety of types such as shake, clapboard, singles or lap. Panels are applied vertically or horizontally, and finishes range from stains to paint to sealants. Wood siding should be installed over a moisture barrier and some contractors suggest priming the back of the wood and its sides to prevent water from seeping into the wood. Although wood is beautiful, it requires maintenance and can rot.

Modern science has given us many synthetic wood-look products, and yet solid wood (usually cedar, pine, spruce, redwood, cypress, or Douglas fir) remain favorite choices for finer homes. With periodic care, wood siding will outlast vinyl and other pretenders. As with cedar shingle siding, wood clapboards can be stained rather than painted. Many wood frame houses built centuries ago still look beautiful today.

Homes sided in cedar shingles (also called "shakes") blend beautifully with wooded landscapes. Made of natural cedar, the shingles are usually stained browns, grays, or other earthen colors. Shakes offer the natural look of real wood, but usually require less maintenance than wood clapboard. By using stain rather than paint, you can minimize peeling.

Covering the exterior of your home with log siding can make it look like a log home without rebuilding the home. Log siding comes in quarter logs and half logs. The finishes are smooth, knotted or, for that authentic log-home appearance, hand-hewn. Some log siding isn't even wood, but resembles wood and is available in vinyl or steel. Common wood choices for log siding are pine or cedar.

DISADVANTAGE: Wood siding may suffer paint failure, splitting wood and rot.

Brick & Brick Veneer

Made of fired clay, brick comes in a wide variety of earthy, eye-pleasing colors. Although it is expensive, brick is desirable because it can last centuries and most likely will not need any patching or repairs for the first twenty-five years. Because it's made from fired clay, brick doesn't burn and is not susceptible to dry rot. Maintenance of actual brick involves repointing, which is replacing the mortar (mixture of cement, water, lime and sand) in between the bricks. If brick is not part of your original structure, then adding brick is typically accomplished by installing a brick veneer, also known as brick face, which are not full complete brick blocks. Quality brick veneers are also attractive and durable, although they don't have the longevity of solid brick.

DISADVANTAGE: Masonry problems include efflorescence (white, chalky stains), crumbling mortar, cracked or loose bricks and spalling (breaking off of exterior layer) or flaking.

Vinyl

Vinyl is made from a PVC (polyvinyl chloride) plastic and comes in a variety of colors. Unlike wood or cedar, it will not rot or flake. Vinyl is usually less expensive to purchase and install than most other siding materials. There are, however, drawbacks. Vinyl can crack, fade, or grow dingy over time. Vinyl is also controversial because of environmental concerns.

The panels are installed from the bottom row up by nailing galvanized roofing nails through the slots in the panel, exposing the nail head so the panels can move. The vinyl expands and contracts in hot and cold weather and must slide freely from side to side. Two main advantages to vinyl are that it is inexpensive and never needs painting.

DISADVANTAGE: Vinyl siding may suffer from aging, fading, cracks and buckling.

If you like the idea of vinyl but don't like the look of vinyl panels, another option is to have a pro spray on a liquid PVC coating. Made from polymers and resins, the paint-like coating is about as thick as a credit card when it dries. Liquid PVC became widely available only a few years ago, and reviews are mixed. The damage caused by poor application can be devastating.

Aluminum

Aluminum siding may seem like an old-fashioned option, but some builders offer it as an alternative to vinyl. It is hard to tell the differences between aluminum siding and vinyl without touching it as they look similar to each other. Both materials are easy to maintain and fairly durable. Aluminum siding became popular after World War II; however, the color can fade and, unlike vinyl, aluminum can be dented. However, it will not crack the way vinyl will. It also expands and contracts, depending on temperature. Aluminum siding can be painted, and experts recommend oil-based paint over latex. In addition, aluminum is a fireproof material and is not usually considered harmful to your health or the environment.

DISADVANTAGE: Aluminum siding may suffer from aging, fading, dents and buckling.

Seamless Steel

Seamless steel siding is very strong and resists shrinking and bulging when the temperatures change. The siding is custom fit to the exact measurements of your house. Steel siding can have a wood-look texture, or the industrial look of corrugated steel for a modern house.

DISADVANTAGE: Seamless siding may suffer from aging, fading, dents and buckling.

Manufactured

Manufactured siding can be created from almost any material and made to resemble natural wood. Some composite siding is made from shredded wood, binders, glue and Portland cement. Engineered wood, or composite wood, is made with wood products and other materials. Oriented strand board (OSB), hardboard, and veneered plywood are examples of engineered wood products. Engineered wood usually comes in panels that are easy and inexpensive to install. The panels may be molded to create the look of traditional clapboards. Because the textured grain is uniform, engineered wood does not look exactly like real wood. Still, the appearance is more natural than vinyl or aluminum.

Cement Fiber

Fiber cement siding can have the appearance of wood, stucco, or masonry. This durable, natural-looking material is a good option if you want the look of authentic wood with a bit less maintenance. Fiber cement siding is fire proof, termite-proof, and may have a warranty up to fifty years. Some older homes have Cement Asbestos Siding made from Portland cement and asbestos fibers. Removing that type of siding can be hazardous, so remodelers often apply a new, modern siding on top.

Stone & Stone Veneer

Stone has been used for centuries. It is well-known that stone is the most durable of all building materials, as some stone structures have survive for eons. Granite, limestone, slate, and other types of stone are beautiful and nearly impervious to the weather. Unfortunately, they are also the most expensive material you can use for your siding. Most applications support a first layer, which is wall sheathing, covered by water resistant paper on top of which metal lath is secured. Then the stone is set into mortar and laid.

Precast stone veneers and facings are more affordable. Some stone veneers look quite genuine, while others are clearly artificial, so it is important to choose this material critically. Artificial stone faces are lighter and easier to install than natural stone siding.

DISADVANTAGE: Problems include efflorescence (white, chalky stains), crumbling mortar, cracked or loose stones, and spalling (breaking off of exterior layer) or flaking.

Although it may not be the most exciting home renovation, roof replacement is often essential to have. Every single home remodeling task from drywall installation on down to paint finishing will be ruined if you do not first protect it properly with a roof. All roofs need repair or replacement from time to time. The extent of the problem and age of the roof are key factors that can help you decide whether to do repairs or completely replace the roof finish. There are many reasons to consider for replacement or repair. Time degrades all roofs and can cause localized damage such as a few missing shingles or widespread damage, or the roof may have just exceeded the life expectancy of the product. The roof may appear to sag in some areas because of insufficient strength or deterioration of framing or sheathing. Other conditions that contribute to the need for a roof repair or replacement are damage to the roofing material and structure due to build-up of ice during the winter, leaks occuring at the flashing, or excess moisture in the attic area that lead to deterioration of the roof structure.

Roofing comes in various materials, qualities and price ranges. The pitch (or steepness of your roof) and how many squares (a unit of measure equalling 100 square feet) are needed will factor in to the price, as well as the composition (what is commonly referred to as asphalt shingles )and a host of other factors. Ongoing maintenance for the specific roof and material is important and contributes to how the roof performs, when it needs repairs, and when it needs replacement.

Although replacing a roof is a big, costly project, a moderately-sized, professionally-installed roofing job might take only 3 or 4 days. The roofing process consists of removing all existing shingles from the rooftop, depositing them in a roll-off, and removing them from the site. Next, minor repairs can be made on the roof surface if in good condition, and if not, bad wood is replaced with plywood or 1"x6" boards, whichever is applicable to your roof. A roofer will then install ice dam protection (a barrier of synthetic materials to prevent backed up ice in the gutters, which prevents ice-melt from draining away. The ice-melt will permeate under the shingles and cause damage to the inside of your house.) After this preparation, asphalt paper is laid down and shingles may finally begin to be applied, starting at the eaves and working upward. Flashing is then installed around all areas where leaks might come into the house, such as against the chimney or stack vents. Finally, the ridge vent is installed, which runs along the ridge of the roof to expel trapped vapor and heat so that the roofing does not buckle and deteriorate over time.