Sap Redwood Siding
Though redwood can be expensive compared to other woods and difficult to find if you don’t live in the West, it’s considered one of the most beautiful woods available. Sap redwood is known for its contrasting colors with a rich tone and gorgeous accents in the wood. Redwood is naturally insect-resistant and withstands shrinking, but still needs to be cleaned and refinished every 2-4 years to keep its lovely looks. If you live in a harsh climate with a lot of moisture from rain and/or show, you may want to reconsider sap redwood unless you’re dedicated to the maintenance schedule.
Approximate cost: $4-5/sq. foot, depending on pattern and finish.
For more info: www.buffalo-lumber.com.
Mosaic Stone Siding
It’s an expensive investment, but stone delivers quality, authenticity, and an unbeatable aesthetic. Some of the world’s longest-lasting buildings were and are made of real stone, which can withstand salt, high winds, and extreme climates.
The home pictured is finished in New England fieldstone in a mosaic cut by Stoneyard (other cuts include ledgestone, round, square and rectangular, and ashlar). As a natural material, New England fieldstone is a dense quartzitic conglomerate with color variations from gray to brown. The color of stone will not fade, and no upkeep is necessary. The cost, of course, is up front — both for shipping materials (which are heavy) and proper installation by a qualified mason. Unlike the thinner stone veneer, real stone must be attached to a load-bearing concrete footing.
Approximate cost: $9-17/sq. foot, depending on cut and quantity.
For more info: www.stoneyard.com.
Thin Veneer Stone Siding
While regular stone siding is fairly thick (3-6 inches) and must be anchored to a weight-bearing concrete footing, thin veneer stone is real stone cut to 3/4 to 2 inches thick that adheres directly to the wall.
Thin veneer is an ideal choice for renovating an existing building, as in this photo, where it has partially replaced the vinyl siding in front and along the bottom of the garage to give the home a beautifully-textured accent wall. It’s also great if you’re looking for a natural authentic look at a lower price than regular stone. And like real stone, it is also virtually maintenance-free. Just make sure it is installed correctly by a qualified mason, to give it a seamless look.
Approximate cost: $11-20/sq. foot for flats; $22-26 for corners, depending on cut and quantity.
For more info: www.stoneyard.com
Thin Brick Veneer Siding
Ideal for retrofitting existing homes or building from scratch, a thin brick veneer option like this Tru-Brix system from Redland Brick is made of real brick that’s thinner than traditional brick, held in place by rails attached directly to the wall.
In the photo, this home’s vinyl siding was removed and new building wrap installed. The bricks (in Cambridge color with Pastel Rose accent brick) were snapped into the attached rails, and the mortar was applied and struck.
Brick veneer can be installed by an average handy person and is suitable in all climates. Testing has shown the brick is firmly held in place on the wall in the event of high winds or tornadoes. Less expensive than conventional brick, Tru-Brix comes with a 50-year warranty.
Approximate cost: $10-12/sq. foot.
For more info: www.tru-brix.com.
Engineered Wood Siding
Hankering after a traditional wood look — without the maintenance? Engineered wood, made of wood strands, coated with resin, and then compressed and treated to protect against rot and infestations, is an affordable alternative. Shown here is the LP SmartSide 8-inch Lap Siding with reversible trim. While some siding comes with limited color options, all LP SmartSide siding is pre-primed and ready to paint in your choice of color, rather than pre-finished at the factory.
Available in 6″, 8″, and 12″ widths, this siding comes in 16-foot lengths, and the silica-free strand substrate cuts just like real wood, so no special tools are required. LP SmartSide Siding will work in all climates, even in extreme conditions, and weighs less than fiber cement siding, so it typically costs less. Like wood, it requires painting every 5-10 years, but since it’s specially treated against moisture and insects, is otherwise maintenance-free.
Approximate cost: $2-15/sq. foot (lower range materials only; upper range including installation)
For more info: www.lpcorp.com.
Engineered Wood Cedar Shakes
For an easy, affordable way to get the look of authentic cedar shakes without the maintenance involved, engineered wood cedar shakes are a good alternative. Engineered wood is made of wood strands coated with resin and then compressed and treated to protect against rot and infestations. In the house pictured, the gables are finished with LP SmartSide’s Cedar Shakes and Cedar Trim, which, like all LP SmartSide products, are pre-primed for painting. The shakes come in 4′ lengths for easy installation, and staggered and straight edges are available.
Engineered wood cedar shakes can be used on the entire home as well as a decorative accent. It’s durable in all climates, even in extreme conditions, and typically costs less than fiber cement products since it weighs less.
Approximate cost: $2-15/sq. foot (lower range materials only; upper range including installation)
For more info: www.lpcorp.com.
Durable Fiber Cement
With its wood-like look and factory-applied paint that lasts twice as long as traditionally-applied paint, fiber cement has many advantages over wood and vinyl. A composite material made from sand, cement, and cellulose, fiber cement siding products are formulated to withstand high winds, cracking, rot, and insect infestation, making it a good choice in most climates.
This particular house is shown in James Hardie’s fiber cement siding in Autumn Tan with Artctic White trim. The company produces siding for two U.S. climate zones—the HZ5 line, for the upper half of North America, is designed to protect against freezing temperatures, snow and ice. The HZ10 line, formulated for the South and coastal regions, is designed to be resistant to moisture damage, salt air, and high winds.
Tip: When shopping for Fiber Cement, look for a company that applies paint at the factory, eliminating weather delays in construction as well as environmental concerns due to VOCs (volatile organic compounds) in the air at the construction site.
Approximate cost: $1.50/sq. foot for siding; $5/sq. foot for trim; $1.65/sq. foot for soffit.
For more info: www.jameshardie.com.
A Wood Alternative in Fiber Cement
If you like the look of wood but not the job of painting it every few years, Fiber Cement may be a good option. Durable and low-maintenance, most fiber cement has a 50-year warranty, proving it’s a long-lasting choice. Fiber cement is essentially the look of wood with the performance of concrete, and it’s considered a “green” building material because of its energy efficiency, low maintenance, and some recycled raw materials that go into the finished product.
The home pictured is clad in HardiePlank lap siding in Alpine Frost and HardiePanel siding in Evening Blue with Arctic White trim and soffit, which lasts twice as long as traditional paint.
Approximate cost: $1.50/sq. foot for siding; $5/sq. foot for trim; $1.65/sq. foot for soffit.
For more info: www.jameshardie.com.
Knotty Cedar Wood Siding
For wood lovers, this knotty cedar siding by Buffalo Lumber gives the ultimate cabin look with its classic rusticity. Shown here, this home is stained with Olympic Cedar Natural semi-transparent staining so the beauty of the raw wood shines through the finish. (Cedar can also be finished with a natural clear finish, or painted.) Cedar is known for being rot-resistant among the woods; it will perform well if cleaned and refinished on a maintenance schedule of every two to five years, depending on the finish and the environment.
Approximate cost: $2.50-4/sq. foot, depending on pattern and finish.
For more info: www.buffalo-lumber.com.
Western Red Cedar Shingles
Natural, dramatic, and beautiful, cedar shingles are more than simply a siding option. They give a home instant curb appeal and desirable dimensionality. A trip to the East Coast will show old homes encased in shingles, exposed for years to rain, snow, salt, and wind — proof of this material’s longevity. Shingles can be painted or stained, or simply left alone and weathered into a lovely rustic gray.
This home, clad in western red cedar shingles from Shakertown, is done in invisible 8-foot panels rather than individual shingles, which cuts down on installation time. Like most companies, Shakertown offers fire retardant and preservative treatments on its shingles, as well as pre-staining options in virtually any color of transparent, semi-transparent, semi-solid, and solid finishes. As for maintenance, shingles need to be pressure-washed and repainted or restained every 2-5 years, depending on the finish and the weather.
Approximate cost: $5-8/sq. foot
For more info: www.shakertown.com.
Natural Stain Western Red Cedar Shingles
The staggered butt panels on this stunning shingle-clad home, combined with natural stone accents, give the entire house a textured dimensionality. Done in a 7-inch keyway style with a natural stain by Shakertown Shingles, the western red cedar shingles are protected from graying to keep their brand new, just-cut look.
Shingles can be used to clad an entire house, as a textured accent to another type of siding, or as the main siding with stone or wood planks as accents. Most shingle companies offer fire retardant and preservative treatments on its shingles, as well as pre-staining options in transparent, semi-transparent, semi-solid, and solid finishes.
Approximate cost: $5-8/sq. foot
For more info: www.shakertown.com.
Lightweight Manufactured Stone Veneer Siding
Yet another alternative to natural stone is manufactured stone veneer, made of cement, aggregate, and color and poured into molds created from real stone. At just half the weight of real stone, manufactured stone veneer doesn’t need wall ties or concrete footings for installation as it’s strictly decorative and not load-bearing. Once installed, manufactured stone is maintenance-free, suitable for all U.S. climates, and generally comes with a 50-year manufacturer’s warranty. Most people can’t tell the difference between manufactured and natural stone at a glance; however, manufactured stone veneer can crack or chip, revealing the concrete base inside, and because it’s made from molds, a repeating pattern can result on larger projects.
Shown here is the Ply Gem Stone Shadow Ledgestone stone veneer collection in Shade Mountain; all designs are handpicked for detail, texture, and color. Manufactured stone veneer is not recommended for use below the water line in pools or fountains.
Approximate cost: $12-15/sq. foot installed
For more info: www.plygemstone.com.
Stucco Siding
Weather-proofing and decorating the home with a wet mixture that dries hard is an ancient custom — but when stucco came on the scene in the mid-twentieth century, the custom exploded in popularity. Stucco is a cement mixture that’s combined with materials like sand, lime, and water. It has numerous practical advantages: it’s economical, rot, rust, and fire-resistant, easy to repair, and energy efficient for both hot and cold climates. Stucco mixture can be dyed almost any color and plastered in almost any texture from smooth and fine to an artistic finish like a trowel sweep (wide sweeps of the finishing trowel to create hand-made grooves) or frieze (a rough, nubby, textured appearance).
Because it’s porous, stucco easily absorbs moisture, but just as importantly, easily dries out again, too, so it’s suitable to most climates. In a typical installation, walls are covered with tar paper and galvanized metal screens, which are then covered with the stucco mixture. It may also be applied directly to a solid base like masonry or concrete walls. The photo shows a 20/30 smooth sand finish in color 1 1/2 P-27 from Merlex with a Spanish-style terra cotta tile roof.
Approximate cost: $2.15/sq. foot
For more info: www.merlex.com
Vinyl Siding
Low cost and practically maintenance-free, it’s no wonder vinyl siding is the number one choice in the U.S. and Canada. It’s made primarily from polyvinyl chloride (PVC), a durable plastic material that’s strong and rigid. But here’s why vinyl is the go-to siding in so many different climates: The chlorine base, which doesn’t ignite quickly, makes vinyl fire-safe. Vinyl withstands high winds, heat, cold, and moisture and needs only a yearly washing. Then there are the colors. New versions now come in a broad palette of colors, including lovely dark shades. The home shown is clad in Monogram 46 by CertainTeed, which also offers vinyl style varieties such as shake and shingles, vertical siding and soffit (the underside of a roof eave) and trim options.
Approximate cost: $2.50-4/sq. foot, depending on color selection and job complexity.
For more info: www.Certainteed.com