10 Types Of Siding For Your Home’s Exterior And How To Choose

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Whether you’re a new homeowner looking to make over your home’s appearance or a longtime owner thinking of upgrading with an eye on resale value, there’s no doubt that siding can significantly alter your home’s appearance. Choosing the right type of siding can tie the style of your home together but choosing the wrong type may lower your resale value or lead to expensive repairs down the road.

Although interior remodels have an undeniable appeal, home exterior updates can be just as influential. In fact, updating your siding can be one of the simplest ways to add value to your home.

But which siding option is right for you? There are many factors to consider, from the overall cost of materials and installation to the popularity of the design and style.

1. Vinyl Siding

Vinyl siding is easily the most popular option available due to its overall low cost and ease of maintenance. Expect to pay between $6,103 and $16,879 to reside an average single family home of between 1500 – 2500 square feet, with an average cost of $11,477. Installing vinyl siding costs $7.50 per square foot on average, with $3 per square foot on the low side – think smooth traditional lap – and $12 per square foot for insulated vinyl.

Vinyl siding is the most popular type of siding in the U.S. and second only to metal siding for affordability.

2. Insulated Vinyl Siding

Insulated vinyl is a type of siding that adds an insulating layer to the vinyl exterior. Expect to pay closer to $16,879 to have your house re-sided, or $12 per square foot for insulated vinyl, plus $7.50 per square foot for installation costs, on average.

To function properly as a barrier to moisture and cold, insulated vinyl should be professionally installed. Find qualified professionals in your area to ask about their options and to get an estimate for re-siding their homes.

3. Natural Wood Siding

Natural wood siding offers a look that can’t be re-created in a factory. It can last a long time when maintained properly.

To have wood siding installed on your home, expect to pay between $7,000 and $23,000, with an average cost of $12,500. The costs rely heavily on the type of wood chosen. They start between $3 and $10 per square foot, installed.

4. Fiber Cement Siding

Fiber cement siding comes in a variety of styles and textures at a relatively low cost, making it a versatile choice for your home.

Installing fiber cement siding costs $13,860 on average, including both the materials and labor. You’ll most likely pay between $6,550 and $21,934. Expect costs between $5 and $14 per square foot, installed.

5. Stone Siding

If you want to add texture and natural beauty to your home’s exterior, stone siding is an excellent luxury finish. Stone siding gives your home an air of permanence and grandeur, but can be expensive to install and difficult to alter.

Expect to pay $125,000 or more to have a 2,500-square foot home resided in natural stone. Natural stone siding averages $42 per square foot per square foot, installed.

6. Stone Veneer

Stone veneer siding looks and acts like real stone at a much lower cost, and due to its lightweight design, it can be easily replaced or repaired overtime. Expect to pay between $87,500 and $125,000 to have your home resided in stone veneer, or an average of $11 per square foot for stone veneers, installed.

Faux stone siding is more akin to paneling than house siding in that it is applied to add the texture of stone easily and at a lower cost. It does not offer the same protection from the elements as natural stone does and must be affixed to an underlayment of drywall or timber. Expect to pay $6 to $9 per square foot.

Finally, manufactured stone is essentially concrete crafted to look like stone. Expect to pay between $5 and $8 per square foot, installed.

7. Metal Siding

Steel and aluminum siding has risen in popularity due to its durability. Expect to pay $10,507 to have your home resided in with a metal siding, with typical projects ranging between $3,975 and $17,146. Depending on square footage, materials used and labor costs, you might pay as little as $525 or as much as $33,382.

Expect to pay between $3 and $6 for aluminum and $4 and $8 for steel. At the higher end, expect to pay $35 per square foot for luxury finishes like copper. foot and steel which costs about $4 to $8 per square foot. Insulated versions of these increase the cost by about $1 per square foot.

8. Brick

Brick siding has been a staple for hundreds of years for a reason: It offers a classic look that can survive the test of time. Expect to pay between $10,000 and $75,000 to reside your home in brick, with most people spending about $18,000.

On average, expect to pay close to $30 per square foot of face brick siding, installed. As with stone, there are veneer and faux brick options available at lower costs.

9. Engineered Wood

If you love the look of wood siding but want to forego some of its downsides, engineered wood may be a good option as it offers the same effect at a lower price. Expect to pay $2.50 – $6 per square foot for engineered wood siding.

10. Stucco

Stucco is made of lime or sand and cement and is highly customizable as it can be painted almost any color. Expect to pay $5,030 to stucco a 1,000-square-foot house, with most homeowners paying $2,144 – $8,372. Stucco costs $8 per square foot, on average, installed.

The best choice for you is the one that ticks the most boxes for you.

Your Budget

Obviously, you need to consider how much money you can spend on this home improvement. But the cheapest siding doesn’t necessarily translate into the most value for your money. You may decide that renovating your home’s exterior is a much-needed investment in your home.

You can pay for major renovations like re-siding your home with a cash-out refinance. With a cash-out refinance, you can cash in on your home value’s appreciation to pay for home improvement projects. The cost of capital improvements to your home is added to your cost basis in the home as well, which extends your capital gains exemption further when you sell your home.

It’s likely a bad idea to consider cutting costs by DIYing your siding project unless you really know what you’re doing. Installation of any but the simplest and uninsulated vinyl siding is best left to professionals. That said, as we’ve already discussed, the type of siding you choose can greatly affect labor costs as much as material costs.

Ready to contact a professional about your siding project? Let Home Advisor put you in your area.

Your Energy Cost Savings

An insulating material’s resistance to conductive heat flow is measured or rated in terms of its thermal resistance or R-value – the higher the R-value, the greater the insulating effectiveness, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. Compare R-values when choosing your siding.

Aesthetic Choices And Curb Appeal

Every time you turn into your driveway, you take in the view of your home. If it leaves you wanting something better, you may want to consider re-siding it to increase its curb appeal and resale value.

Your Future Plans

How long do you intend to stay in the home? Even if you love your home, if you plan on moving in the next 5 years, you may want to consider that in your decision and save the luxury exterior finishes for your forever home. On the other hand, if you plan to rent it out when you move on, you’ll want to heavily consider durability in your calculation.

If this is your forever home, it makes more sense to invest in the statement it makes on your block.

Your Climate And Weather

In moisture-prone areas, waterproof siding is a good choice. In more moderate climates, breathable siding is a better choice. Consider whether the material can withstand temperature shifts and the weather extremes in your area.

Your Maintenance Preferences

For many people, the whole point of re-siding their home is to avoid future maintenance. If that’s you, choosing natural wood siding, no matter how beautiful it may be, would probably be a poor choice. On the other hand, if you crave a rustic wood home in which you’re surrounded by wood’s charms, it may be worth the extra effort.

Siding can drastically change the feel of your home and is therefore one of the first things potential buyers and passersby will notice, so choosing the right kind is key. In addition to the pros and cons of the type of siding, you should also consider warranty terms and weather conditions while making the final decision for your home.

If you’re considering using financing to pay for your new siding, consider a cash-out refinance. Cash-out refinances allow you to leverage the existing equity on your home to get significant cash at terms that are typically very favorable compared to other loans.

Does this sound good? Apply online today to start your cash-out refinance today and start choosing your look for your home.