Siding has come a long way over the years. While the traditional stucco or wood shingle siding remain popular choices for homeowners, a slew of new, more efficient and visually pleasing products have hit the market in recent years – and homeowners are taking notice.
The development of alternative wood products has spurred the creation of siding options that are easier to clean, offer more options for look and feel, and last virtually forever – or at least longer than your mortgage! Longevity is the main driver for most homeowners, as rotting shingles can turn a once beautiful home into something that looks more like a haunted house. Replacing old siding can also pose a serious threat to your wallet, so using materials that are nearly impervious to aging is a good decision both visually and financially.
So, what makes these newer materials last longer? The answer is simple: They keep water out, eliminating the main driver of deterioration for traditional siding. Moisture in the air causes wood to expand and contract over time as temperatures and humidity levels rise and fall, or as rain repeatedly penetrates the pores. Over time, this causes paint to chip and the wood to become slightly deformed or even rotted.
New, “wood-alternative” siding materials eliminate the aging process by removing the natural pores found in wood. Alternative materials – like metal, composite and plastic – have been around for decades, but have been unpopular due to a less than desirable look. That’s all changing. With dozens of new products coming on the market, the choice is no longer between what is beautiful and what might last – it’s all about what works best for you. New siding materials convincingly emulate the beauty of wood siding – and offer a wider range of looks than traditional wood.
Your local lumber store will likely carry a variety of different brands and styles to choose from, so you’re bound to find a solution that fits your style, your budget, and your needs. Here are a few of our favorites:
Trespa
Easy to install and impervious to both sun and rain, Trespa’s Pura NFC® siding is a favorite among homeowners looking for simple, sleek beauty and easy upkeep. With a variety of pre-finished plank styles to choose from, you can easily find a look that works perfectly for your home.
Trespa siding materials are similar to laminate floors – smooth, durable and cleanable with a simple wipe or squirt of water. Trespa siding is a modern twist on the traditional, with clean lines and a smooth surface. If you’re looking to give your home a 21st-century makeover, you could do worse than Trespa. The product also carries a 10-year guarantee on performance – including color stability – meaning you won’t have to worry about the California sunshine fading your siding.
Boral
Boral’s TruExterior® siding features an inventive “poly-ash” construction that makes it look and feel closer to natural wood than perhaps any other siding product on the market. It’s easy to handle, easy to cut, route and drill – and can even be installed with woodworking tools and methods. Boral siding can be painted in the same manner as traditional wood, so you can choose the exact color of your home’s exterior.
The proprietary material – developed over years of testing – combines polymer chemistry and coal-combustion products (ash) to add a level of inert properties with virtually no moisture cycling. The material is fire-rated – something many California homeowners are conscious of – and won’t wick up water. If you’re having a hard time deciding whether to trade in your traditional natural wood siding for man-made materials, Boral may convince you to take the plunge.
James Hardie Fiber Cement
To call James Hardie siding a “new” product would be misleading. The company and its products have been around for decades. Lately, however, there has been a spike in use of their fiber cement siding. Sometimes it takes years to notice the great thing right in front of you. Versatility is a big reason why James Hardie siding is experiencing a renaissance. The siding comes in a variety of styles to fit any home, from historic properties to New England-style cottages to craftsman specials. You can even choose pre-painted siding from an extensive color palette, and design every detail of your project by yourself using their extensive online catalog. Like its newer competitors, James Hardie fiber cement siding holds up under the elements, and offer g warranties for their entire product line.