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Home & Garden Articles
Home Siding Options
Tue 26 May 2009 - 16:45
Home Siding Options
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Budda_Oliver]Budda Oliver
Siding is a barrier meant to protect buildings from the effects of weather. There are a variety of options available to homeowners. Wood, plastic, metal, and masonry siding each have their own strengths and weaknesses, and some are better suited for specific types of weather than others. The proper material for your home will depend on the climate of its surrounding environment, the appearance you are seeking to achieve, and what you are able to afford.
Wood siding may be installed in horizontal rows. This is called clapboard, and it is often made from hard woods such as redwood or cedar. Wood shingles are another popular wood cladding option, though they provide less insulation than clapboard. Wood cladding has the advantage of being very versatile in appearance, as it can be painted in any color palette. Wood cladding is easily installed and repaired, but it requires regular maintenance which may make it impractical for those who regularly spend long periods of time away from home. It is also threatened by ants and termites which, along with the regular required treatment, serve to increase its long-term cost.
Plastic siding is often made to imitate the appearance of clapboard or wood shingles. Vinyl and uPVC are the most common materials used in plastic cladding. It has become one of the most popular siding options because it is cheap, long-lasting, and easily installed. Its only downfalls are that it provides no insulation by itself (necessitating the use of internal insulation) and that it is not easily disposed of. Currently, plastic siding is not recycled.
Metal siding is most often used on industrial buildings. Imitation clapboard was once chiefly made from aluminum, although this use has fallen in favor to vinyl. Aluminum cladding is still one of the best options for use in coastal areas, as it reacts with the air to form a resilient coating of aluminum oxide which protects it from corrosive effects. Although steel cladding can rust in similar conditions, it is more resistant to denting than aluminum. Metal cladding can be heavy and therefore difficult to install. Its primary strength is that, unlike most other options, it is resistant to fire.
Masonry siding materials include brick and stone. It can be incorporated into a variety of styles and, like wood siding, be painted in any palette. Masonry cladding's greatest strength is its durability, some lasting over a century with minimal maintenance. The main environmental threat to masonry cladding is precipitation. If the brick or stone is not treated or improperly installed, it will not serve as an effective moisture barrier. The only drawback to masonry is its cost: it is significantly more expensive than wood, plastic, or metal.
Mr. Oliver is a marketing agent of Blue Ridge Exteriors. The home siding contractor provides fiber cement siding throughout the Richmond Virginia area. For more information on their [http://www.blueridgeexteriors.com/]Home Siding please visit their website.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Budda_Oliver http://EzineArticles.com/?Home-Siding-Options&id=2372444
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