Exterior Siding Options
A very important decision when designing a new house is deciding on what materials to use for the exterior. There are so many materials to choose from; brick, stucco, fiber cement, and metal just to name a few. Deciding on a material to side your house is kind of like choosing clothing to wear.
When choosing what to wear, we go with clothes that fit our location or the weather. We most certainly would not choose to wear flip flops in Michigan’s winter. But we also think about what fashion statement we want to make with our clothing, too. And how much money we have to spend also helps in determining what we purchase to wear.
But, we cannot change the siding materials on our house as easily as we can our clothes! Therefore, most of us choose a material and stick with it. We are not planning on repainting, restaining or anything of that nature. We will choose something that will look as good on day one as it does twenty years down the road. So when you are choosing a siding material, you should choose something that will go the distance for you and your home.
Horizontal Lap Siding
Probably the most universal choice in siding material would be horizontal lap siding. This type of siding comes in a variety of finishes such as wood, aluminum, vinyl or fiber cement. It also comes in a wide range of colors so you are sure to find a finish that is you. It also looks great on a colonial or traditional style homes as well as if you have a simple or boxy shaped house.
Board and Batten
Board and Batten siding is similar to horizontal lap siding. It is a good choice for the traditional styled home and is available in wood and fiber cement. But, unlike the horizontal lines of lap siding, board and batten emphasizes vertical lines which make your house appear taller. Originally, board and batten was used on barns and other farm buildings. It still evokes those feelings of rural structures and looks fantastic when combined with lap siding where it creates a comfortable look.
Stucco
Stucco is a great choice for exteriors that have large surfaces and simple geometries. It is available in natural as well as synthetic options and varies in texture from fine to coarse. It is best to use stucco where shadows are minimal. Stucco is best for so many different home styles, from modern and contemporary to Prairie, but is most closely associated with the Southwestern Spanish colonial style house.
Brick
Brick is such a great option in siding material choices for your home. It is durable and requires almost no maintenance. Brick comes in a variety of sizes, textures and colors. They can be stacked or laid up on so many different patterns. Even though brick is closely associated with traditional style homes, it can also be used on houses ranging from contemporary to Prairie with almost every style in between.
Stone
Like brick, stone is also very durable and requires very little maintenance. Stone is available in so many different colors, textures and stone sizes. Stone siding adapts nicely to almost any style of home.