best siding for a house?

[mizzou]

I'm completely, 100%, anti Vinyl siding. I can't stand the stuff. I guess it's only saving grace is that it looks better then dilapidated falling apart asbestos rot.

So let's talk siding then! Cedar, steel, aluminum, hardy board, you name it. What do you like and what do you prefer? Do you like the convenience and cost of vinyl?

I like the traditional hardwood boards..I just love it! More maintenance for sure, but a great and timeless looking classic. It's also easy to work with and repair:

and for giggles...here is what your no-maintenance vinyl siding turns into

That stuff belongs only on trailers and cheap structures!

 

[NutBucket]

Wood is definitely prefered if cost isn't an issue. I'd much rather stucco than any vinyl/aluminum though.

 

[echo4747]

Brick... if you can afford it

 

[edro]

I've had vinyl, aluminum, cedar and brick.
Aluminum and cedar require painting every so often.
Aluminum can dent, but that rarely happens.
Brick is my favorite for looks and no maintenance.

 

[NutBucket]

Is brick really no maintenance? The mortar will eventually need work won't it?

 

[PricklyPete]

Is brick really no maintenance? The mortar will eventually need work won't it?

My 99 year old house needs some serious tuck-pointing. Some previous owners made some dubious efforts. Will likely need to invest in full resto in the next couple years...but that will be $$.

 

[Greenman]

Bang for the buck, Hardiplank or stucco. For a great look it's clear redwood and ceder. Cheap and dirty is Vinyl. I don't think I've ever put brick on a house, it's just not popular here in the land of fruits and nuts, though it looks pretty sharp.
I would never own a house sided in natural wood, they're an unending maintenance project, and just not worth the effort. But they look fantastic.

 

[herm0016]

hardiplank gets my vote. looks great and lasts as long as you paint it when it needs it.

 

[Meghan54]

Brick first, but it's expensive outside the areas that make brick. Down here in the SE, brick is used everywhere....on houses from the mid-$30's upward.

For my second choice, it'd be cedar shingles. Low maintenance, very durable. My in-law's house on Cape Cod was cedar shingled and they'd been up for 60+ years. Admittedly, some did need replacing, but overall, the vast majority were still in very good shape, and this was with little to zero maintenance done on them.

Don't know if I'd personally go with hardwood siding...too much restaining needed over time, unless you "solve" that by painting.

Vinyl....blech. Agree it is a step above asbestos shingles, tho.

 

[bamx2]

Brick !

 

[stormkroe]

hardiplank gets my vote. looks great and lasts as long as you paint it when it needs it.

This. Any color or style, and it's survived every hailstorm I've seen, even when stucco was destroyed. Also, brick/stone, but at $25/ft2 installed it's up to you.

 

[MongGrel]

Bang for the buck, Hardiplank or stucco. For a great look it's clear redwood and ceder. Cheap and dirty is Vinyl. I don't think I've ever put brick on a house, it's just not popular here in the land of fruits and nuts, though it looks pretty sharp.
I would never own a house sided in natural wood, they're an unending maintenance project, and just not worth the effort. But they look fantastic.

Have Stucco here.

I like it myself.

 

[skyking]

I am not fond of cedar here because of fire hazard. Hardi is fire resistant and combined with a metal roof my house might survive a brush fire. Cedar shingles? No way.

 

[MrPickins]

Any thoughts on LP SmartSide vs Hardie?

Thinking of going with the LP for ease of install (doing it myself).

 

[Blain]

I'm completely, 100%, anti Vinyl siding. I can't stand the stuff. I guess it's only saving grace is that it looks better then dilapidated falling apart asbestos rot.

So let's talk siding then! Cedar, steel, aluminum, hardy board, you name it.

TruCedar Single 6″ HD foam backed, wood grain steel siding

 

[Kaido]

I like Eldorado Stone the best:

http://www.eldoradostone.com/

Available in both brick & stone designs. Minus the sag of actual stones.

 

[Kaido]

Vinyl....blech. Agree it is a step above asbestos shingles, tho.

Speaking of shingles, but in terms of roofing - I like Gerard Roofing a lot:

http://www.gerardusa.com/

Stone-coated steel shingles, good warranty, strong against wind, fire, etc., and look normal.

 

[jenny55]

I am not sure about this. Is this the most recently technologically sound vinyl siding? I heard the new sidings that are vinyl don't have to be repainted again and are better at warping than they were and don't need to be washed as often. That's what http://conservationconstructionofdallas.com/ but now i'm questioning if this is the correct information now. ANybody else have any more insights on this topic?

 

[Greenman]

Do I smell spam?

 

[WilliamM2]

I'm completely, 100%, anti Vinyl siding. I can't stand the stuff. I guess it's only saving grace is that it looks better then dilapidated falling apart asbestos rot.

So let's talk siding then! Cedar, steel, aluminum, hardy board, you name it. What do you like and what do you prefer? Do you like the convenience and cost of vinyl?

I like the traditional hardwood boards..I just love it! More maintenance for sure, but a great and timeless looking classic. It's also easy to work with and repair:

and for giggles...here is what your no-maintenance vinyl siding turns into

That stuff belongs only on trailers and cheap structures!

I've never seen vinyl like your first picture. And the second pic is obviously damage from a grill being placed to close to it. Never had any problems with the vinyl on my house, it' been truly maintenance free. It's covering the old real wood siding that was a pain to constantly maintain.

Here's a hint, don't buy the cheapest vinyl you can get, and don't cook on the grill 6" away. In fact I wouldn't recommend that with any siding.

 

[Greenman]

I've never seen vinyl like your first picture. And the second pic is obviously damage from a grill being placed to close to it. Never had any problems with the vinyl on my house, it' been truly maintenance free. It's covering the old real wood siding that was a pain to constantly maintain.

Here's a hint, don't buy the cheapest vinyl you can get, and don't cook on the grill 6" away. In fact I wouldn't recommend that with any siding.

Around here Vinyl is considered the cheap cover up for failed siding. I've never once had a client even ask about it. The architects I work with would have a stroke if I even mentioned it. I assume it's a California thing because it doesn't appear to be a bad product, it just looks like vinyl.