There is a wide variety of sliding solutions for Minneapolis homeowners to choose from. Whether you’re looking for the maintenance-free convenience of vinyl, the warm beauty of engineered wood, or the endurance of cement board siding, you can have it done for your MN home. In this article, we shall highlight the features of vinyl, engineered wood, and cement board siding to help you choose the right option for your home. Read on!
Vinyl Siding
Introduced to the residential building industry in the early 1960s, vinyl siding has become a popular choice owing to its durability, versatility, and ease of maintenance. It’s also rigid, strong, and resistant to impact. Homeowners have a variety of colors and a limited range of patterns to choose from. Depending on your style and preference, you can choose between horizontal and vertical panels, shingles, scallops, Dutch lap, traditional lap, beaded designs, and fish scales profiles.
With its ability to withstand high winds (up to 110 mph or higher) and its impressive resistance to heat, cold and moisture, vinyl siding can retain its look for several years. You won’t ever need to paint vinyl siding. All you need is to regularly clean the siding with a soft cloth and garden hose.
Vinyl siding are a perfect option for busy people who dread the thought of having to repaint their exterior every few years. With regular cleaning, vinyl siding can last a lifetime.
Perhaps the only downside witnessed with vinyl siding in the past was its poor insulation value. However, newer styles of vinyl siding are manufactured with greatly improved insulation, giving your home an extra layer of protection. Vinyl is also more costly than engineered wood or cement board siding.
Engineered Wood Siding
Engineered wood siding is manufactured from composite wood. Different fibers and strands of various woods are mixed with composite wood to create a finished product. You can find engineered wood siding in sizes ranging from 4 feet to 8 feet sheets or lap panels. Depending on your style, you can choose between smooth and embossed textures.
These siding are designed to provide the natural look of wood while eliminating the flaws associated with natural wood, such as deterioration and high maintenance costs. Engineered wood siding is actually superior to real wood in terms of strength, moisture rot, and pest resistance, and ease of installation and maintenance.
For anyone looking for a cost-effective and energy-efficient siding, engineered wood carries the day. Engineered wood also gives your home a natural aesthetic appeal of real wood.
Cement Board Siding
Cement board siding don’t have knots and other inconsistencies of wood siding, making them more durable. They also hold paint better, which reduces maintenance costs. Other than its low maintenance costs, cement board siding resists moisture, warping, termites, shrinking, fading, cracking, and impact damage.
The lifespan of your cement board siding will depend on whether it was factory-painted or painted on-site. On-site painted cement board siding will last about 5 to 7 years while factory-painted boards will last between 15 and 20 years. However, the cement board siding can live for as long as 50 to 100 years if properly taken care of and repainted as needed.
On the downside, cement board siding are often labor-intensive during the installation. The labor cost can be two to three times the cost of installing wood or vinyl siding.
How Minnesota Weather Affects Your Siding
Overall, vinyl siding lasts the longest with minimal maintenance requirements. With absolutely no effort in cleaning, vinyl siding will last up to 60 years. But if you properly take care of your siding by regularly cleaning them, you could enjoy up to 100 years of reliable performance.
Having said that, heavy storms or rough children at play can significantly affect the lifespan of your siding.
You’ll need to paint and stain engineered wood siding and cement board siding periodically to maintain their appearance. If you don’t have the time or money to maintain such siding, vinyl siding may be your best option.
The Right Time to Replace Siding
Fall is the right time to replace your siding and prep your home for the harsh Minnesota winter months. Proper siding is one of the critical components of energy-efficient homes. If your home has damaged or outdated siding, you could see higher heating bills in winter. So, make your home beautiful and cozier all winter long by installing the right siding.
Add Instant Value and Appeal with New Siding
Your home’s style reflects your personality. With multiple siding options to choose from, you can rest assured that Midwest Roofing, Siding & Windows in the Twin Cities will help you determine the best siding option for your home based on your budget and style. We offer installation, repair, and maintenance of vinyl, engineered wood, and cement board siding. There are clear advantages of each type of siding, and we can help you choose what will work perfectly for your home. Contact us today to begin the conversation with one of our knowledgeable siding experts.