Asking a few questions can help you make your decision
Choosing between wood, vinyl, and fiber cement siding for your home depends on your budget, climate, maintenance preferences, and the look you want.
Expect to pay $6,600 to $23,000 for fiber cement siding installation and $7,000 to $23,000 for wood siding, depending on your home size and brand choice.
Your climate influences the best siding choice for your home, as wood requires more frequent maintenance in harsh weather while fiber cement resists fire and extreme conditions.
Hiring a local siding professional provides reliable guidance on material selection and timeline estimates, helping you choose the right siding for your home and budget.
If you’re planning on re-siding your house, you’ll have to choose between a number of different siding materials—among them, wood and fiber cement. Asking your siding contractor a few questions before you make your final decision can make you aware of how each choice could impact your budget, timeline, and future maintenance needs.
Fiber cement siding is a mix of Portland cement, sand, water, and cellulose fibers that create durable, long-lasting, and low-maintenance house siding. Fiber cement siding doesn’t require much maintenance, but the process to manufacture it isn’t as environmentally friendly as the process for wood siding.
Wood siding is typically made from cedar, pine, or another durable wood. There are a few different types of wood siding, including shakes, shingles, or clapboard. Wood siding is a sustainable option as it’s made from renewable resources but requires some maintenance over its lifespan.
Vinyl siding is made of polyvinyl chloride mixed with dyes and then molded to give it a texture that mimics the appearance of wood siding. It’s available in a variety of colors, sizes, styles, and shapes, making it very versatile. It’s also affordable and low-maintenance, often lasting for decades. Unfortunately, the color can fade over time, and painting it may void the warranty. It’s also not as durable as other materials. You can replace vinyl siding, but the new areas can stand out if the remaining siding is faded.
Depending on the size of your home and the difficulty of the installation, siding installation can take between four and 12 days, with projects taking an average of around seven days. Your local siding contractor will be able to give you a better estimate based on the complexity of your home’s design, how many stories it is, and if any custom features could add to the timeline.
Your climate can impact the choice between fiber cement and wood siding. If you live in a harsher climate with lots of sun, wind, rain, or snow, you’ll have to treat the wood siding more often to protect it from the elements. Fiber cement siding is durable and will hold up in harsher environments. Fiber cement siding is also fire resistant, so if you live in an area where fire is a concern, it may be a good choice.
Understanding your budget can help you make the right decision when it comes to the best siding material to choose. Fiber cement siding costs can range from $6,600 to over $23,000, depending on the size of the home, the brand, and installation costs. Wood siding costs between $7,000 and $23,000, so the decision will really come down to the qualities you need and the look you want for your home.
No matter what kind, siding is intended to protect your home from damage. If your siding is damaged, that means that it’s not protecting the home, leaving it susceptible to mold and mildew, damage from pests, and impacts from hail and branches. Signs that you need to repair or replace siding include cracks, holes, loose or warped pieces, and anything else that could mean the siding isn’t protecting your home properly. Your siding contractor can also assess any additional damage to the home that may have resulted from damaged siding.
The guys at PaveWay are top notch. From the estimate to the job being completed,all was done in a timely and professional manner. I myself was a DOT Engineer Inspector(know what to look for) and got to talking with Cameron and he himself was a Contract inspector for a few years,same job as...
All Star Paving and SealingWe live in a condo and had space to add a tall cabinet. The problem was the space was already occupied by our catsâ litter box. We needed to still keep the litter box in that same corner. Beiler Custom Cabinets was able to work with our need and design request. What was created was an...
Beiler Custom Cabinets, LTDWe had a gutter blockage that was causing water to sheet down the side of the house and ultimately it started to come in at a window (need mortar people next). Called around 7:30am, and he responded by 8am. He was able to come out the same morning and do a look over and clean out. He also...
Kevin was thorough and efficient with the repairs he made to our exterior cedar siding.
KMM Homes ImprovementI purchased the "Big Deal": $199.00 for exterior pressure-washing of one- or two-story home up to 2,000 square feet. They cleaned the siding only. I wasn't aware when I bought the Big Deal that they would not do any other surfaces other than the siding (i.e. sides of the gutters or stucco). I...
Complete Home ServicesOn 11/3/15, I called Todd of Todd's Roofing and left a message. He promptly called my back and I indicated that I needed a roof repair for a roof that had a leak. He explained his basic prices, gave me the I'm not the cheapest or the highest speech, and he agreed to come by the property...
He was knowledgeable and nice, but was lacking on the customer service side with the follow up. He charges the same amount as a professional engineer.
Inspector C.H.R.I.S.This brownstone is historical and the carpentry work is very detailed. I was very happy to secure a company in NY and living in OH to complete the request. Wood work on this brownstone has been existing since approximately 1888 and West side did a GREAT JOB. I will not be able to...
Westside Home ImprovementI was very impressed with Miller Cantrell! I live in an old home in which the sewage line that runs from my home to the sewage system is a line of clay tile. These eventually collapse and need to be replaced - an expensive problem and sure to happen at the worst time. I told them that my...
Love the staff and my doctor dr Dickerson is patient kind and attentive. Great bed side manner.
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