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Aluminum siding isn't the only type of siding material on the market for giving your home's exterior a makeover. Alternatives to aluminum siding include vinyl siding, wood siding, composite siding, and brick veneer siding. Each siding material comes with strengths and weaknesses that could influence your decision based on your particular circumstances, so it's  important to look into each type as they pertain to your home and lifestyle before deciding.

A popular competitor to aluminum siding is vinyl siding, which has a similar price and is lower maintenance but comes with a shorter life span.

A standard drill will work just fine if you’re drilling small holes, and only a few of them. But anything with a diameter larger than 3/8 inch is best done with a hammer drill, since it is stronger, faster, and also makes your drill bits last longer. While you don’t absolutely need a hammer drill for stucco, it is a worthy investment if you think you might drill more holes down the road.

While vinyl siding's lifespan of 20 to 40 years is impressive for the cost, other siding options can actually last much longer. Stucco siding can last 50 to 80 years when properly maintained and is only a bit more expensive than vinyl. Fiber cement is similar in that it’s a little more expensive but lasts more than twice as long. Stone and brick last the longest, often more than 100 years, but they’re the most expensive siding materials.

The curing time for stucco typically takes several weeks to fully complete. During the curing process, the stucco undergoes a chemical reaction and gradually hardens. It's important to note that curing is different from drying. While the surface of the stucco may dry relatively quickly within a few hours or days, the curing process continues beneath the surface, strengthening and solidifying the stucco. 

It's best to avoid excessive moisture exposure during the curing period, as it can impede the curing process. The exact curing time can vary based on factors such as temperature, humidity, and the specific stucco mixture used.