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While you can install siding yourself, it’s a time-consuming and complicated process. Unless you have all the tools and have experience in siding, you’re usually better off hiring a siding company to do the job for you. For most homeowners, the money saved by doing it yourself isn’t worth the time and potential risks—both during the installation and down the road—involved with the project.

Many modern homes have soffits, but older ones don’t, and you may be wondering why. Older homes have eaves that extend further beyond the home and help to circulate air, negating the need for a soffit. This style of building has faded away, therefore, modern homes need separate soffit installation. Modern soffits are more efficient than this older style and require less material to construct, saving homeowners money.

Many people looking for an alternative to stucco consider fiber cement, stone veneer, brick, stone, and vinyl. Wood is another potentially affordable option, but it requires more maintenance than stucco, so most homeowners who like the look and minimal siding maintenance of stucco opt for brick or stone. There are many different siding options, so you’ll need to weigh your priorities in terms of budget, aesthetics, insulation, and other factors.

Engineered wood siding is still a relatively new type of siding, so it’s hard to say with certainty how long engineered wood siding will last. That said, homeowners should expect to get somewhere from 20 to 30 years out of their engineered wood siding, especially if they keep up with maintenance, including painting it every 10 years. Painting the exterior of a house costs an average of $3,150.