House Siding Options, Plus Costs, Pros & Cons

Average Cost To Install New Siding Typical range $5,240 - $8,130
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There are several different material options for house siding: wood, metal, stone and stone veneer, vinyl, brick, fiber-cement, stucco and more. But, looking at the materials for siding is just scratching the surface! Delving deeper, we see many more options and sub-options.

The only limitations are your imagination. We’ll cover primary options plus a few sub-options in this guide. Special note: all cost related information is based mostly on the 2024 information. As you can guess, the cost of materials and installation have gone up by double digits compared to previous year due to supply chain issues and rampant inflation.

1. Wood
2. Vinyl
3. Fiber Cement
4. Stucco
5. Brick
6. Metal
7. Stone

Material Category: Wood (4 Primary Options)

lpsmartside-lap-trim-house

The main options relate to how the material is installed, such as: bevel, shingles, board-and-batten, and split-log.

There are numerous sub-options, as wood has several grains, many ways to cut / shape it, and thousands of color choices.

Within this category, we also include Engineered Wood siding. Also known as composite wood, man-made wood, or manufactured board.

Natural wood obviously comes directly from timber, while the man-made version is manufactured from wood fibers, saw dust, and bonding agents. It’s a strong, lightweight and less expensive alternative. Instead of pieces cut from logs, the material is shaped to match the order for a job.

Wood Siding Costs Installed: Natural Wood vs. Engineered Wood Siding, Plus ROI

Natural wood material is relatively expensive, considering the cost of initial investment and the ongoing maintenance costs.

On average, natural wood siding costs between $10.50 to $17.50 per square of natural wood siding installed, depending on the project scope and complexity, trim options, and your home’s location. This price range also depends heavily on the grain and grade of wood used, as well as specific style and options.

Average Cost To Install Wood Siding Typical Range: $10,230 - $15,360
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The recent increase in costs is tied to the overall spike in the prices of lumber, as well as tighter supply of home remodeling pros.

Prices will be higher in more affluent areas, as natural wood is considered a premium material that can also help a property stand out in a neighborhood with other higher-priced homes.

For engineered wood siding, you can expect to pay between $9.50 and $15.50 per square foot installed. The $12.50 to $14.50 per sq.ft. range is in between the midrange and the high-end, while a somewhat fairer price range would fall in between $10.50 and $13.50 per sq.ft. installed.

Pricing for the installation on the entire house will have a fairly wide range, but this is usually due to your home’s region and local real estate values, as well as normal variations (that can be quite wild) in pricing among different contractors in your area.

To install natural wood as cladding for an averaged sized home, it will cost between $21,000 and $35,000 for a typical house with 2,000 sq.ft. of siding.

With Engineered Wood, your total project cost will be between $19,000 and $31,000 for a typical house with 2,000 sq.ft. of siding.

ROI (Cost-to-Value Return) for the Engineered Wood siding is nearly 79% (cost-to-value return), which is higher than the natural wood’s 77% cost-to-value return normally recouped at resale.

Average Cost To Install LP Siding Typical Range: $9,210 - $13,750
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Grains and Grades of Wood

Natural wood benefits from sub-options that nature takes care of manufacturing. For residential siding, the types of trees (grains) routinely used are pine, oak, spruce, cypress, cedar, redwood.

With most wood siding projects, cuts are made to produce boards, or planks. How that surface appears indicates another sub-option dealing with grade. Boards where knots or other blemishes are visible are considered low grade, and less expensive.

For building structure, this is fine, because no one will see it. For siding that will be covered with paint, it is permissible. Beyond that, it is a matter of subjective choice.

Many consider blemishes to be unsightly or a distraction, while others see it as mark of authentic wood. Man-made wood usually avoids such blemishes.

Clear grades, or architect’s grade, are considered premium quality.

Primary Style 1: Bevel

grade-clear-beveled-cedar

Sometimes referenced as clapboard or lap siding. Traditionally, oak, pine and spruce are the natural wood grains that are used in this style, but really any wood grain can be used for lap siding. — This is the most common style on homes in North America. It is usually what other materials (such as vinyl and fiber cement) mimic to blend in with other homes in the neighborhood or region.

This style is easily identifiable as long, horizontal planks of wood on a home. Sounds simple enough, until you realize there are numerous sub-options for how the wood is cut and thus shaped to form each plank. Standard is each board is about 1 inch thick, and 10 feet or longer.

Length is more of a construction consideration than style. Yet width of each board is a stylistic consideration, with 6 or 8 inches being the common choices.

Cuts Above the Rest

How the boards (or planks) are actually cut will determine installation. From the curb, bevel and clapboard look identical. Yet, they are technically different, based on how each board is cut.

Clapboard maintains the same thickness, where bevel does not, going with thicker wood on what is the bottom edge (closest to the ground).

Because boards will be stacked upon each other, how they fit on the wall together is another stylistic consideration.

There are rabbeted edge bevel boards and non-rabbeted. While this has structural considerations, for how water will drain, away from joints between boards, it also has stylistic considerations.

Furthermore, the bottom edge of planks may be curvy, rather than the usual straight edge. While not even getting into paint colors or staining, you can see bevel has numerous sub-options.

Primary Style 2: Shakes and Shingles

cedar-shingles

Really two styles here, but people commonly interchange them. This style is identifiable as each plank appears like short rectangular pieces, much smaller than horizontal or vertical boards.

Traditionally, the two were differentiated by how they were cut. Shake being axe-cut, and shingles being saw cut. In modern times, they are likely all saw cut. Yet, the surface texture may be manipulated to give the appearance of a shake.

Routinely, people reference this style as “cedar shake” and thus the primary grain for this material is white or red cedar (light or dark appearance). Redwood or pine may also be grains used with these styles. Sub-options within this style deal with surface and thickness.

There are thin smooth boards (shingles) which may have knots are no knots. And then there are thicker boards (shake) that have both sides cut roughly or one side smooth the other face rough.

And then there is the cut of each piece, which likely depends on the overall project design. 3 sub-options here:

  • straight edge – all pieces are virtually identical
  • staggered edge – pieces vary in width and length, intended to not be uniform in appearance
  • round edge – pieces are virtually identical, but the bottom edge appears is intentionally not straight
Average Cost To Install Wood Siding Typical Range: $10,230 - $15,360
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Primary Style 3: Board-and-Batten

wood-board-and-batten-siding via WoodHaven Log Lumber

This is also known simply as vertical board wood siding, or sometimes referred as barn-style. Vertical panels (boards) are lined up side-by-side, and all seams are covered by a strip called the Batten. The pattern is usually done in a uniform way, to convey a sense of craftsmanship.

Plywood, pine, and fir wood are the inexpensive ways to achieve this style, but really all grains of wood are an option. Clear grades are sought here, though routinely this style is painted over.

With a cabin, knotted grades are sometimes sought to deliver a more ‘natural’ appearance.

Because of how this style is installed (rather simple), it is perhaps the easiest to maintain and to repair. Though a disadvantage, at least over the previous two, is that it doesn’t drain water away from the home as well.

Primary Style 4: Split Log

split-log-smooth

Also known as “D siding” because here the wood protrudes away from the home in the shape of, you guessed it, the letter “D.” Log cabins used to be commonplace in early North America. Today, they would be ridiculously expensive, and stylistically unwanted as the interior and exterior would look nearly the same. So, today we go with half logs, or smaller, to get the exterior appearance.

Boards and shingles, while somewhat expensive, are not quite the price of split log, which runs between $3.50 and $6.00 per sq. ft. Why the wide range? Because not all split logs are the same size.

Half log siding is 3 inches thick, between 6 and 12 inches wide (uniform width within an order) and 8 to 16 feet long. While this is clearly half of a log, some sellers may reference this as “full log” due to the other product, known as quarter log siding.

denmark-half-log-siding-cedar-porch-and-cedar-deck-railing

Quarter log siding is 2 inches thick, and then all the other measurement ranges (for half log, above) are the same. This will be a thinner “D” appearance. Some sellers reference this as “half log” with the idea that the other version is “full log”.

Pine and Cedar are the common grains for split-log siding. Unlike the other wood options, it is very rare that this wood is painted or coated. Though with pine, it is best to stain it, to ensure the wood lasts longer. With cedar, staining and painting is unnecessary, but must still be cleaned no less than once a decade.

To chink or not to chink, that is the question

Because logs can have a fully stacked appearance, with no gaps between, or stacked with visible mortar between, the question of chinking comes up. Used to be, this is how log cabins were constructed.

Think of cabins that have horizontal white stripes between the logs. Those channels are the chinks. In modern times, this is a stylistic option that allows the channel to be presented, but not necessarily filled. In today’s world, that filling is an acrylic compound.

The benefits of chinking – it gives a more authentic split-log appearance and adds layer of protection from wind or other things (i.e., animals) that may try to penetrate gaps.

The disadvantages – it costs more, plus adds more to maintain, and some view it as a distraction from an all-wood siding. But the channel, also known as the “reveal” doesn’t need to be filled. If left unfilled, it does appear as an all-wood sided home.

Installation

Wood is perhaps the only siding material that doesn’t require expertise to be installed. Yes, that helps. But a handyman or do-it-yourself person with carpentry experience can do quality installation of wood siding. A pro will likely be more efficient and have ability to obtain materials at a better price.

Installation starts with covering exterior wall/sheathing with standard house wrap or felt paper, and depending on the style, nailing wood pieces in a systematic fashion to all sides of the home that are designed to match the primary style option. Easier said than done, but really is one of the easiest materials to work with.

The R-value, or resistance to air flow, for wood hovers around 1.0, as one inch of wood is the standard measurement for exterior siding. Because of variation in grains, and styled options, the range is between R-value .80 and 1.35.

Shingle/shake and split log have higher R-values, being that they are applications thicker than one inch. Spruce, Cedar and Redwoods, being softwoods, have higher R-values.

Colors and Maintenance

The caveat of wood siding is that it requires routine and ongoing maintenance. With a coat of primer, wood can be transformed into every conceivable color, so sub-options galore.

Painted finishes protect wood from weathering, fungus, and insect infestation. Yet, they wear fast and when they do, this natural product can attract animals who feed off it or make it their home. So painting is needed no more than every 3 years, but no less than every 10 years.

Staining is an option that is rather unique to wood as a siding material. Unlike paint, staining is intended to bring out the natural beauty of wood, by accentuating the grain’s typical features.

Additionally, stain is resistant to chipping and cracking, whereas painted wood reveals such flaws. And staining is less expensive since a primer layer is unnecessary.

Clear sealers are another alternative which prevent moisture damage. Like stains, they make it so wood retains its natural beauty. Further you can spray fire-retardant chemicals onto wood for added layer of protection.

All of this adds up to rather routine maintenance. If not done, wood siding will last 15 to 20 years. With regular maintenance every decade, wood can last 50+ years.

Advantages of Wood as Siding

– Fairly durable, if properly maintained
– natural beauty
– eco-friendly
– Easier to install than most, if not all, other materials

Advantages of Engineered Wood as Siding

– less expensive and lower maintenance than natural wood
– more durable and more resistant to bugs and fungus than natural wood
– long warranty
– good return on investment (ROI) or cost-to-value return

Disadvantages of Wood and Engineered Wood Siding

– requires ongoing maintenance (adding to overall investment cost)
– natural wood is relatively expensive just for material, not for labor though
– subject to ongoing problems from insects and animals attracted to the material
– unless specially treated, wood can burn rather easily

Material Category: Vinyl (2 Primary Options)

vinyl-siding-on-a-house

Vinyl is the #1 material in the US. for residential siding, for several reasons. Being low cost, very versatile and low maintenance is hard to beat. Still, like all materials it has disadvantages, which we’ll get to, but let’s cover the basics.

The technical name – polyvinyl chloride (PVC) is always shortened to “vinyl.” It’s really a heavy-duty plastic base, blended with special additives to to resist color fading and protect it from UV rays.

Versatility is often overlooked, but there’s not a style that it can’t emulate. Bevel, vertical planks, shake and shingle, and even split log are all style options with vinyl.

Cost of Vinyl Siding Installed, Plus ROI

vinyl-siding-on-a-cape-style-home

On average, vinyl siding costs between $7.50 and $15.00 per square foot installed, which is considered low compared to other other popular house siding options like fiber cement, natural wood, and engineered wood.

For hollow-back vinyl, the price range can be as low as $7.50 to $10.00 per sq.ft. installed.

For the insulated vinyl siding, the price range is between $10.50 to $15.00 per sq.ft. installed.

For an averaged-sized home (2,000 sq.ft. of siding), hollow-back vinyl siding translates to $15,000 to $20,000; and foam-back falls within the $21,000 to $30,000 price range. Given the low maintenance and substantial warranty, this is considered very budget friendly.

ROI (Cost-to-Value Return) for hollow back is nearly 90%, while foam back comes in at about 94% in 2023.

Average Cost To Install New Siding Typical Range: $5,240 - $8,130
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Uninsulated vs. Insulated Vinyl Siding

insulated-vs-uninsulated-vinyl-siding

With vinyl siding, the two primary options we focus on, deal with the thickness of the panel and whether the panel is insulated, which greatly impacts its insulation properties. Uninsulated vinyl siding is typically what is referred to and is known as “hollow back”.

Insulated vinyl uses a foam board backing to fill what is otherwise gaps behind the material for airflow. This greatly enhances the R-value (from 3 to 10 times more compared to hollow back). It also adds significantly to the cost, though surprisingly, hollow back has the higher ROI in terms of cost-to-value return at resale.

Material Explanation

Horizontal boards, really lap siding, is the most popular style for vinyl siding. The closer together, or less wide, each board, the less the cost. Though panels and boards for vinyl are not the same. An 8 inch wide panel costs about the same as a “double 5 inch panel” which is really 10 inches wide, and has 2 ‘boards’ on each panel.

Vinyl boards have a grained or slightly rough finish as well as smooth finishes. For the bevel variety, they are intended to closely resemble wood. The thickness of panels determines quality (durability) as well as price. The minimum thickness is .035 inches, while .052 is on the high end. Those numbers may appear odd, but the range is about 1/32nd of an inch to 1/16th of an inch.

Most residential products fall in the range of .040 to .046.

Panel length is usually 12 feet long. Actual length on a siding project is determined by builder’s preference or request of the homeowner as some prefer the look of no seams between the panels. Other lengths that are fairly standard are 16, 20 and 25 feet, with custom length paneling available at an extra cost.

Panel projection deals with how much the material extends away from the vertical wall of the home’s exterior. The greater the projection, the more it looks like bevel wood siding from a distance, and the more natural shadows appear under each horizontal ‘board.’

Installation

Like most siding projects, installation starts with a house wrap, that depending on builder’s preference may vary in thickness to help with insulation. After this comes the siding material, or the vinyl panels.

Panels are installed from bottom of a wall up, nailing along a hem line and interlocking panels above it that snap into place. One qualitative difference is type of hem line, with single hem being weakest, and full roll over, or double hem, being strongest.

Hollow back siding has an R-value of .6 to under 1.0. Going with foam back vinyl siding, the R-value increases to the range of 2.0 to 5.0, which is significant and fairly high compared to all other siding materials.

Colors and Styles

siding-styles

With colors and vinyl, it is important to note that the color is blended through the entire thickness of the material. Most other siding materials coats colors on the surface. Vinyl is doing it on and below the surface, such that when the color fades from the surface, the entire facade fades in a uniform, virtually non-discernible way.

And while color options are nearly infinite, the reality is that vinyl siding installers carry a line of products that tend to offer between 15 and 40 standard color options. Ordering custom colors is always an option but will cost extra.

Maintenance is virtually a non-issue with vinyl siding. Rain will clean the material, but if it is dirty, yearly washing with a hose is likely to take care of the problems. No need for repainting.

Typically, modern styles of vinyl siding will last between 40 to 60 years before the color starts to greatly fade. Warranties for vinyl siding are usually ‘lifetime’ for the materials or 40 to 50 years, prorated.

Advantages

– low cost / budget friendly
– versatile
– low maintenance / won’t rot
– weather and insect resistant
– awesome color options, fades evenly
– good ROI
– top notch R-Value (with foam back option)

Disadvantages

– disliked by some as looking to ‘plastic like’
– noticeable seams – due to poor installation
– raw vinyl doesn’t hold up well to UV rays
– fire or concentrated high heat near material causes melting
– less thicker varieties can dent somewhat easily

Material Category: Fiber Cement (4 Primary Options)

fiber-cement-siding

Commonly known as James Hardie, the original company to create this type of plank board. Their name is synonymous with the material. It is sometimes referenced generically as cement board. The actual material is a mix of wood pulp, cement, clay, and sand.

Fiber cement is about as durable as vinyl, minus the plastic look. The material will last between 50 to 100 years, though the surface may require repainting well before this.

Cost of Fiber Siding Installed, Plus ROI

On average, you can expect to pay between $10.50 and $17.50 per square foot of traditional fiber cement lap siding installed. The other styles of fiber cement such as simulated shakes will likely exceed $13.50 per sq. ft. installed.

For an averaged sized American home with approximately 2,000 sq.ft. of siding, $21,000 to $35,000 is a realistic price range. The actual cost of the project depends on the project specifics, trimming options, and your home’s location.

Average Cost To Install Hardie Siding Typical Range: $9,350 - $14,210
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Installing fiber cement siding is a very labor-intensive process requiring a two-person team to carry each fiber cement board during the installation, which is reflected in the total cost of the job.

DIY or Not: If willing to risk the drawbacks and installation errors by going the DIY route, the same sized home could have a new fiber cement siding installed for under $10,000. Although, this is not a recommended option.

ROI (Cost-to-Value Return) is very good, coming in at 88.5%. This is based on the latest available data. Fiber cement continues to be a premium siding option that is relatively affordable, compared to the other products that rely on masonry type work.

Primary Style 1: HardiePlank (Lap Siding)

hardieplank-lap-siding

Like vinyl, fiber cement’s most common style is meant to mimic bevel wood siding. HardiePlank has both smooth and textured/rough finishes.

Going with the lap siding style, fiber cement has the highest ROI and scores 100% on the ‘Joy Factor’ from homeowners, according to NARI’s Remodeling Income Report (PDF).

Primary Style 2: Shake and Shingles

hardie-shingle

As explained in our section on wood, there’s a difference between (wood) shake and shingles based on how it was traditionally cut. Here in the cement board category, they’re synonymous. But there are plenty of options:

HardieShingle shows just a couple of options but check out this page from Allura’s website showing a half dozen or so options in this style.

Primary Style 3: Vertical Panels

hardie-vertical-panel

In this style the board is 4 ft (wide) by 8, 9 and 10 feet tall, or long. There are smooth and wood grain finishes. Plus, there is a stucco version to provide a different (than wood) textural option. Though as you’ll see below in our Stucco category, this is barely scratching the surface of the options in that style.

Primary Style 4: Artisan Lap

hardie-artisan-lap

This style is James Hardie’s premium version of horizontal lap siding, or architectural grade. They provide a few variations boasting superior structural integrity and patented technology.

Installation, R-Value and Colors

For installation information, we’ll stick to the traditional lap siding for fiber cement. This product is not geared toward solo DIY work. Cement board, as you can imagine, is heavy, and usually carried and adhered to a wall by 2 workers.

The material is also expensive, so wasted material adds significantly to the project’s budget. Plus, the James Hardie manual for installation has over 80 guidelines, that change annually. In plain English, this is a job for experts.

The R-Value for fiber cement is fairly low (at R-value .50) and is considered below average in terms of insulation. Standard house wrap, before the siding is installed, doesn’t help with insulation, though a foam sheathing underlayment can, but only slightly.

Colors like all other lap board siding are plentiful, though the material will outlast the coat of paint. If factory finished, paint warranty will go 25 years. Generally, though, every 10 to 25 years, fiber cement needs repainting.

Advantages

– low maintenance
– non-flammable
– insect resistant
– holds up to weather better than other lap siding materials
– great ROI
– long lasting / durable

Disadvantages

– very heavy material, benefits significantly from expert installation
– may have moisture build up below the surface, due to improper installation
– middle of the road in terms of budget, but very expensive compared to vinyl

Material Category: Stucco (1 Primary Option)

stucco-siding

While there is, practically speaking, one viable option for stucco, it has many sub-options. Being a texture-oriented material (the characteristic trait), there are really options galore.

Made from sand, cement and lime, Stucco is really a plaster. The binding materials in exterior grade stucco are meant to hold up to weather. Stucco uses cement, whereas gypsum plaster is the base for interior use.

If picturing stucco in your head and thinking it has few or limited options, then you are barely scratching the surface (pun intended). Given the amount of color and textured options, and how those occur, it has so many sub-options it rivals other materials on this list.

Cost of Stucco Siding Installed, Plus ROI

On average, you can expect to pay between $10.50 and $18.50 per square foot of stucco siding installed. This depends on location of the property as stucco is quite popular in some regions and rare in others.

Materials, along with pros that do the work, are plentiful in some areas and sparse in others. In most regions $11.50 to $14.50 per sq.ft. is more of a fair price range.

It will cost between $21,000 to $37,000 to install standard stucco siding on an average sized home.

The ROI (Cost-to-Value Return) is a bit low compared to the other siding options, coming in at 70%. In some regions, it is much higher, as the quality and chosen texture pattern makes it more coveted.

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Dashing and Coloring

Because stucco is all about texture, the sub-options are somewhat basic. This allows for a whole lot of variation, via colors and additional materials (think minerals) in the stucco. Dashing can mean various things, but essentially is changing the form (or texture) of the stucco facade to a desired result.

While that is broad, it covers color dashing, texture variations and then what is referenced as pebbledash (or roughcasting). With the later, instead of only cement/plaster as the facade, the material is mixed with pebbles, or shells, or other minerals to blend a design (and texture) that is bolder than a single color.

To achieve color in stucco, it is always best to mix that in with the cement, and considered bad to apply the cement, then later paint it, as you might with wood on a house. Color mixed throughout means it will blend evenly and fade in a uniform manner.

stucco-texture-and-colors

To achieve texture in stucco, the results are usually based on regional norms or expertise of the person/company doing the application. Sculptural stucco siding is an option, but not likely found on residential homes (as it is very expensive). So, simple textures are used from smooth finishes to the typical rough finish.

Yet, there are many patterns that can be had with a ‘rough finish’ that range from tiny indentations (or protrusions) every few inches to granule indentations throughout the entirety of the facade.

Installation and R-Value

Like other masonry applications for home siding, there are multiple coats when used for applying stucco to an exterior wall. There’s the standard water barrier sheet that covers the wood sheathing, or base layer.

Then comes a metal lath which gives the cement something to hold onto. Then comes the scratch coat, or cement layer that covers the lath and is what the final layers are adhering to.

Finally comes the one, or more (usually up to 3) coats of stucco. This surface layer is similar to the scratch goat but relies more on design technique to reach a desired result. The topcoat will include some version of dashing and coloring.

Because this is cement, the installation process depends on timing and thus experience to know the proper pacing for how it all needs to be applied. Not so challenging in a little 4 by 4-foot space.

For an entire house, it is labor intensive. An experienced pro is highly recommended, but a DIY approach is possible. Just realize that mistakes may be costly and may lead to issues down the road that a novice may not realize during the application process.

Application generally occurs via brushing the material on or from using masonry trowels. The former is great for repair type projects while the latter is best for ensuring uniformity and overall longevity.

Single layer stucco is among the lowest for R-value. It insulates around R-value .20 or possibly as much as .50 depending on how dashing is handled. If going with a 3-coat finish, the R-value can go over 1.0, but higher than R-value 1.5 is hard to achieve.

Advantages

– Very durable
– low maintenance
– decent insulation (with multiple coats)
– colors last fairly long, texture last very long
– resistant to fire and insects

Disadvantages

– Fairly expensive
– takes skill to install
– poor insulation (with single coat)
– prone to cracking, if improperly installed
– tends to last less time in climates with lots of rain

Additional Consideration for Stucco

Synthetic stucco (also known as EIFS) is possible to consider as another primary option. We chose not to because the problems with this are notorious.

The process uses more layers and in doing so, less of an opportunity for the water barrier layer to breath properly, leading to mildew and mold from moisture that is trapped below.

The problem has certainly been addressed in the industry and improved upon, yet there is a stigma that is not easily shaken off. We suggest exploring this avenue with open mind but realize that the primary option is the long standing, viable option.

Material Category: Brick (2 Primary Options)

brick-veneer

Brick, like Stucco, could be considered in the Stone category below, but it has enough reasons to stay on its own, not the least of which is that brick is really fired clay that is the primary material. Comprised of clay, cement and gravel, Brick is durable and lasts a century or longer!

When it comes to Brick homes, there are 3 variations, only 2 of which are siding options after a home is constructed. A home built with brick, during construction, is actually what is holding up the home’s structure.

With brick veneer, it is on the outside of the structure, either as thin brick (not recommended) or full brick, but single layer. Homes constructed with brick use 2 layers, called wythes.

Cost of Brick Siding Installed, Plus ROI

The cost for brick veneer siding falls in the range of $12.50 and $22.50 per square foot installed. This range depends on quality of materials (thick vs. thin), who’s doing the work, and the region. A fairer price range is $14.50 to $18.50 per sq.ft.

The average-sized home will cost between $25,000 and $45,000 for thick brick veneer.

The ROI (Cost-to-Value Return) for brick siding starts at 83% recouped at resale. Depending on the home’s location, the value recouped at resale can go up to 92%.

Primary Option 1: Brick Veneer – Full Brick

The full brick veneer is the masonry way of brick siding, that is taking full advantage of what this material has to offer. Full brick is what people think of when they imagine a standard brick. It measures about 2 in high, by 4 inches thick and 8 inches long. As a veneer it is held together by mortar, but not attached to the sheathing of the exterior home wall. For good reason.

Brick absorbs water, gradually. As moisture seeps through the brick, it drains downward by gravity. This is also a slow process. If full brick were attached to the wall, even with water barrier, it can pose problems of water drainage, and lead to mold and mildew.

Because of how solid the construction is, correcting such problems is very challenging. So, instead an inch gap, no more, no less, is left between wall and brick. This actually increases insulation and is effective for water drainage.

Primary Option 2: Brick Veneer – Thin Brick

Thin brick is the alternative that uses brick faces under an inch thick. This is adhered to the home’s wall via grout. Because there is far less brick dimension, water drainage is far less of an issue, and the vapor barrier is seen as suitable protection.

Like stucco, a metal lath is used to adhere scratch coat of grout to the sheathing / vapor barrier, and then surface grout holds the brick to the wall.

There are a few sub-options here where paneling systems are used vs. the quasi-masonry approach. Metal panels with holders mean scratch grout is not needed and installing bricks to the wall is easier. A surface layer of grout is added to cover the metal panel and to give the distinct brick look.

We note this as ‘not recommended’ because it greatly reduces the insulation aspect that comes with brick siding. It’s also not as durable as full brick. It will work fine and look nearly identical to full brick but has disadvantages which don’t lead to the longevity of full brick veneer.

Further Considerations for Brick

Full brick as a veneer is labor intensive and definitely takes skill to install. It is not a DIY type job and relies on person with masonry expertise. While the paneling systems that use thin brick veneer can be had via a DIY approach, it’s arguably more prudent to have masons do even thin brick veneers.

Colors for bricks are rather sparse, relying on earthy type tones. Generally, they are dark red (clay like) or lighter cream colored. Unless specified, the color is usually not uniform throughout the brick, nor from brick to brick, which for most projects is not desired.

It is more authentic to have bricks of slightly various colors on a facade. If brick is painted, it then becomes part of ongoing maintenance as the paint will likely fade, chip or crack long before the material needs replacing.

Full brick has a standard R-Value of .44.

With proper installation by a mason, that number is actually slightly higher due to the air gap between wall and stacked brick. With installation of thin brick, the material itself is around .11 R-Value.

Advantages

– Durability and longevity – full brick matches durability of the top siding options
– fire resistant
– holds up to wind / wind damage better than most materials
– impervious to insects and other animals
– fairly low maintenance
– okay R-value (with full brick)
– excellent ROI

Disadvantages

– more difficult to repair than other materials, takes great skill, thus costly
– not waterproof and moisture damage can be significant disadvantage
– higher installation costs
– color limitations

Material Category: Metal (4 Primary Options)

Design-wise, metal siding is malleable and thus very versatile. It can be shaped into any style listed so far. It tends to have its own style, such as corrugated sheets.

For the purposes of this guide, the 4 options we will consider are the most common metals used as cladding for residential structures. Essentially, these are 4 minerals that are manufactured metals, each with their own advantages and disadvantages.

Costs of Metal Siding Installed, Plus ROI

Metal has a very wide range of prices that can fall anywhere from $7.50 to $25.00 per square foot installed, depending on the style of metal cladding, the metal alloy itself, and overall project complexity. This somewhat depends on region, how the material is coated, and whether there is foam backing.

For the higher-end, Kynar 500 painted aluminum and G-90 (galvanized) or Galvalume steel siding/wall cladding, total installation prices can range between $10.50 and $16.50 per square foot installed is what you can expect for a typical project.

For Zinc siding, you can expect to pay between $12.50 and $18.50 per sq.ft. installed, on average, depending on the zinc cladding profile, metal thickness, insulation options, and overall project difficulty and scope.

For copper siding, the most expensive option among all metal cladding choices, homeowners can expect to pay between $16.50 and $25.50 per square foot installed, depending on copper cladding profile, thickness, project difficulty, and location.

With such a wide range of metal cladding options, you can expect a high-end Kynar 500 coated aluminum or steel siding project to cost between $21,000 to $37,000 for a typical house, depending on the project complexity, style and profile of metal siding, insulation options, and your home’s location.

For Zinc and Copper, your total project cost can range widely, from $25,000 to $51,000, depending on the metal panel profile and manufacturer, project specifics, location, and other variables.

The ROI (cost-to-value return) for architectural metal roofing and wall cladding can exceed 80%. This can easily be higher depending on the region.

Thus, Metal is one of the better returns on investment for what you will spend and what you can expect to get in return at time your home is sold, especially as this material will last a long time.

Average Cost To Install New Siding Typical Range: $5,240 - $8,130
See costs in your area

Primary Metal 1: Steel

metal-siding

As an alloy of iron, this metal is plentiful and highly durable. It is denser than aluminum, thus the same gauge (thickness) of steel compared to aluminum, will be more durable. Though denser also means less malleable.

metal-siding-on-a-cabin

By galvanized steel (G-90), it makes it ideal for painting, and in general galvanized steel holds color better than aluminum. But the fact is, steel needs to be galvanized and coated with a high-end paint finish like Kynar 500, as uncoated steel will quickly weather and rust when exposed to the elements, especially in the salt spray environment.

The flip side is that steel doesn’t corrode in the way aluminum can, so if it stays protected, there is less maintenance involved. If a home is in a climate that has lots of moisture/rain, steel is an okay option, but not ideal whereas aluminum might be.

metal-siding-installation

The reason we compare aluminum to steel is they are the primary 2 options, being the two most plentiful metals around. If looking to obtain metal panels or sheets for siding materials from your local DIY type store, or even many places that wholesale metal siding, chances are they only carry steel or aluminum siding.

Another significant difference between the two is that steel is considerably more expensive than aluminum, though for aluminum to reach the same durability as steel, does add to its cost.

Primary Metal 2: Aluminum

Much of what is said about Steel (above) can be said, in contrast, to Aluminum. Such that Aluminum is softer / more malleable. In regards to steel siding, though, corrugated panels are the traditional metal roofing and cladding material and can also be used for residential purposes, but not so much for house siding, where more premium profiles like standing seam, metal wall panels, and metal shingles are more commonly used.

The corrugated (wavy) metal paneling products work well for sheds, and possibly for roofing, and even for interior application. Yet, in today’s market there are variations, with aluminum as the base metal. Then, there are numerous ways in which the corrugation pattern appears, such as wavy, ribbed, or beamed.

corrugated-metal-siding-rustic via Bridger Steel

With any of the non-metallic forms of siding, i.e., shingles or board-and-batten, realize that whatever the metal is, it can be shaped into this form. Depending on the metal, it costs more and has its own advantages or disadvantages.

With aluminum, it tends to be the least expensive metal material. And because it is lighter, it is usually easier/less expensive to install.

Aluminum doesn’t hold color as well as steel. This doesn’t mean aluminum can’t do coated finishes, but instead means that if say a few years go by and a panel or piece of siding needs replacing for any reason, it might be very challenging to find a color that matches with the rest of the facade, whereas with steel the color will hold longer over time.

The great news is that aluminum doesn’t rust, so coated finishes aren’t really necessary. However, pained aluminum is often the preferred and desired choice for homeowners. And aluminum does corrode or can become chalky over time. Repainting or re-coating the aluminum facade becomes can become a part of ongoing maintenance to overcome any oxidation once the initial paint finish wears out.

Fortunately, there are other metal options that will neither rust nor corrode, at least in a way that requires maintenance.

Primary Metal 3: Copper

copper-siding-on-contemporary-exterior

Copper is gold-like in appearance, which is a magnificent, if not bold, siding option. It is corrosive resistant. To say it doesn’t rust, is technically not accurate, as copper does oxidize, but the way in which it changes over time is part of its allure as a siding.

Being gold in color, this is usually sought as a great place to start. As the metal (even if coated) weathers, the material oxidizes and changes to a patina green. This then forms a natural protective layer that coats the surface, for a very long time.

Copper is very durable. The material will last hundreds of years and the natural color change, that takes place in first 30 years, will last for as long as the metal does.

Copper has been increasingly popular in modern architecture, which means it is becoming slightly more viable as a cladding option for residential use.

Steel and aluminum still dominate the market, but given the advantages (i.e., nearly nonexistent maintenance) of copper, it is a metal option to consider despite the upfront costs (about $25 per sq.ft.), especially if the color options with copper appeal to you.

Primary Metal 4: Zinc

zinc-cladding

Zinc cladding, like copper, resists corrosion. Also, like Copper, Zinc starts off one color (usually a dark color, similar to Cobalt) and changes over time, in this case a patina blue. It also doesn’t need painting during its life cycle, as the patina acts as protective coating for the life of the material.

Rainwater tends to run off from zinc better than other metals, which means it has more resistance to mold and fungus.

Zinc is the dark horse in the bunch but is definitely a material to consider as a viable option. It is the 23rd most abundant element in the earth’s crust.

Zinc is about half the cost of copper, though still more expensive than Aluminum, costing about $12.50 to $18.50 per sq.ft. installed, depending on the panel profile and manufacturer.

Additional Considerations for Metal Siding Including Installation

Because of how popular aluminum and steel are in the market, all data after this section is conveying information about those two materials. But to be clear, metal in general is malleable, so all materials mentioned above can be shaped in whatever way a project calls for.

Panels are most popular, but shingles, planks, or even split log are all possible with metal. If the metal is factory-finished with coated paint and sealers, this usually carries with it a warranty, of 20 to 30 years. This means it is unlikely you’d need to repaint it before the warranty, or if you did, the warranty would cover it.

Metal is recyclable. Other siding options can’t readily say this and are usually hauled away as trash for a landfill, while metal is hauled away knowing that it is scrap which will likely be recycled.

All metals can dent and scratch, but some are easier to tarnish the surface than others. Aluminum is the easiest to tarnish. Steel is an example of material that once its coated surface is removed, via a scratch, it needs immediate repair, or will rust.

Installation depends on the form the metal is shaped in. As many of the retail home improvement stores do carry metal paneling, it is possible to go the DIY route, though this is usually for shed siding or roofing.

For residential siding (or roofing), it is strongly suggested to go with a professional contractor, because of how malleable the product is along with how dangerous sharp edges or corners can be.

When it comes to color, like Wood, there really is no limit in the sub-options. Yet, painting wood is much easier for the DIY’er than painting metal.

With factory-finish paints, the wholesalers make a fairly wide range of colors available, and custom coloring is always an option, but does cost a bit more. Chances are the available color range will work for most homeowners.

The R-Value for non-insulated steel/aluminum is .61 (R-value), which is less than Wood, but more than Brick. It is possible to add foam siding, akin to what vinyl offers, which obviously adds to the cost.

Insulated backed metal siding can increase the R-Value to the neighborhood of 1.82 (R-value), which is among the best on our list for all materials.

Advantages

– decent to great insulation properties
– fire resistant
– insect-proof
– recyclable
– waterproof
– very good ROI

Disadvantages

– each metal has own disadvantages, but in general they are all:
– prone to denting/scratching
– have noise factor, make a ping sound when exposed to heavy rain or wind
– original colors fade long before the material will be needing replaced
– fairly labor intensive to install, usually need expertise or much experience with the material

Material Category: Stone (2 Primary Options)

natural-stone-tiles

Stone is our last material category. Like wood it has natural beauty that is cherished by many. Also, like wood, it has a man-made version that seeks to be as durable and less costly. Hence the 2 options: natural stone and Faux stone, aka Cast or manufactured stone veneer (MSV).

And like Brick, the 2 primary options are really veneering or facades covering the structure of the house, not the structure itself. As in, if the decorative veneer were removed, doing so wouldn’t lead to structural collapse of the house.

Costs of Stone Siding Installed, Plus ROI

Natural stone costs $20.00 to $45.00 per square foot installed.

Faux stone comes in at $17.50 to $25.00 per sq.ft. installed.

For pretty much all other material categories, the average sized home can be done for under $25,000, even if done by a professional contractor. With Stone, that is likely only possible if a) you do combination of stone and another material or b) going the DIY route, which means a lot of (hard) work for the person going that route.

Yet, given the benefits that last a very long time, spending $65,000 (on the upper end) for stone siding certainly sounds expensive, but means less cost over the first 100 years of the home than arguably all other materials, with metal being the only exception.

And ROI (Cost-to-Value Return) for stone and stone veneer is top notch, coming in at 92%.

Considering the longevity of stone, and assuming it is minimally maintained, the ROI is simply unmatched by all other materials, with Brick and Metal being the runner ups.

But before we over promise on the ROI for stone, check out this article that emphasizes how important proper installation truly is.

Primary Option 1: Natural Stone

stone-veneer

Nature has been awesome about manufacturing stones for thousands (or more like billions) of years, to be used in construction of buildings and homes. For stone veneer, larger rocks and boulders are cut into thinner slices. It hasn’t always been this way. Not too long ago, construction jobs used to have large rock or boulders delivered on site to be used and cut into shapes that the crew needed at the time.

Now, it’s a much more systematic process and cutting boulders into smaller pieces makes it easier to transport and quicker to install. The most common stones used are granite and limestone, but this is where sub-options begin to take shape for this siding.

Popular patterns or layouts for stone veneer include stacking (very common), cubing, mosaic and earthy or classic (where the mortar is seen between each stone).

With stone veneer, the wall’s overall texture is a defining characteristic. It can be flat, as is case with mosaic and cubed patterns. It can be slightly protruding, such as with earthy designs. Or it may be significantly protruding, such as with stacked options, especially those using round stones. Plus, there is the texture of the stone itself and/or the way cuts are made in the stone.

There is a lot of variation for stone that is often overlooked when first considering the material but take a look at the bottom (two thirds) of this article from This Old House site for a sampling of patterns and texture.

Primary Option 2: Faux Stone

The industry refers to this as Cast, but it’s easier to present it as faux for our purposes, or the way some sellers present it. MSV is the alternative, shorthand way of referencing this type of stone veneer.

Made from concrete and using a dozen or so pigments, Faux stone can match the natural look. It used to be fake was readily discernible from natural, but not anymore. The Faux is cast from molds of natural stone, so it has same authentic shape.

It benefits from being a lot lighter. This makes for less cost to manufacture and to then install, as it is less labor intensive. The previous link from This Old House site conveys the look better than words can and provides many of the sub-options available by going this route.

While being lighter has its benefit, it is also plausibly a drawback, as less dense means it won’t hold up as long. Yet with stone/cement, we are talking a minimum of 60 years and with (natural) stone veneer 100+ years is the norm.

Installation and R-Value

Like Brick, there are paneling systems that make it possible to purchase pre-stacked stone siding that isn’t all that challenging to put up as a facade. But some of that is tailored to interior purposes and is not recommended as ideal choice for exterior siding. For that, a mason or stone siding expert is your best bet.

Stacking stone and binding it together into a consistent pattern is very labor intensive. It’s either fairly costly or takes a non-pro a long time to install siding for even a small home (at least to do it right).

Like stucco and brick, MSV poses problems that may not be known immediately after installation. The basic process is underlayment material, covered by metal lath, coated with scratch coat of grout, and then a coat on top of that which the stone is set.

Yet, moisture control that will inevitably occur below the stone must be taken into consideration, or there could be problems down the road.

A pro understands this and is not apt to leave a job where rotting of the home’s sheathing is likely to occur due to improper installation. Of all the types of siding, stone veneer is among the most expensive to install.

Here is a link for the DIY approach, though in our opinion this makes it seem a little too simple.

The R-value for MSV is listed at .41 (R-value). That’s similar to full brick veneer. Natural stone is, ahem, naturally higher but not possible to account for given the wide variation in shapes and styles that exist.

Suffice it to say, the R-value for natural stone veneer could be as high as 5.0 (R-value), which makes it among the top in terms of insulation qualities, but also likely the most expensive siding option if going this route.

Colors

Color is generally limited to what is natural to rock. Mother Nature has options that are nearly white or light in color to very dark. With Faux

Stone, there’s theoretically no limit to the color, but manufacturers are intentionally looking to match the natural variety and not likely to produce say purple or pink stones.

For many stone veneer facades, color is generally not sought to be uniform and variation in color on cladding is thought to be more authentic, if not more beautiful.

Unlike brick, stone is usually never painted. So, with stone, there is really no reason to update the color down the road. For natural stone, that will last over a century, this is significant consideration especially when realizing how this impacts the initial investment.

With cast stone, color updating is not necessary, but there may be reason to use repair kits which correct chipped pieces and match the color in that particular piece.

Advantages

– highly durable (longest lasting of all materials)
– beauty and color unmatched by most other materials, with exception of wood
– fire and insect resistant
– no noise issues (like metal has)
– excellent ROI
– very little maintenance

Disadvantages

– very expensive
– labor intensive to install
– improper installation can harm the house and hurt ROI
– if needing repair for whatever reason, this too is expensive
– colors are limited

Additional Consideration for Stone Veneer

In our final section “Unleashing Your Imagination” (below) we mention combinations and siding. Stone veneer is arguably the most likely to be used in combination with other materials. Homes with all stone veneer exist, and thus realize the full benefit that comes with the advantages noted above. Yet often you’ll see stone cladding installed near the front of a home to accent a particular feature. Even used sparingly, stone manifests a majestic appearance.

Unleashing Your Imagination

As if the umpteen hundred sub-options we noted or alluded to in this article aren’t enough, there’s a final point to be made regarding combination of materials.

Stone with most other materials, but particularly wood works well together. Wood and vinyl or fiber cement tend to work together with one on top (usually wood) and the other (more durable) on the bottom portion. Going through all the possible combinations is not possible.

We suggest taking a drive in your own neighborhood and looking at existing combinations that are visibly working in your region.

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Average Cost To Install New Siding Typical range $5,240 - $8,130
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