The right siding may significantly improve the appearance of your home’s exterior. Whether you’re remodeling or building new, you’ll want to select the most durable exterior sidings choice that matches the design of your home and satisfies your maintenance and durability requirements. Find your material match with our guide to the most common exterior home siding alternatives.
Aside from the initial cost, there are some concerns to consider when choosing home siding (also known as claddings):
- Ease of Installation
- The durability of the sidings and claddings
- Energy efficient
- Resistant to water
- Styles and aesthetics
- Versatility of options
1. Stucco Sidings
Stucco is a compound composed of Portland cement, sand, and water. These three components form one of the most durable exterior sidings. Stucco sidings form a rock-like consistency that can be smooth or rough, depending on how it is polished. Stucco is put over a rough wire framework, which aids in adhesion, or any other flat siding surface.
If you’ve ever seen a house that appeared to be coated with clay or cement, it was most likely covered in stucco siding. Stucco sidings are one of the most durable external sidings from ancient construction that the Greeks employed over 1,000 years ago. Stucco siding is one of the oldest and most durable exterior sidings and is still one of the most effective alternatives available today.
2. Aluminum composite, The Most Durable Exterior Sidings
Aluminum cladding panels are the most durable exterior sidings on the market today. They are available in various finishes and styles, each with its advantages. These aluminum claddings have gone a long way in terms of building development. Modern aluminum sidings have more vibrant hues and are more durable than previous ones.
Furthermore, Aluminum composite panels may survive for more than 30 years without special care. Compared to wood sidings, these metal panels require less maintenance. However, it is critical to understand that the alternatives for metal cladding systems have to be fire-retardant, lightweight, and preferably made of the materials of one of the most durable exterior sidings.
Modern aluminum sidings are another option that is worth to be considered.
3. Brick Made Most Durable Exterior Sidings
Brick sidings, also known as brick veneer, are freestanding brick walls outside a wood frame. The appearance of brick sidings may give the impression that solid brick walls support the home. But brick sidings, on the other hand, are not one of the most durable exterior sidings and provide no structural features to houses.
Because of the rise of the wood industry and the availability of relatively inexpensive timber, solid brick houses became less economically viable. Not only were wood-framed homes less costly than solid brick, but removing the masonry component sped up construction. Brick veneer is substantially thinner and lighter than complete brick walls and can be built much faster.
4. Wooden Sidings
Wood siding is the polar opposite of harsh metal and brick sidings. It is warm, lovely, and welcoming. Traditional wood sidings are not one of the most durable exterior sidings but have mid-range durability since they are prone to rotting and require more upkeep than other materials.
However, owing to contemporary building material producers, today’s wood sidings include metal parts that increase durability while maintaining the enticing appearance of natural wood. As a result, these contemporary wood sidings are among the most durable exterior sidings on the market.
Engineered Wood Can Be One of The Most Durable Exterior Sidings
Engineered wood sidings are a robust and lightweight product that is less expensive and one of the most durable exterior sidings compared to natural wood. Engineered wood is available in a variety of traditional wood siding types. For weatherproofing, you must paint it; however, factory-applied coatings are available. Engineered wood can be cut, handled, and applied like solid-wood siding, but you do not have the imperfections that often accompany natural wood.
5. Most Durable Exterior Sidings Made of Stone and Their Types
Stone and stone-veneer sidings are both beautiful and one of the most durable exterior sidings, but this resilience comes at a cost. Stone siding is by far the most costly type of siding. Most homeowners will avoid stone because of this issue alone.
Stone siding, like brick siding, can be challenging to install on an existing home. We wouldn’t recommend stone siding unless money isn’t an issue in your home remodeling project.
Natural Stone Sidings
Natural stone siding is, as the name implies, genuine stone. It’s elegant, has various styles, and is highly durable, if not the most durable exterior sidings. Builders have utilized these sidings for millennia, and this siding has a minimum lifespan of 25 years but may endure hundreds of years if properly constructed.
However, as attractive and one of the best exterior sidings as natural stone claddings are, it has some problems. Because this material is so heavy, transport and labor expenses are costly.
Veneer Stone Sidings
Stone veneer is a type of imitation stone siding that looks like genuine stone. It’s the combination of cement, aggregate, and iron oxide poured into a mold to seem like natural stone and have the strength of the most durable exterior home sidings. Stone veneer panels are also among the most straightforward to install. These panels often connect like jigsaw pieces.
Individual pieces of stone veneer are also available. The smaller sidings also have the strength of the most durable exterior sidings, despite what some would think. The only disadvantage of utilizing smaller pieces is that installation is more time-consuming. On the other hand, natural stone is more costly and challenging to install than stone veneer. It is typically used as an accent on homes rather than as full sidings.
6. Vinyl Sidings
Vinyl sidings are another one of the most durable exterior sidings. Several variables contribute to vinyl siding being the most lasting siding for your home. Vinyl sidings are the most cost-effective, provide the most benefits to homeowners, and are also not prone to cracking, warping, rotting, swelling, or expansion. Vinyl sidings are weather- and bug-resistant, allowing them to tolerate extreme weather conditions.
Painting and staining are no longer necessary with vinyl sidings since the color is baked in and will always look lovely. Vinyl sidings are the most durable exterior sidings to pick in terms of pricing, upkeep, and strength. It’s also available in a variety of colors and styles. You’ll get the most bang for your buck and may even wind up saving money in the long run due to how energy-efficient vinyl sidings are.
7. Fiber Cement And Its Benefits
Fiber cement sidings are one of the newest and most durable exterior sidings. A man-made material combines cement, silica, and natural cellulose fibers that are pressed wet into molds to make boards suitable for external siding.
As well as being one of the most durable exterior sidings, the product can be painted in various attractive external colors. If it is not painted at the manufacturer, it will be primed and painted onsite following installation. Fiber cement sidings are available in various textures, ranging from a contemporary clean finish to a rough, rustic wood look. Let’s take a look at some of the benefits of fiber cement sidings:
One of The Most Durable Exterior Sidings Due to High Resistance
Insects and decay pose a hazard, particularly to wood. Fiber cement is inherently resistant to all these problems due to its composition, making it one of the most durable exterior sidings available. With a Class A fire rating and resistance to warping and fading, this product will give long-lasting protection for your house.
Color Customization
Fiber cement is a fantastic choice in terms of aesthetics, on top of the fact that it’s one of the most durable exterior home sidings. It is highly suggested for homeowners who wish to alter the color of their home’s exterior since it is readily painted. These siding products should be repainted every 7-15 years, depending on wear, for optimal upkeep.
8. Steel Sidings
Metal siding is a popular choice for external cladding because of its simplicity of installation, excellent protection, and the fact that they’re one of the most durable exterior sidings. Metal sidings for homes are most commonly constructed of steel, which has advantages and disadvantages. These coatings prevent corrosion and sometimes allow the siding to be designed to seem like natural wood.
What’s The Difference Between Steel and Aluminum Sidings?
As you may have known, Aluminum and steel sidings are not the same, even though both are made of metals and are probably the most durable exterior sidings. But what is their difference?
Even though aluminum sidings are probably the most durable exterior sidings, they’re easily scratched, which can result in pricey repairs. Steel sidings are often stronger and more durable than aluminum sidings. This characteristic makes it more resistant to dents and scratches. On the other hand, steel sidings are prone to rust and corrosion if not correctly maintained.
Another significant distinction between aluminum and steel sidings is the simplicity of installation. Aluminum is substantially lighter than steel in general. This feature makes it easy to install and can typically be completed by homeowners with little equipment. Due to steel being the most durable home sidings and its added weight, it will almost always necessitate expert installation. And they may require additional sealants to prevent steel siding from corrosion.