Protecting Your Home and Family with Durable Siding

A Recent History of Home Siding

Materials Matter.  Know What You Have.  Know What You’re Getting

Siding has gone through many iterations of materials over the years.  Prior to the 50’s, the majority of materials used on a home were wood based.  Then as the 50’s and 60’s came around, engineered siding began to be a thing, and it wasn’t even so uncommon to see asbestos siding on some houses.  It was a common material to use at the time, and as long as it was left undisturbed, was reasonably safe for the occupants of the home.  However, removing presented problems as it wore out, and it ceased being used for safety reasons.  Aluminum siding was also used at the time in through the 70’s, and in the 80’s homes with vinyl siding started to come around with this new maintenance free materials being regularly used.  It also was common to see cedar siding, which is still at times used, because it is a very hard and durable wood that resists pest infestation, and lasts a long time.  The drawback to cedar is that it either needs to be painted, or regularly treated as it turns a deep brown, almost black color which most find not aesthetically appealing.

As the 1980’s and 90’s came around, more engineered siding products came around.  Some were good, and some not so good.  The good ones, if you kept them painted continued to serve their homeowners well, but those that weren’t good, absorbed water, swelled, and failed long before their expected failure date.  LP siding in particular was under class-action lawsuit for many years because of their engineered siding.  In the 2000’s, the majority of the materials we use are now cement siding and vinyl, although engineered wood siding is still available as well.  Cement siding is extremely durable, easy to install, and lasts decades with no issues.  It’s only drawback is that if something hits the house like a tree branch, or a lawnmower wheel, the siding can crack and necessitate replacement.  Some hardie siding even has colors when installed so painting is not necessary.  Vinyl siding in many parts of the United States is considered to be a premium siding material, however here in the Atlanta area, that is not the case and cement siding is seen as the more premium product.  Vinyl siding can also be quite durable, and initially as the siding is quite flexible, it can take a hit from things and not crack so easily.  However, once the siding sits in the sun for a number of years, a few things generally happen to it:  1) it fades.  This is normally not an issue since the house color fades together.  Just keep it power washed and it is quite durable.  But if a board happens to crack, this makes matching up a piece of it very difficult and the color never seems to match again, giving your home appearance issues–  and vinyl siding can’t be painted to fix it.  2) As the siding bakes in the sun, like most plastic things, it tends to get brittle.  As it gets brittle, it tends to want to crack more, so in time you can have issues not only with cracking but also with color matching pieces.  Our recommendation for most situations is cement siding for longevity purposes.  It still requires paint but doesn’t really wear or absorb moisture like other engineered wood products do. 

Concrete Siding

Most Common in the Atlanta Market

Concrete siding is the most common in the Atlanta market.  It’s durable and strong, long lasting, and generally all you need to do is caulk the seams, prime it the first time, and then paint it.  It’s a great product for most homes. We install it, recommend it, and it’s a great product–  at a truly reasonable cost. 

Vinyl Siding

Maintenance Free for Many Years

Vinyl siding’s appeal is that it can truly be maintenance free for many years.  The newer products on the market are more resistant to fading and to cracking than they’ve ever been.  They keep a house insulated and provide a great vapor barrier on the home as well.  It’s easy to install, economical, and should last at least as long as what would normally be 2-3 paintings on a home.  If you’re on a budget, it’s easy to install and a great product. 

Wood and Engineered Woods

Tried and True

Over the years, wood has been the predominant material used to side homes.  Even in recent years, cedar is still used on many homes for people who want a natural look.  Treated, it’s absolutely beautiful.  Engineered woods are generally a composite of wood materials pressed into a board, and can be truly long lasting if kept maintained.  We’ve seen engineered wood siding decades old and still in great shape, as long as it’s been maintained and kept painted.