How to Choose the Right Vinyl Siding

Like everything else, Vinyl Siding has many options, not just between different manufacturers but within each Manufacturer’s own lines. As you start to think about your next exterior remodeling project, here are the 3 basic types of siding styles:

1. Clapboard

Clapboard siding is designed to resemble a typical wooden clapboard look. There are three basic clapboard styles: double 4″ or 5” Clapboard and Double 5″ Dutchlap.

The inches refer to how much of the board is showing. Clapboard tends to be the most cost-effective option, and to help you compare lines and brands, you’ll want to see how thick the siding panels are and what the manufacturer’s warranty is.

Typically, in New England, most clients choose a Double 4” panel, but the options are a personal style preference.

2. Shingle

A common name for the shingle siding look is Cedar Impressions. Cedar Impressions is the brand name that Certainteed uses. These styles of shingles are designed to look like cedar shingles without the expense and heavy maintenance of wood. What’s good about this look is that it is typical New England. You’ll see these shingles on homes near the water where the owner wants an authentic look without the authentic maintenance.

Or you can combine them with the clapboard look and do certain house walls. You can get the shingle look with straight edge, staggered, split-shakes, staggered split, or half rounds. These panels are created from the texture and random size of real cedar shingles to look more like real painted or stained wood without the splitting, cupping, twisting, or streaking of real wood.

This type of siding is often more expensive than the clapboard option. Like with the clapboards, to help you compare lines and brands, you’ll want to see how thick the siding panels are and what the manufacturer’s warranty is.

3. Insulated Vinyl Siding

Because wood studs make up ¼ of your home’s exterior –it’s like having one wall with no insulation. So many homeowners choose Insulated siding panels because they can deliver up to 5 times the R-value of any other exterior siding product. From the outside, it looks like standard clapboard siding on the back side custom contoured foam provides strength and rigidity for impact resistance and can increase the overall thermal performance of your wall by up to 30%, helping to reduce your heating and cooling costs. It can also help prevent air infiltration to reduce drafts and absorb sound for reduced exterior noise infiltration.

Alside has a great line of insulated siding in all panel styles. Their Prodigy Line is truly the next generation of insulated siding.

Bonus: Fiber Cement

This isn’t Vinyl siding, but it has become a much more popular option in New England and comes in Lap or Shingle styles. Hardi Plank is the most popular option. With its strength, beauty, and durability, HardiePlank® siding enhances and protects homes in all kinds of climates—and now, with the HardieZone™ System, All HardiePlank® lap siding comes in a variety of looks and textures, all of which are engineered for climate. It also comes with a 30-year nonprorated, transferable, limited warranty.

If it is time to get the exterior of your house spruced up, please call Almar at 781-826-2577 to talk about your wants, needs, and budget. We’ll be happy to help direct you to the best product for you and your home!