When it comes to being a homeowner, you have to make a lot of decisions. Some of these choices have to do with how functional the items are. Other ones have to do with what you like or the appearance you want your home to have. Siding is one of those things that not only has to be functional but also has to look great on the home. Everyone has different tastes, so it is important to think about what you want to put on your home to truly make it stand out.
Siding products come in a number of different styles. The most popular is lap siding, But a style becoming more popular is vertical siding. (There are a couple of variations on this; the most common is called board and batten, where thin vertical strips are placed over wider planks. Other vertical siding styles include sheets with grooves that create the appearance of separate planks.) So which is better for you and your home? Ultimately, it’s going to be whichever one appeals to you more.
But maybe you don’t have to choose – you can have both! More and more homeowners we work with are opting to have a mix of siding styles and colors on their homes. For example, the home shown at right has James Hardie fiber cement siding in both lap and vertical (board and batten style) in the same color.
Lap Siding: Lap siding still remains the most popular. There are quite a few variations. Dutch lap siding overlaps, and shiplap siding has planks that butt up against each other. Both of these come in different widths. One look we’re starting to see is a combination of lap and vertical, with the vertical siding being used to highlight one section of a home, usually in a different color. The advantage to lap siding is that installation is simpler than with vertical siding, and siding installation contractors do this work all the time.
Vertical Siding: Vertical siding – because it’s not on so many homes – is visually appealing to the eye. Once used mainly for commercial buildings, we are seeing more and more homes with this style. Vertical siding does have one drawback: furring strips need to be first installed underneath in order to ensure that the pieces line up vertically. But vertical siding does have an advantage over lap siding: it’s much harder for moisture to get underneath of it, since water rolls down. With lap siding, you may end up with water getting underneath the overlaps, especially if you’re using a hose or pressure washer to clean it.
The Long-Term Performance
The long-term performance of any type of siding is a major element you should consider. In terms of performance, the style matters far less than the siding material and the brand. First choose a siding material that will hold up to Minnesota weather conditions; then let’s talk about style and colors.
If you have further questions or want a recommendation for the best siding, give us a call. We would be more than happy to answer or questions or arrange a no-obligation quote. Window Outfitters is a licensed Minnesota siding installation contractor.
Window Outfitters is a premier Window Replacement, doors, siding contractor and installer. As Contractor in the St Paul, Minneapolis, (Twin Cities) Minnesota (MN) metro, we proudly serve, but are not limited to, the following areas: Minneapolis Energy Efficient Vinyl Windows, Replacement Window Contractors Minnesota, Burnsville, Apple Valley, Lakeville, Savage, Bloomington, Edina, Richfield, Eagan, St Paul, Hastings, Minnetonka, Plymouth, Maple Grove, Eden Prairie, Farmington MN, Chaska, Shakopee, Chanhassen, Victoria, Mendota Heights Anderson Windows Minneapolis, Marvin Windows Minneapolis.
