Your Quick Guide to Choosing the Right MN Siding

As another harsh Minnesota winter blows through the Minneapolis area and blasting the exterior of our homes, some homeowners are thinking it’s time for new siding.The options for finishing and protecting the outside of a home are many. You can get everything from stucco to aluminum, including vinyl, brick, stone veneer, steel, fiber cement, and fiberglass. You can even slap some mud on the outside of your home if you want. When you want beautiful, high quality siding that works with your home and the seasons it is subject to, you want a siding that does the job and does it right. Here is a guide to some of the more popular siding options to choose from.

Popular Home Siding Choices

• Vinyl siding is an economical yet fairly durable type of siding that provides the homeowner with energy efficiency when properly installed. It withstands rain and high winds as well as numerous other weather conditions. Newer vinyl siding  maintains its color very well, so fading is not a problem.  It’s very low maintenance – it only requires a periodic cleaning, although it should be inspected on a regular basis to make sure there are no cracks or loose spots that water can get behind.
• Stucco is a mixture of sand, cement, and other materials; it is made to withstand the harsh outside conditions. Its application is similar to plaster. It should be installed by a professional who is experienced in stucco. If not installed correctly it is not able to stand up well to water, but small cracks can easily be patched.  If stucco damage is significant, it will require sandblasting to first remove the old stucco; then new stucco is applied.  Stucco does require a periodic treatment called ‘re-dashing’ to refresh the finish coat.  Stucco should not be painted, so if you want to change the color, it will need to be re-dashed, which can be expensive.
• Fiber cement siding is one of the most durable siding choices on the market. It provides high quality color and durability for the home owner. It is also a siding that withstands many different weather conditions, such as harsh winter snows and high winds. It is an energy-efficient choice.  At Window Outfitters, we recommend fiber cement siding from James Hardie – it’s engineered specifically for the climate in our area.
• Wood siding is one of the most versatile siding choices to go with. It can be manipulated to look like any style siding of your choice. It is durable and long lasting, providing a beautiful appeal all over the entire home.  However, wood siding cam be expensive, and it needs to be repainted or restained on a regular basis.  It also requires periodic recaulking.  Wood siding isn’t as resistant to damage from moisture as other choices.
• Aluminum siding does not rot or burn. It does need to be painted throughout the year to maintain the bright color, but it is able to protect the inside of the home from the outside weather elements. It is prone to dents and hail damage.  There are other metal siding options such as steel, which is more durable and impact resistant.
• Fiberglass siding is one of the newest residential siding products.  Fiberglass is exceptionally durable, but it is one of the more expensive siding products.  Fiberglass siding is perfect for Minnesota because it won’t buckle or split, even in extreme temperatures.  Its design profile looks like genuine wood siding, but it resists rot and mildew.

 

Whatever siding option you choose, Window Outfitters has the right siding product for you.   We are a licensed MN siding contractor, and we can install beautiful siding on the exterior of your home. Check out our Pinterest boards for further inspiration or the siding options that we provide.  We install Crane insulated vinyl siding, James Hardie fiber cement siding, and Boral stone veener. 

 

 

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.