The Pros and Cons Of Different House Siding Materials

Let’s Compare Vinyl Siding, Engineered Wood, Cement Board, and Seamless Polymer Siding

Homeowners have so many more house siding options now than they did even 40 years ago, so choosing home exterior upgrades has gotten more and more complex.

To help you make your decision, Continental Siding has compiled a list of the pros and cons of different house siding materials. Use this information to help you choose the right solution to your home’s unique needs.

Vinyl House Siding

The Pros

Vinyl siding is a popular choice among homeowners because it is billed as being low maintenance and inexpensive to purchase and install. It does not require painting or scraping, and modern vinyl looks convincingly like natural wood.

The Cons

Unfortunately, vinyl siding is highly prone to certain types of damage:

• Warping
• Fading
• Holes or cracks from impacts, such as hail
• Loosening from wind

These damages can require the siding to be replaced because it is often not repairable. For most homeowners, replacing exterior siding multiple times during the course of ownership is simply not financially feasible.

Choosing budget vinyl siding does yet another disservice to your wallet, too. Although it is a deceptively inexpensive purchase, if it isn’t properly insulated, it won’t help you reduce your energy bills by any significant measure. Ultimately, you end up paying more for your vinyl over your lifetime of ownership.

Engineered Wood Siding For Houses

The Pros

Engineered wood is designed to withstand the outdoor elements. Its natural woodgrain and variety of styles adds warmth and texture to home exteriors. It’s easy and affordable to repair because sections can be cut out and removed using basic power tools.

The Cons

Engineered wood is still wood, so if it isn’t properly caulked, painted, and sealed, you risk wood rot. Over time, mold, mildew, and interior leaks may develop. Engineered wood house siding can also warp and – when water-logged – expand, leaving unsightly bulges on the exterior of your home. Another drawback is this siding material will need to be regularly painted – about every 10 years – so it comes with the ongoing expense of maintenance. Furthermore, engineered wood comes only in certain lengths and widths, meaning the siding has lots of seams that require caulking and that could allow leakage and water damage over time.

Fiber Cement Siding

The Pros

Fiber cement board siding, sometimes called by the name brand Hardie, resists insects, most moisture, and fire. It’s a long-lasting material, even through wide-ranging seasonal temperature changes in states like Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas. Most fiber cement siding is sold pre-finished, so you don’t need to worry about painting.

The Cons

Fiber cement is one of the most expensive house siding options on the market, costing up to three times as much as vinyl. It is quite heavy, weighing as much as 300 pounds per 100 square feet. This weight is not suitable for all houses and can pose a structural or safety issue. In the event your fiber cement siding is painted, you’ll need to repaint it over the course of your lifetime. Finally, although fiber cement siding is water resistant, it can still take on moisture that fosters the growth of mold and mildew. Like engineered wood siding, fiber cement siding has many seams.

Seamless Polymer Siding

The Pros

Seamless polymer siding is a material completely unique to Continental Siding, a locally owned company with more than four decades of experience helping people love their homes.

Seamless polymer siding:

• Won’t fade in the sun.
• Resists warping and hail damage.
• Is strongly applied to the exterior of a house using the patented Perma-Strate Wall System that prevents

loosening of sections of siding.

• Is seamless, so there are no gaps.
• Is waterproof, resisting water damage and preventing the growth of mold or mildew.
• Adds insulation to your home, lowering utility bills by as much as 20%.
• Resists damage from boring insects.

Best of all, the only crews who install seamless polymer siding are those specially trained and employed by Continental Siding, so we can deliver consistent results and a hassle-free experience to every homeowner. Seamless polymer siding also comes with a limited lifetime warranty, so you can get the confidence, pride, and peace of mind you deserve.

The Cons

Truly, the only downside to this house siding option is that you can only get it from Continental Siding. Our crews install it on homes throughout Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, and northwest Arkansas. If you’re in our service area, contact us to request a FREE estimate.

Address Your Home’s Unique Needs With the Right House Siding Option

Only you understand your home’s and your family’s unique needs, so only you can make a decision about your home’s siding. If you choose seamless polymer siding from Continental Siding, we’d be happy to help you LOVE YOUR HOME!

We’ll send one of our product specialists to visit you in person, so you can see and touch your siding options and learn more about our products’ performance. When you make your decision, we’ll also help you get any financing you need from one of our 25 lenders so you get the best option possible.

Request a free estimate or call NOW to get started!