Choosing siding for homes in the Midwest is more than just curbing appeal. Due to our ever-changing seasons-from the sweltering humidity in summer to the temperature below zero in winter, the function of your siding is of equal or even greater importance.

If you want to renew your aesthetics, please stop painting every few years, or just add value to your house and invest in new siding—whether it is engineered wood, fiber cement, steel, natural wood or other options— -It is a win-win for the homeowner. In fact, according to Remodeling's 2020 Cost and Value Report, few retrofit projects can provide similar return on investment. The average return on siding investment in the United States? An incredible 77.6%.

But which siding is the best choice for your residence? Of course, every material has its pros and cons, so the first step in making an informed decision is to determine the factors that are most important to you in terms of cost, return on investment, aesthetics, and maintenance. Step 2? continue reading.

Fiber cement is usually composed of cement, fine sand, wood fiber and water. It is one of the most durable and popular siding options on the market today, thanks in large part to one of the largest siding manufacturers in North America James Hardie. "The value we provide to homeowners is the intersection between design, aesthetics, and functionality," said Marc Setty, James Hardie marketing director. "These things add up to lasting beauty, right? We offer endless design possibilities. Whether you are looking for a traditional look or a more modern modern home, our fiber cement exterior walls are designed for the climate."

Setty cites HardieZone, a siding designed for specific temperature and humidity conditions to reflect the needs of cold-climate houses. Due to its Class A fire rating, Hardie siding is resistant to small animals, cracking and burning. It also uses the unique ColorPlus technology to provide pre-processing options and has a baking finish that prevents fading. Fiber cement's durability, low maintenance level, and optimal cold weather performance explain its price tag, which, according to Setty, ranges from $8 to $14 per square foot when fully installed. "No matter which product you use, it will cost a lot of money," Setty said, "but it's clear why this is a good product."

The siding has a 30-year non-proportional warranty, which means that the value will not depreciate over time. "The value of the 30th year is as strong as the first year," Setty said. "In general, you will see [fiber cement warranty] ranging from 30 to 50 years, but the value drops every year."

Although fiber cement is often criticized for its weight, Setty said it doesn't care for homeowners: “It will be heavier than natural wood and much heavier than plastic, but how often do homeowners actually pick up the siding?” He pointed out. "In most cases, you will work with a skilled professional who will complete the project for you."

With a 50-year limited warranty and dozens of color options, Allura is another fiber cement siding brand worth considering. Alternatives include GAF WeatherSide, Nichiha and Cemplank Cemboard. Depending on the manufacturer and installation technology used, fiber cement may absorb moisture, causing it to expand and/or shrink seasonally.

Prefer the more traditional and rustic look of natural wood? Popular for its versatility, natural beauty and lakeside cottage beauty, natural wood siding options cover the entire color gamut from cypress and fir to white pine. Despite supply, demand, and cost issues, cedar is still one of the most popular choices for wood siding due to its durability.

"Cedar is the gold standard for wood siding products," said Paul Mackie, a cedar expert at Real Cedar, the leading resource behind the Western Red Cedar Timber Association and the brand. Naturally durable, stable (it does not move like other woods, Mackie explained), light weight, easy to transport and sustainable, "This is what all alternatives are trying to look like," he said.

As for the disadvantages of natural wood? "Anything outside is an enemy, such as moisture and sunlight," McGee said. "Also, there is no guarantee for wood siding, but you have proven performance. For factory-applied finishes, you can get a warranty of 25 to 30 years." In addition, natural wood siding requires maintenance (think about it) Scratching, repainting, re-dying and re-caulking) to extend its service life. It may not be as resistant to damage as the other options, but it is easy to install, provides protection you can trust, and has a look you'll like.

"The main factor driving the demand for cedar is its natural beauty," McKee said. He added that since the beginning of the pandemic, this demand has at least tripled, leading to price increases: "The price of wood products has risen sharply, which is the result of expanded demand and affordable financing rates. This is a premium product. , And sold at a high price."

BlueLinx distributes western red cedar and other natural wood siding options in Atkin, Duluth, and Minneapolis; Weekes Forest Products in St. Paul; and Stillwater's Midwest Timber Company. It can also be purchased from various home improvement stores (such as Lowes) in Shuangcheng Metro. Check out SBC Cedar and Shakertown for cedar shaking shingles, or visit your local Arrow building center for more cedar siding options.

Designed to imitate the classic appearance of natural wood, engineered wood has no disadvantages. For example, LP SmartSide siding and decorative products are manufactured in Minnesota and use a proprietary SmartGuard process to make the siding a strong, wear-resistant material. “It resists damage from moisture, termites and fungi,” explains David Klarich, national business development manager for LP Building Solutions. "It's a combination of resin, wax and cover. We use wood products and make them truly durable by disassembling and reassembling them together."

Therefore, the performance, real appearance and textured cedar wood pattern of LP can not only complement various styles and sizes of homes, but also provide protection throughout the year. LP’s warranty means the same meaning: “For any of our siding products, we have a 5/50 warranty,” Klarich said. "The first five years are all-inclusive labor warranty, including materials, tearing paper, etc. Everything. Covers every component. Then, for up to 50 years, it is a proportional warranty for pure materials," he continued. "Our ExpertFinish finished product (available in 16 colors) has an additional 15-year paint warranty."

According to Klarich and the cost and value report, hardboard siding options such as engineered wood have some of the best return on investment. "Over the past few years, engineered wood has been at number 1 or number 2 on this list," Claridge said.

Although engineered wood is strong and impact resistant, any external damage can cause potential headaches because the siding (depending on your manufacturer and installation team) will warp if it absorbs moisture. In addition, regular cleaning may be required-LP recommends visual inspection of engineered wood at least once a year and cleaning with mild detergent and water.

Want a substitute? TruWood and KWP (consisting of 100% pre-consumer recycled wood) also offer high-quality engineered wood siding options.

Steel is another siding investment worthy of serious consideration. Chris Doucet, vice president of sales and marketing for EDCO Products at Hopkins University, explained why: “This is a maintenance-free product that can basically be used forever.” EDCO’s product manager Steve Spaulding interjected: “It’s in many ways It is also more environmentally friendly. Steel is 100% recyclable, and the steel we use contains about 20% recycled content." This material is also very resistant to storm damage and winter conditions.

Its impressive durability is reflected in the manufacturer's warranty period, which is usually up to 50 years or more. For example, EDCO's lifetime warranty stems from its reputation in 75 years of business. "We don't just mean lifetime warranty, we mean lifetime warranty," Doucet said of various cuts, styles and colors. “It’s not prorated. We even provide a 35-year fade warranty.”

Some people say that steel siding will reduce your home’s ability to maintain a consistent Wi-Fi connection, or make your home more susceptible to lighting, but Doucet bluntly records: “All of these are misnomers in our industry. "He confirmed. "We like this kind of conversation because steel is not easily affected. [Wi-Fi signal] comes through windows and other areas. If you are not locked in a steel box, you will be fine."

However, let us know: depending on the manufacturer, steel may make noise when it rains and may easily dent. Other companies that require research and inspection include Gentek, Quality Edge, Klauer Manufacturing, and Ply Gem.

For homeowners in the Midwest, long-lasting but low-maintenance stucco cladding is a beautiful exterior choice. But how long can investment in plaster last? "People keep asking me-there are all kinds of plaster around the more than 100-year-old metropolitan area," said John Loudon, owner and president of Burnsville plastering contractor United Wall Systems. "I have seen plaster more than 300 years old in Europe. This is a very durable cladding that allows you to see the appearance that other siding can't get."

He added that most homeowners choose to repair or repaint their existing plaster rather than freshly applying it to their new home. "Part of the reason is the problems with plaster in the 1990s and the misunderstanding that plaster is problematic," Loudon said. "That's not true, stucco is a bit of a misnomer."

In the past and present, if problems do occur, they are most likely caused by improper installation, which can lead to cracking and insulation problems, which can lead to mold and mildew. As an expert in restoration and repair, Laudon used elastic coatings to refurbish exterior walls — to be precise, Sherwin-William’s Loxon XP — which is an acrylic paint similar to paint, but designed for plaster siding. "The biggest difference between these paints and ordinary paints is that they can seal the plaster and let it breathe. It is available in any color and has a very good effect on fine lines and cracks." In Loudon's view, "the only real disadvantage of plaster is It will cost more money.” He admits that the cost is of course not “one-size-fits-all”, but he recommends a budget of about $10 per square foot of installation.

For a tough and lasting timeless aesthetic, please consider using natural stone options such as limestone to update your appearance. "It may be the most popular stone, and we see many different colors used for exterior walls," said Ron Vetter, CEO of Vetter Stone. "It's a very warm and inviting material, you can match it with almost any other color. It stays still and it always looks good."

It also has versatility-both in function and appearance. “It can look rustic, or it can look delicate, very linear,” Witte explained, adding that the stone is not just for exterior decoration. “We saw real 100% stone houses with cutting elements around the doorways, arches and window sills, but we also saw the use of [stone] material combinations in the main facade feature areas, windows and door surrounds,” he said.

Limestone options extend to the color, cut and thickness of the material-the latter depends on your project and needs to be especially considered. “If it’s a remodel, you probably have to use thin stone products because there are no stone ledges on the foundation of the house,” Witte explained, “but in the new building, we see that many houses are designed to take 3.5 inches. The full-bed material.” (Thin stone, a 1-inch thick cladding, costs less per square foot and is easier to install than a full-bed material—he explained that this is a thicker, heavier Choose, there are various special finishes.)

Sometimes criticized because of its dampness problem, "The correct installation of the stone is very important, you need a really good mason," Witte said, emphasizing the importance of the moisture barrier. "If moisture gets behind the stone, it [needs] a way of drainage. This is the most important thing-seepage-and make sure that the masons operate in accordance with industry standards," he continued. "If they do, you have a great long-term job." Before you buy, please understand that stone does not have a decades-long warranty like other siding materials. However, according to Witte, what is the biggest disadvantage of stone siding? Price tag. "This is a long-term investment, and because it is a natural material, the price is higher," he explained, guaranteeing that Vetter Stone has options for any budget.

Instead of choosing traditional vinyl, a hard material made of polyvinyl chloride resin, try an insulated version. Although it is generally believed that when high-quality insulating vinyl siding is installed correctly, it can become an energy-saving and low-maintenance siding choice. "Compared with traditional vinyl siding and engineered wood, the use of thermal insulation siding on the house provides excellent R-value performance (resistance to heat flow), which helps save utility costs," Alside Siding and Materials Advanced Products Manager Nick Thompson explained that the siding manufacturer has offices in Bloomington, Duluth and Rogers. "It also has a stronger look and feel than traditional vinyl siding, providing greater stability, durability and impact resistance to the exterior of the house."

He said that although it is 25% to 50% more expensive than traditional vinyl, “the cost saved by reducing heating and cooling costs makes it a wise upgrade.” Although some homeowners choose to install vinyl on the sides or back of their homes. Minimize costs, but there are benefits to installing it completely: "Insulating siding reduces thermal bridges-energy loss through external wall columns-by covering the exterior with external wall nails," Thompson said. "It can help houses that meet the Energy Star Qualified Housing Program."

In addition to Alside (which provides a lifetime limited warranty for its products), you can also consider brands such as Craneboard, Georgia-Pacific, Cureteed or ProVia's CedarMAX to meet your needs for insulating vinyl. However, depending on the brand, insulating vinyl may be difficult to repair, due to different degrees of fading protection, darker colors may absorb sunlight, and as the temperature changes in each season, it may expand at a different rate and/or shrink.

No matter what material you choose, remember the role that the new siding plays in your life: "It's like your coat or shell-you want it to look great, you want it to protect everything inside," James' Marc Setty said Hardy. "The appearance of your home is what you project to the outside world. It is a true reflection of the family living inside."

Since the soffit and fascia are often modified to harmonize with the new exterior wall, there are few siding projects that do not include the new drainage ditch. In a rainy, snowy, and rainy climate like ours, the installation of high-quality drainage ditches is essential for a powerful house. Whether you like fascia, semicircular, K-shaped or European-style drainage ditch profiles, please consider using the following metals to make your drainage ditch from excellent to excellent.

Not sure what is best for your home? Seek advice from your siding contractor, installer or manufacturer.