Siding buying guide

Last updated: October 2013

Getting started | Types | Features
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Siding
Getting started
New siding is one of the most visible ways to give your home a makeover now and make it easier to sell later. And siding isn't just decorative: Loose or cracked
panels or shingles can allow entry to moisture and insects, leading to expensive structural damage. What's more, performance can vary significantly between and
even within types. Use this guide to find a replacement.

Our tests have found significant differences by type and brand--and even within the same brand. Some siding is far less resistant to cracking from impacts in warm
and cold weather, an especially important consideration for active families with children. And some is less likely to stay put in a wind storm, based on our simulated
150-mph winds. We've also found that some vinyl siding--still the best-selling kind--is more prone to fading under ultraviolet light, especially important in sunny
climates and where trees don't provide much shade.

The thickest and most expensive vinly siding tended to perform best in our tests, although several thinner and less expensive products did almost as well. While
you'll often pay more for the strongest, longest-lived vinyl, we've found some very good products can cost far less yet perform nearly as well. Vinyl, plastic, and
other synthetic materials are also getting much more realistic: Thanks to better graining and deeper profiles that cast wider shadows, some vinyl siding looks much
more like wood for a small fraction of what you'd pay for the real thing. Check under Types to determine which material--vinyl, plastic, fiber cement, or wood--best
suits your taste and budget.
Buy the right amount
An installer will calculate how much siding your home needs, but you can make a rough estimate without climbing a ladder--and avoid overpaying someone you
hire. Simply multiply the height times the width of each rectangular section of your house in feet, going by what you can measure from the ground, to determine its
area. Multiply the approximate height and width of gables and other triangular surfaces and divide each total by two. Then add all the totals. To allow for waste,
don't subtract for doors, windows, or other areas that won't be covered. Finally, divide the total square footage by 100 to estimate how many squares of siding
you'll need.
Get it installed right
We recommend having a professional install your siding. If the old siding is sound, new siding can go over it. But rotted wood siding should be replaced and the
wall behind it checked for damage--something that could save you tens of thousands of dollars in structural repairs later on. If the old siding is removed, have a
moisture barrier installed beneath the new siding, and add flashing around doors and windows. Fasteners should attach to wall studs, not just the sheathing. The
installer should center the fasteners in the slots and leave a gap as thick as a dime between the panel and the fastener heads to allow for expansion and
contraction.
Make it last
You can extend the useful life of your siding with simple maintenance and repairs. Siding is susceptible to leaks, especially where it meets windows and doors. A
$5 tube of caulk could ultimately save you thousands of dollars in structural repairs. If you live in a region with cold winters, check the siding under the eaves for
water stains, possibly a sign of ice damming. Adding attic insulation and sealing any gaps around pipes and ducts into the attic may help prevent future damming--
and may lower your heating and cooling bills as well.

Types
Weigh the look you like against upkeep and cost. Prices listed are per square (100 square feet). Figure on 20 squares and $1,800 to $4,000 in labor for a typical
2,300-square-foot house. Here are the types of siding to consider.
Vinyl

Low price and minimal upkeep make vinyl by far the most popular siding material. Vinyl needs no painting. It won't warp or twist, and it's impervious to insects and
water. But it can rattle, crack, melt, and burn. Some vinyl products may look like wood from a distance, but not up close. Before you settle on vinyl, consider
whether your taste or the architecture of your neighborhood makes the added realism and cost of plastic, fiber cement, or even real wood a more appropriate
choice.
Plastic
These shingles and shakes can closely resemble cedar, even up close. Plastic, like vinyl, requires minimal upkeep. Though less rigid than vinyl, it resists impact
better in cold weather.
Fiber cement

This blend of cement, sand, and cellulose looks the most like real wood. Fiber-cement siding is insect-proof, but water can damage it during freezes and thaws.
Whether primed or pre-painted, fiber cement must be refinished periodically, though less often than wood.
Wood
Although wood shingles and clapboard offer traditional charm, they're very expensive. Wood is resistant to impact, but it can warp, twist, and burn. And it's
vulnerable to rot, insects, and woodpeckers. Wood can be finished or left natural, and it's available primed or painted. If it's painted or stained, it requires periodic
refinishing.

 
Features
When installing siding, there are some features to consider that can enhance the appearance and durability. Here are the siding features to consider.
Deep profile
On clapboard-style vinyl, a profile that's raised an inch or more deepens shadow lines, making the siding look more like wood. It's also likely to be more rigid and
less wavy when installed.
Double-hem nailing area
The best vinyl siding has a double-layer mounting hem, which provides stronger attachment and better resistance to high winds than does a single-layer hem.
Extra-long panels
Some vinyl siding comes in 16-foot or longer lengths to reduce the number of seams on long, unbroken walls.
Finish
For fiber cement, consider whether the added color choices and cost savings of painting it yourself outweigh the longer durability of a factory finish.
Foam backing
Besides making vinyl siding more rigid, foam backing adds insulation.
Siding Ratings
Brand & Model Price/100 sq ft Ratings and Test Results

Vinyl siding

Heartland CedarMAX Composite Cladding $200 83 0.050

Royal DuraPlank $210 80 0.054

Norandex Polar Wall Plus $205 79 0.044

KP Norman Rockwell $165 79 0.044

ABTCo TimberCrest I/S $160 78 0.046

Mastic Home Exteriors Structure EPS $200 77 0.044

Heartland HeartTech $75 77 0.044

Exterior Portfolio by Crane CraneBoard 6 $195 74 0.046

Royal Woodland 16 $160 72 0.046

Revere Sovereign Select Energy Smart $125 72 0.046

 Mastic Home Exteriors Trade Mark $65 72 0.040

Crane Premium Pointe 360 $100 71 0.046

Kaycan Ocean Park Ultra $155 71 0.050

Napco American Splendor $135 70 0.046

Alside Prodigy $160 70 0.046

Mastic Home Exteriors Brentwood $70 68 0.040

CertainTeed Monogram 46 $110 68 0.046

CertainTeed CedarBoards $220 67 0.044

Alside Charter Oak $95 66 0.046

ABTCo Waterford $75 65 0.042

Wolverine American Legend $80 59 0.042

Georgia-Pacific Forest Ridge (Lowe's) $90 58 0.040

Owens Corning Essentials (Home Depot) $55 55 0.040

Plastic shingle/shake siding

CertainTeed Cedar Impressions Straight Edge

$315 95 0.100
Perfection
 Exterior Portfolio by Crane Portsmouth 8 foot
$325 91 0.100
Long Length Cedar Shake

Mastic Home Exteriors Cedar Discovery

$350 90 0.080
Perfection Shingle CD70P

KP Perfection Shingle VSPC $240 83 0.100

Fiber cement siding

Nichiha Sierra Premium Smooth (primed) $160 76 0.500 NA

James Hardie HardiePlank Select Cedarmill

$200 73 0.313 NA
(primed)

CertainTeed WeatherBoards (primed) $70 68 0.313 NA