What is the purpose of siding?
When building a custom home, there are many different factors to consider. One factor that is often overlooked when building a new home is the type of siding on the exterior of your home. Siding can add beauty and value to your property while also protecting it from elements such as rain, snow, sun rays, or the occasional foul ball from your kids.
The exterior of your house is one of the first things people notice when they drive by. It protects you from weather and gives your home an aesthetic appeal. When looking for siding, it’s essential to know what type will work best for your needs. Many types of siding can be used on a custom home, but each has its benefits and drawbacks, but not all materials are created equal.
Determine what type of siding will best suit your needs.
A question as simple as "What type of siding will I need?" can quickly become a headache-inducing task. If you are building a custom home, it’s crucial to find the right siding for your new home. Many companies offer a variety of siding. The type of material you choose will depend on how much maintenance you want to do in the future, as well as how sturdy and long-lasting you want your exterior to be.
The following list includes some common types of siding materials available.
Wood - Wood siding has been a popular product for home building. It is versatile and installed quickly. It offers an appropriate choice of exterior materials to match any style or budget. Wood siding requires expensive upkeep regularly, but can last 20-40 years with good maintenance.
Aluminum - Aluminum siding is a type of exterior wall covering that protects your house against the elements. These coverings are lightweight, durable, and sturdy enough to last up to 50 years with proper care. They offer a less aesthetically pleasing set of options.
Fiber Cement - Fiber cement siding is a premium exterior building product at a moderate price. It can be made to resemble stucco, shingles, shakes, or wood clapboard. Fiber cement comes primed or prefinished, and is available in numerous colors. Fiber cement is virtually maintenance-free and is resistant to termites, fire, and rot. Some manufacturers offer up to a 50 year warranty.
Stone Veneer - Stone veneer is pieces of stone thinly cut and then affixed to the side of a home. While stone veneer offers a beautiful mosaic look and feel to a home, it comes with higher cost and prohibitive maintenance. Stone veneer is more fire resistant than wood or vinyl siding and with proper installation and maintenance can last anywhere from 20 to 50 years.
Brick - Brick siding is one of the most common upscale exterior home options that has been used by builders for centuries. Brick is a durable material with relatively low maintenance, but comes with a hefty upfront cost. If you can foot the bill early on, brick siding should last a lifetime and can add value to your home. Brick is available in a multitude of colors, textures, and thicknesses to match any design style.
Vinyl - Vinyl siding is a versatile, lightweight, and cost effective material that has been around for decades in residential settings. Vinyl exteriors are energy efficient because they do not absorb heat like wood or steel. Another benefit of vinyl siding: it resists termites, moisture, and warping due to mold growth. Vinyl siding can last anywhere from 20-40 years depending on its exposure to harsh outdoor elements.
While Wausau Homes can provide any type of siding our customers ask for, the demands of living in the Midwest have the majority of our clients opting for vinyl siding.
Choose the right type of siding for your climate.
It’s essential to choose materials that will last and withstand Mother Nature’s elements. What climate you live in plays a role in determining the most comfortable and appropriate material. If you live in Tucson, Arizona, where average summertime temperatures can reach 115° F, you have to think about an exterior coating that will protect your house from these destructive high temperatures. While wood siding might do the trick, fiber cement will be much better at combating those blazing hot summer days.
The most popular and cost-effective option used in the Midwest for most Wausau Homes customers is vinyl siding. DiamondKote is the second most popular siding style we offer. DiamondKote is made out of LP Smartside, which is an OSB pressed board with color throughout, offering a thirty year no fade warranty.
There are many options within the category of vinyl siding with varying degrees of technology built-in. One great example is vinyl siding with SolarDefense Technology. This siding has a top layer that disperses heat and resists fading by allowing light energy to flow both ways. It also has a cooling compound that scatters light, reflecting heat away with a base layer that prevents distortion, giving you a more robust heat-resistant base layer and further durability.
Wausau Homes appreciates the wide variety of climates across our country, and we're here to help you choose the right siding for your house.
Choose the right type of siding for your budget.
Choosing the type of siding that fits your budget is a crucial decision when building a home. Wausau Homes ensures you make an educated choice. All of our products are made with solid, proven materials so you can choose what’s best for your particular needs and then be able to afford it within your budget.
When considering your budget for siding, an excellent way to save money is by using vinyl siding. It's easy to install and takes little maintenance. During the warm summer months, it can help reduce energy costs. It reflects the sun and does not require additional cooling.
On the other side of the cost spectrum will be more refined materials like stone veneer or brick. The installation process is more involved, and the sheer weight of the material will mean ensuring your home’s foundation can withstand the load.
With Wausau Homes, you get ultimate customization at firm prices with high-quality materials thanks to our relationships with top manufacturers.
Don’t forget durability and maintenance requirements.
The Midwest is famous for its chilly winters, which can be tough on your siding. Creating a tight seal around the windows and doors to keep out cold air in the wintertime will help extend the life of your home's exterior walls. In the Midwest, where we live and play, durability isn't just a word: it's an expectation.
When you combine all of our varying seasons, our siding has to put up with a lot. That’s why the upfront investment is also a long-term investment. You want the durability to be robust and the maintenance to be minimal. We will help you pick materials that will protect against fading colors from the damaging sun and a barrier from the winter deep freeze. For some materials, you can simply use soap and water for cleanup. Avoid the hassles of constant painting, caulking, and patching. Given the Midwest environment we operate in, you need solutions that won’t peel, crack, or rot.
The type of siding can significantly impact your home's durability, insulation properties, style, and curb appeal — all things that need to be considered when building a house.
Wausau Homes Can Help
Wausau Homes offers various siding options, but the choice depends on what is most important to you. Our team can work with you to find the perfect material for your budget and specific needs.
We want you to have a beautiful new home for years to come, so we offer high-quality products that will stand up against the elements and add value to your property. Our team has over 60 years of experience helping more than 200,000 homeowners like you build their dream homes with quality products from Wausau Homes! Find your local Wausau Homes builder today!