Here’s a look at the features, pricing, and maintenance considerations of these popular materials, as well as the timeless options of wood and metal. Wood clapboard or beveled lap siding is horizontal and has overlapping joints that help shed water. Wood plank or board siding is vertical and comes in board and batten, board-on-board, and channel-groove or tongue-and-groove styles. Board siding also comes in a plywood version, often called T1-11, which is simply exterior plywood with various face treatments and groove patterns to emulate a traditional board-and-batten design. Installation of wood siding is a fairly involved process, involving the application of a layer of insulated sheathing and a weatherproofing layer, then meticulous nailing of the planks or shakes to the house framing. This is not an especially complicated process—any skilled framing carpenter can do it—but it is time-consuming. Wood siding costs run from moderate to very high. Nationally, average costs are $3 to $10 per square foot, installed, according to a major consumer cost estimating service. Cost varies widely by type of wood species and style of siding and exterior finish. T1-11 is the least expensive type, on average: $3.50 to $7.20 per square foot, installed. Cedar shingles/shakes are the most expensive, averaging $6.50 to $13.75 per square foot, installed. Lap siding can run from about $2 per square foot for pine or cypress siding to as much as $14 per square foot for redwood. Cedar lap siding, the most common type, typically costs $5 to $10 per square foot, installed. Horizontal aluminum and steel siding comes in horizontal strips resembling wood lap siding, which include a mounting flange at the top for nailing, and an interlocking edge along the bottom to seal against the weather. It can be quite hard to distinguish metal siding from wood, especially at a distance. This siding typically includes a factory-applied finish for maximum corrosion resistance. Plain, unfinished steel panels are usually galvanized for corrosion protection. Some newer products have plastic of vinyl coatings that provide additional resistance to fading and weathering. Metal is commonly used as “retrofit” siding, and it is sometimes applied directly over wood siding when the desire for low maintenance wins out over aesthetics or when the wood siding has been severely damaged. When this type of siding is retrofit to existing buildings there is generally a layer of fiber panels placed underneath the planks to add insulation to the walls. Uncoated steel and aluminum are moderate in cost. Average costs (materials plus installation) run $3 to $6 per square foot for aluminum, $4 to $8 per square foot for steel. Vinyl- or plastic-coated aluminum is more expensive. Material costs can fluctuate greatly depending on market conditions, tariffs, etc. Commonly used as a retrofit siding, vinyl is often applied over old wood siding. When this type of siding is retrofit to existing buildings there is generally a layer of fiber panels placed underneath the planks. This will add insulation to the walls. Proper installation is critical, or the siding will warp or buckle. Like aluminum, vinyl siding comes in strips with interlocking edges. A special tool called a zip tool is used to join and separate the siding strips. Vinyl siding is the least expensive of the modern siding options. The national average for installing vinyl siding (materials plus labor) is $3 to $8 per square foot. Fiber cement comes the closest to emulating a natural wood grain and is virtually indistinguishable from some wood siding products. It is available with a simple prime coat that you can paint to whatever color you want, or as fully finished pieces. Complementary trim and millwork pieces are also available to provide design detail for the home. It is available in beveled lap siding planks, shingles or shakes, or stucco-panel styles. Fiber cement siding products are installed much the same way as standard wood siding—cut by ordinary carpentry tools and nailed to framing members over insulation and house wrap. Installation is somewhat more time-consuming than for vinyl siding, but the work is not difficult and almost any framing carpenter familiar with working with wood siding can easily install fiber cement siding. Fiber cement is a moderately expensive siding option. The national average is about $10 per square foot, installed. While this is higher than vinyl or metal, fiber cement siding lasts a very long time, and you may never need to replace it over the time you own a home. Natural wood siding is a good option when you want a truly genuine look. Other siding materials were developed as replacements for wood, so if the “real McCoy” is what you’re after, then true wood makes sense. If you are restoring a house to historical authenticity, for example, then you may well want to use natural wood. But be aware that natural wood requires a considerable amount of maintenance; you’ll be repainting or resealing every five years or so, and you’ll need to stay atop any water damage that develops. The reality is that for most homeowners who don’t need the authenticity of true wood, one of the other three siding options will be a better choice. Fiber cement is a very good choice if you can afford it. This product is very hard to distinguish from real wood, but it will resist fire and heat damage and will require far less maintenance than natural wood siding. You may want to repaint it every 10 to 15 years, but that’s about it when it comes to upkeep. For more budget-conscious homeowners, there are metal or vinyl siding products available, both of which are good durable choices for a siding material. Vinyl is the more affordable choice, while metal might be a better option if you live in a region where there is any danger of wildfire.
