I'm having a home built for me next year, and I'm trying to figure out which siding to go with. The problem in researching this topic is that it seems that every material has its diehard proponents who (over-)emphasize the weaknesses of all other options.
Thus, it'd be nice to get an UNBIASED expert's opinion, like Ms Susanka's, though others are certainly free to chime in.
What are the siding materials that give a good trade-off between appearance, durability, maintenance, and cost/ease of installation?
I also worry about things such as toxicity (vinyl siding allegedly is flammable, and gives off poisonous dioxin smoke when burned? some sidings have formaldehyde or other nasties in them?). What are Sarah's (and others) preferred siding options and why?
The house will be going up in a Mediterranean, temperate climate (SF Bay Area), with moderate amounts of rain, and no hail, hurricanes, extreme heat/cold, or true salt air to deal with.
--lee
This message has been edited. Last edited by: Lee in NorCal,
Good question. Sarah's favorites are either natural wood, which requires regular staining and maintenance, or fiber cement siding (like James Hardie siding), which looks like wood, is environmentally friendly, and requires less maintenance than natural wood. The fiber cement siding has become more popular recently because of all of these positives. It is also easy to put up. In 2001, there was an article in Fine Homebuilding that talked about fiber cement siding. You might find it helpful to read.
Thanks!
Marie
This message has been edited. Last edited by: notsobig,
A big thank-you to you Marie, and to Sarah, for taking time out to reply.
Fiber cement/Hardie-board piqued my curiousity for the practical reasons you mention, and of course, what is more beautiful than natural wood siding? I just hope fiber cement is available in horizontal shiplap or tongue-in-groove styles, as conventional lap or clapboard style doesn't really appeal to me. *crosses fingers*
