There’s a lot that goes into making your home the way you want it, whether you’ve just purchased a new one or are making improvements to an older one. One of those important decisions is choosing a product to protect and insulate your home’s exterior, a decision that requires plenty of thought and consideration before jumping in and booking an installation. Siding, after all, is an incredibly vital home feature for any home construction. Choosing wisely can mean enjoying amazing benefits that will affect your home and property for decades to come.

Then again, having to choose between today’s latest siding products and materials can feel overwhelming. Siding products are available in all sorts of styles, colors, and patterns, and are made from a number of materials like vinyl, wood, steel, and fiber cement.

If you’re struggling to decide on siding materials for your home, reputable siding contractors like the ones that make up our team at Statewide Remodeling can assist you in making the right decision. In this article, we’ll go over some of the most important things to consider when embarking on a siding replacement project of your own—to help guide you towards making the best choice for you and your home.

First Things First: Getting Started With Your Siding Project

Whether you choose vinyl siding, fiber cement siding, or any other siding material, the first considerations you’ll need to make include the following:

The Condition of Your Existing Siding: Some siding issues can be addressed with simple yet effective repairs. If your siding materials can be fixed, then consider taking this route to save time, money, and hassle of a full replacement. On the other hand, if the siding is old, full of cracks and gouges, or no longer insulation properly, then it’s time to look into replacement. Have a reputable siding contractor evaluate your installation and suggest the next steps towards a better protected and insulated home.

Efficiency: For most owners, energy-efficiency is a big deal. This is mainly due to the desire to keep the home at a comfortable temperature year-round. However, even the best HVAC equipment will fail if your siding doesn’t due its part to separate the airflow inside the house and from the outdoors. That’s why it’s important to choose a siding material that is known for its insulating properties and excellent energy-efficiency. Insulated siding may cost a little more upfront, but the savings on your energy bill over time more than make-up for this.

Maintenance: Let’s face it, siding isn’t meant to last forever. If you find yourself constantly patching, repairing, and cleaning your siding, lower-maintenance siding options can make your life a lot easier. Instead of focusing on what the siding material is, instead consider how long it’s meant to last as well as how much maintenance it needs. Wood siding is notorious for needing a lot of cleaning and upkeep, for example, whereas vinyl siding materials can last a very long time without heavy maintenance requirements. Consider the characteristics—including the pros and cons of each material and what they mean for your lifestyle and investment—and choose accordingly.

Aesthetics: Siding is functional—there’s no question about that. But it’s also extremely visible—covering your home from the base to the line of the rooftop. For this reason, siding styles can seriously affect the aesthetics of your home’s appearance. When thinking about siding, ask yourself what kind of impact you want to make on the entire home. Are you happy with your current décor style, or would you be interested in changing it for the better? A professional home designer can help you make the best decision using design software to find the most attractive style that suits your preferences.

Resale: Even if you’re not thinking about moving now, chances are you probably will. Most people move an average of 11 times in their lives, and many of them do so after purchasing what they consider to be their “forever homes’. Whether you’re already thinking about selling or it’s not yet in the plans, resale value is an important thing to consider when investing in new siding. Vinyl siding and steel siding are known to retain and improve in value over the years, while fiber cement siding and engineered wood siding perform beautifully as well. When making your choice, consider the impact on potential buyers and how this will affect the value of your home in the future.

Our Final Advice for Choosing Siding Materials

Above all, it’s important to consider three very important things when choosing the right siding for your home investment. Ask yourself the following questions, and then make sure to discuss your thoughts with your contractor to make the best decision you can about your siding:

Why are you replacing the siding?
What do you want out of your new siding?
What do you expect from your contractor when it comes to your siding installation?

That last one is important, because the best and highest quality siding in the entire world won’t add value to your home if it’s not installed incorrectly. Make sure that you work with a trusted and reliable contractor that has experience in siding installation for the best possible outcome.

Siding Replacement with Statewide Remodeling

Your siding choice is an extremely important aspect of your home and a big investment. Every decision that you make about your siding—from the materials you use to the company you choose to install it—should be made after careful research and evaluation. Since 1994, Statewide Remodeling has been proving itself as one of the best and most trustworthy remodeling companies in the great state of Texas. Our focus has always been on providing outstanding customer service backed by superior products and installations.

If you’re ready to look into your siding options with our team at Statewide Remodeling, we’d love to hear from you. Give us a call to speak with one of our agents about our siding installation services today or fill out our online form to schedule your free quote.