The curb appeal of your home expresses the time and care you’ve put into it. You want it to look good and to increase in value. The siding of your house contributes to its value, but cost isn’t always the deciding factor when choosing a siding. Before making a choice, you’ll want to consider maintenance, durability and longevity, and ease of replacement because each of these will contribute to the overall cost of siding your home.
Properties of materials:
Cedar is a natural product; has insulating value; serves as a sound barrier. Vinyl is plastic; installs faster than cedar; moisture won’t collect behind siding because vinyl is hung loosely, allowing air to circulate.
Durability and longevity of material:
Cedar lasts up to seventy-five years if properly maintained; it has a natural ability to repel insects. Vinyl will probably last forever; won’t dent or chip; color is all through the section of siding; color may fade after ten or fifteen years; absorbs heat... too much heat can cause vinyl to buckle.
Maintenance:
New cedar must be treated with a water repellent sealer, a stain blocking primer, and a top coat of stain or paint. This should be done as regular maintenance every three to five years. Cedar experts agree that cedar should not be allowed to just weather. Vinyl should be hosed off at least once a year; a brush is recommended for textured vinyl; use non-abrasive cleaners where needed.
Ease of replacement:
A saw will remove any cedar that needs to be replaced. A special tool, available at home supply stores, is needed to get under siding to pop it free from the adjoining piece of siding to which it is attached.
Cost:
The cost of cedar is determined by the grade of the lumber, the cut of the boards... beveled, rough sawn, board and batten..., and in which part of the country you’re buying. Prices tend to range widely, from $2.52 to $4.00 per square foot. Plus the waterproofing, the primer, and the top coat, each about $30 a gallon. Each product should average 200-300 square feet per gallon. This will depend on the product and the porosity of the cedar. Say you have a wall that measures 10 feet x 10 feet; that’s 100 square feet. At the minimum price, it will cost $252 to cover that wall; $400 at the higher price. Plus, you’ll use about one-third of each of the waterproofing, primer, and top coat. One-third of the $30 gallon is $10 worth each, for a $30 total. That 10 x 10 wall will cost from $282 to $430 to cover, not counting corners and finishing trim.
An average cost for a medium grade of smooth vinyl siding is $1.60 per square foot. Vinyl comes in a variety of colors, patterns, and grades, thicker being better. Each upgrade will increase the price. Again, the area of the country will make a difference in cost. Using the same 10 x 10 wall as above, 100 square feet at $1.60 is $160, again not including corners and finishing trim.
Those are the basic facts. Here are a few other things to consider:
If vinyl siding is your choice, be sure you like the color because you’re stuck with it until you replace it. On the other hand, some experts say that vinyl siding can be painted if the proper paint is used, one formulated for vinyl. Light colors only, dark colors are not recommended for vinyl because it absorbs heat and dark colors will increase that absorption, possibly damaging the vinyl. Woodpeckers like cedar. They will make tremendous noise pecking small and large holes in it and other birds will live in those holes until they’re sealed. If you like the look of cedar but not the maintenance, there is a vinyl that looks like cedar. Top quality vinyl siding can cost almost as much as cedar but the installation cost will be lower because vinyl installs faster.
There are many choices in both types of siding. Consider the type of house you have and the neighborhood; what would fit in well with the other houses on your street? The bottom line is really which siding you like that fits into your budget. It’s a big investment; choose well.
