For example, classic colors look best onColonial styleswhile pastels and brighter colors feel at home onVictorian houses.

You’ll also want to consider your budget.

Though vinyl is the cheapest and fiberboard is the most expensive, your house will benefit from the update.

House with Brick, Architectural Vinyl Siding, Asphalt Shingle Roof

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Installation

Commonly used as a retrofit siding, vinyl is often applied over old wood siding.

This will add insulation to the walls.

Proper installation is critical, or the siding will warp or buckle.

The different types of siding

The Spruce / Jason Donnelly

Like aluminum, vinyl siding comes in strips with interlocking edges.

A special tool called azip toolis used to join and separate the siding strips.

It remains one of the most attractive home siding options.

Vinyl siding

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Common types of wood siding include wood planks, boards or siding panels, and shingles.

The main drawbacks of wood siding are its high cost and relatively high maintenance needs.

Wood clapboard or beveled lap siding is horizontal and has overlapping joints that help shed water.

Cedar shake wood siding

The Spruce / Jason Donnelly

This is not an especially complicated processany skilled framing carpenter can do itbut it is time-consuming.

Wood siding costs run from moderate to very high.

Cedar shingles/shakes are the most expensive, averaging $6.50 to $13.75 per square foot, installed.

Aluminum metal siding

The Spruce / Jason Donnelly

In recent years, the availability of low-cost overseas steel has led to the emergence of steel siding.

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.

Fiber cement siding

The Spruce / Jason Donnelly

Plain, unfinished steel panels are usually galvanized for corrosion protection.

Some newer products have plastic or vinyl coatings that provide additional resistance to fading and weathering.

Uncoated steel and aluminum are moderate in cost.

Vinyl- or plastic-coated aluminum is more expensive.

Material costs can fluctuate greatly depending on market conditions, tariffs, etc.

Because it is made from recyclable materials, it’s resource-efficient.

Fiber cement siding cuts and installs like wood siding.

Fiber cement comes the closest toemulating a natural wood grainand is virtually indistinguishable from some wood siding products.

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 is a moderately expensive siding option.

The national average is about$10 per square foot, installed.

Natural wood siding is a good option when you want a truly genuine look.

Fiber cement is a very good choice if you might afford it.

Vinyl siding is usually the cheapest siding option for a house.

The answer largely depends on your region.

Wood siding may not always work best for extremely wet, rainy, and snowy regions.

Of these four options, fiber cement board siding is usually the longest-lasting siding.

Siding is purchased in “squares.”

Each square equals 100 square feet.