As a homeowner, the siding of your home plays an incredibly important role in the health of the rest of your home. After all, siding is often considered the first line of defense against harsh elements, but when planning an exterior overhaul, choosing a new siding can prove difficult. Not all sidings are right for your home or for you as a homeowner. At Burbach, we suggest evaluating the various options and materials for siding, from the traditional to the contemporary. Of course, during a remodel, you’ll want to choose a style and material that will eventually be a good return on your investment, as well as bring an aesthetic appeal to your home. If stucco and stone are out of the running, the choice usually comes down to lap or vertical siding. But what’s the difference between the two and which is better for you?
Lap Siding
Lap siding is a very traditional look and happens to be an incredibly popular choice during a remodel. However, many homeowners are looking for ways to spice up an entire home of lap siding. Bring in an element of shake and shingle, for instance, to any points or separated sections of a home’s exterior can break up the look of vertical siding without taking away from its classic look.
Vertical Siding
Unlike lap siding, vertical siding is, you guessed it, vertical. Visually, vertical siding is set up horizontally, sometimes with a siding overlap, but more commonly, with siding pieces placed level and side by side. This means that the most obvious difference between the two types of siding the end look. It can be an unexpected element to the look of your home. While some homeowners choose this look to bring a modern feel to their home, vertical siding can also bring a classic yet vibrant element to more traditional architecture, such as a craftsman style home.
Long-Term Performance
Of course, deciding on an aesthetic that you can live with for quite some time is an important factor when choosing a siding style, but never choose style over substance. After all, a great looking siding doesn’t automatically mean it will have performance power. Make sure that you’re working with a remodeling construction team that uses only the highest-quality materials available, and products from manufacturers that are trusted.
Performance comes down to the quality of materials and the quality of the installation. One of the greatest differences in the long-term performance of lap and vertical siding is the way they take on harsh elements. The arrangements of paneling can make a difference. Although the type of material used should be appropriate for the state you live in (and the climate in question) some contractors prefer vertical siding, as it can be more difficult for heavy wind, rain, and snow to penetrate cracks within the panels.
