The siding on your home isn’t there just to make it look sharp and clean. It protects your home from a variety of elements and in some places it plays an important role in securing your home. If you are looking to replace or repair the siding on your home, you may find yourself wondering just what the purpose of siding is. It is actually good to think about this because when you choose siding you want to be aware of how well each type of siding can fulfill this job. In order to know that, you must know what the purpose of the siding is, what it is supposed to protect your home from and how.

What Is The Purpose of Siding?

Regardless of what it is made of, home siding is designed primarily for two things:
It provides protection from outdoor weather elements like, rain, hail, snow, and ice. Your home should have a variety of features that will help keep these out. But your siding is the first line of defense.
The other purpose of siding on a home is for design. Your home needs a consistent repetitive exterior to be visually appealing. Sidings give that uniform look that makes your home look really good.

How Does Siding Provide Protection?

The primary way that siding protects your home is by keeping out water. If you have bad or damaged siding. It could allow water to come inside your home. This can lead to problems like mold or even compromise your foundation.
Because the materials that were used to build your home tend to expand or contact over time, siding is intentionally overlapped to cover any joints. But if the joints become uncovered or exposed, they allow water, snow, or dirt to come in.
Siding also protects your home from wind. This protection is usually not so much from wind damage but from loss of heat. Siding provides another level of protective insulation to your home and keeps it nice and warm during the winter. Without your siding, your heater would have to work much harder and your bills would be higher.

Which Type of Siding is The Best?

The answer to this question will vary depending on what part of the country you live in and how much you are willing to maintain your siding. It can be safely said that the cheapest option is probably not the one that will provide the most protection.

Wood Siding

Wood siding has been popular for a long time, and with good reason. It has a beautiful natural look to it, and can be painted and repainted in any color you choose. Wood siding can be very durable when it is properly maintained but the maintenance can be costly.

Vinyl Siding

Vinyl siding has come into popularity in recent years. It is very inexpensive and fairly easy to install. But it does have many disadvantages. It is not tightly attached to the home so it is much more likely to allow moisture and pests into the home. It also has been known to melt under higher heat and fade quickly. When it does start to fade it is difficult to impossible to fix as it can’t be painted. It has also been strongly criticized for its unattractive appearance.

Fiber Cement Siding

Fiber cement siding has gained much respect in recent years. It is very low maintenance and can be painted in any color you want. It does a very good job of looking like wood. Fiber cement siding is a great choice for anyone who want the look and feel of wood without the maintenance. Though it is not the least expensive option, it is well worth the money.

Stone Veneer Siding

Stone veneer siding is made out of cast concrete. It is designed to look and feel just like natural stone. It comes in a variety of shapes and colors and is a great way to get the natural stone look without the high cost.
There are a variety of other siding options but these are some of the most common.
Hopefully this gives you a better understanding of the purpose of siding on your home. Now that you know what your siding is designed to do, you can choose which option works best for you. You want a siding that will provide the maximum protection for your home while looking good and being affordable. At Tulsa Renew we recommend high quality James Hardie Fiber Cement Siding. It comes in a variety of styles and colors and provides great protection for your home. Please contact us to learn more!