Exterior siding is used for multiple purposes in buildings architecture. Knowing and considering each of these can help any individual to find the right siding option for the demanding residential or commercial facility. The most important reason to use siding is to enhance aesthetics. The material for the cladding system of the building can influence its overall architectural design and style, making it very important to be chosen extremely carefully. While these products have a key role in dictating aesthetic appeal, they also have practical usage. For example, sidings protect the exterior of a house providing an appropriate barrier against weather, and they definitely improve insulation factors in the process. Different materials work better for a variety of climate conditions.
While it is stated that exterior sidings are an important feature, it is equally essential to know the variety of options, which are available in the market and are efficient to be utilized for any project. Two of the most important products, which are used widely nowadays, are Aluminum Sidings and Wood Sidings. Each siding system has its unique specifications, and characteristics, thus utilizing them for a variety of applications and projects requires knowledge and information about the products.
Exterior Wood Siding
Wood sidings are considered as a perfect material for exterior applications when it comes to areas, which have a mild climate. This type has gained its popularity among the other types of sidings over time. These products bring many advantages, which make them appealing when utilized for exterior projects.
Manufacturers that produce wood siding products, create these materials in a way to provide the appearance of real wood. These sidings have classic textures and characteristics, which make the homeowner, feel more comfortable and secure. However, these products come in a variety of styles and types to satisfy customer’s tastes and demands for any type of application. Clapboards, hand-cut shakes, machine-cut shingles, and solid wood are some popular styles, which are available in the cladding market. Decay resistance factor made Cedar and Redwood common woods for producing exterior wood sidings. It is important to know that these products are created for both vertical and horizontal cladding and are suitable for home renovating plans.
Wood siding is an ideal material for buildings, which require high pace construction procedure. This is due to the product’s capability of being installed very quickly and easily. This ability is also beneficial for homeowners who have mediocre carpentry skills and tend to install their own siding. These products have the ability to be replaced easily when they are damaged or when renovating a particular part is needed. In most cases, any individual can replace the product without needing extra help from a professional. However, for having bettered and standard exterior siding replacement and avoiding further damages, it is recommended to be in touch with a contractor, which can provide experts for the job.
Exterior Wood Sidings are also very popular due to their environmental-friendly characteristic. This material is the true definition of biodegradable. These materials decay into some substances when they end up in landfills, and this makes them the most non-polluting type of siding in the market.
Another important specification of wood sidings is their ability to be painted in almost every color desired. The painting procedure is utilized not only for aesthetic purposes, but also for protecting the material from potential damages such as insects, cracking, and rotting.
Exterior Aluminum Siding
Aluminum Sidings are much lighter than wood sidings. This means they are suitable for transporting to the construction area, and they can be installed easily to the building. Aluminum sidings are superior to wood materials when it comes to water-resistance specifications. These materials are waterproof unlike wooden products, and they have solved the leakage issue since they entered the cladding industry. Thus, they are suitable for constructions that are located in humid areas or shorelines. They are baked appropriately during production procedure, thus they also are considered as fireproof material, and they cannot be melted due to their superior heat tolerance characteristic.
Exterior Aluminum Sidings are extremely long-lasting, durable, and are not easy to damage or destruct. As long as appropriate maintenance and cleaning methods are utilized, these products will be at service and will maintain their functionality. A special coating system is applied to these sidings to enhance their lifetime; however, they will need to be repainted after a couple of years. These products are one of the easiest materials to be painted and a variety of finishes is available for them in the market.
Aluminum sidings have a high affordability level due to their lower price in comparison to wood sidings. Utilizing them will definitely decrease the amount of expenditure and can save more money for other applications. In addition, installation labor for these products can cost less due to their lower weight.
Another essential characteristic of these sidings is their energy efficiency. Aluminum sidings have perfect insulating characteristics, which can be a help for energy dissipation reduction during cold and warm seasons.
At last, aluminum sidings are completely recyclable materials considered as one of the most eco-friendly products in the building industry.