The most popular coating used in the United States, vinyl is resistant to insects, heat and cold. Aluminum metal cladding is another very low-maintenance product that has existed since the 1930s. Vinyl siding is generally billed as a low-maintenance material that will save you from having to scrape, paint and care for the exterior of your home. It has existed since the 1950s and was first introduced as an alternative to wood.
In many ways, vinyl requires less maintenance than wood siding, since it doesn't require regular painting. The color passes directly through the boards, which are made of a type of plastic called polyvinyl chloride. This means that the color cannot peel, chip, or fade, all of which are problems that wood eventually has. Vinyl also does not rot and is resistant to moisture problems.
Unfortunately, vinyl doesn't require as much maintenance as is often described. Vinyl can melt at high temperatures and crack under conditions of. It can also crack on impact, and while vinyl itself resists moisture, it can hide serious moisture problems behind it if installed with a foam backing. These moisture problems can cause problems such as mold and wood rotting underneath the vinyl, where you can't see it, which means a lot more maintenance and repair work than you think.
Modified wood siding is another low-maintenance material that many people choose when they want the look and sustainability of real wood, but without the care and maintenance that most wood coatings require. Modified wood siding is generally very durable and weather resistant, without many of the typical problems that wood siding is known for, such as wood decay. It doesn't require painting the way pressure treated wood does, which can be considered an advantage, especially if you prefer a rustic look for your property. Modified wood eventually takes on a natural or eroded appearance as it ages, but it doesn't tend to rot like wood.
It also resists insect activity better than normal wood coatings. The biggest drawback of most modified woods is the same as one of their pros: it can't be painted. It's good from a maintenance standpoint: there's no need to scrape or repaint, but it restricts the options you have for the appearance of your home. While some very rustic or modern buildings look good looking natural or worn, more traditional homes look better when painted, meaning that modified wood is often not the best option.
Aluminum siding is one of the oldest alternatives to wood siding and was first created in the 1930s. It's not as popular as some coatings, mostly because people don't realize what it can be like and are worried that it will make their homes look industrial-style. Aluminum requires quite little maintenance and has none of the drawbacks of vinyl: it doesn't melt in the sun or crack in the cold. It's available in both plain boards and boards that have a wood-like texture, so you have a few options on how to coat your home.
It is also quite durable, as it resists most moisture problems and insect activity, and is fireproof. However, aluminum has another set of concerns when it comes to general maintenance. The color of the coating tends to fade rather quickly, turning into a calcareous residue that can be brushed onto clothing. To cope with this, you have to repaint the coating every few years, so it does not require as much maintenance as it seems.
It also tends to dent easily, so if you hit it with a stray ball or a hail, you'll see a visible mark left behind. Stone veneer is another material that attracts a lot of interest from people looking for a natural look for their home, but who want to avoid the painting and scraping that most wood products require. It can give your home a natural or rustic look, and veneer itself requires little maintenance: it resists moisture problems and insect activity, and is fireproof. You don't have to scrape it off or paint it, and it will look great year after year.
Unfortunately, stone veneer can be prohibitively expensive in some cases, as well as difficult to install throughout the home, leading many homeowners to mix stone veneer with other materials to help cover the exterior completely. This can make stone veneer a good accent material, but since it is often mixed with other materials that can cause problems, it's not really a viable option. Vinyl siding is one of the cheapest materials to install. This low-maintenance coating is popular because it is almost indestructible under normal circumstances, withstands the elements, is insect-proof and resistant to fading.
Fiber cement is one of the most popular options because it is a durable, low-maintenance coating. Your best choice for a low-maintenance coating is vinyl. It lasts forever and needs little attention, other than an occasional wash if it gets dirty. Aluminum and fiber cement are also great options, as they also need very little attention during their lifetime.
Consider the cost of materials, installation, and ongoing maintenance, as that's where you'll see that low-maintenance coatings can be cheaper compared to painting your house every 5 or 6 years. . .
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