SIDING
Siding is a very broad category of products that are used to create the outer layer of the walls of a building.  When people mention siding, they are usually referring to the outside/external walls of a building.  When siding is added to an existing building it is sometmes placed on top of the original exterior siding, and sometimes the original exterior wall is removed prior to the new siding being applied.  Siding is the exterior view of your home and the weatherproof layer protecting all the layers beneath it, such as the building paper, sheathing, all studs, inisulation and, of course, your interior.  With a wide variety of materials, styles and colors avaable few elements of a house change it's look and feel more than siding.  All of these materials have their individual pros and cons to consider.  Also taking into account the compatibility with your local neighborhood and weather conditions.  Therefore, we offer a brief definition of some of the more popular home siding materials for your information.  Hometowne Lumber & Building Center either stocks or has access to all of these products.

VINYL SIDING:  The single most popular option for siding today.  Environmentalist detest the long life of vinyl siding but consumers love not needing to paint every few years and the quality has increased in recent years.

ALUMINUM/METAL SIDING:  Less maintenance than wood siding but not as easy to maintain as vinyl siding.  Stainless steel siding requires less maintenance than the more common aluminum.

WOOD/CEDAR SIDING:  Great beauty and long life characterize wood siding but requires painting every 4-8 years to retain it's beauty.

BRICK SIDING:  About the longest lasting product available.  The cost is the only real negative with this material.

STONE SIDING:  As long lasting as brick, or longer, but more attractive and expensive.  Both veneer natural siding and faux siding are more affordable options.

FIBER CEMENT:  A very popular siding option over the last year years.  A middle ground for cost between vinyl and wood siding and definitely worth considering.

STUCCO SIDING:  Stucco is a very hard low maintenance siding product that has been used for many years.   Not everyone is partial to the style or appearance of stucco but it is a sold siding product.

ENGINEERED WOOD SIDING:  Availability in a  multitiude of textures and finishes is one of the best parts of this selection.
Engineered wood will require less maintenance than traditional wood siding but will still need more care and maintenance than some of the options listed above.

SEAMLESS STEEL SIDING:  Seamless steel siding is custom-fit to your home, eliminating unsightly seams or splits in the surface of your siding.  Beside the obvious aesthetic benefits, no seam means less opportunity for exposure to the elements.

A more detailed explanation of the siding material listed above.

BRICK SIDING:  Brick siding is popular for it's durability, low maintenance requirements and it's pleasing appearance.  Made of fired clay, brick is available in a number of different sizes, textures and color combinations.  Typically it is placed on the outside of a wood frame as a veneer.  It is held together with mortar, a mixture of cement or lime, sand and water that hardens in place.  Water can and will penetrate past the brick
veneer making it very important that a water membrane is properly installed to protect the inside of your home.

ALUMINUM SIDING:  There are several advantages of aluminum siding as it offers better insulation that vinyl and is fire and waterproof.  It cannot rot or attract termites like wood, and doesn't rust like steel.  It is lightweight and easy to handle but not easy to replace if dented, which it can do easily.  Aluminum may also scratch easier and the scratches are more visual as the enamel coating is baked onto the surface and not through it as with vinyl.  Aluminum can be painted any color but does need to be cleaned once a year and repainted typically every 5-10 years.

WOOD SIDING:  The less expensive and low maintenance option.  Cedar and redwood are two very popular varieties of wood siding for their natural preservatives but pine, spruce and fir are also common options.  Wood siding offers many positives:  classic apperance, variety of styles, longevity of as much as 30 years, it is a renewable material, and provides a good insulation quality to reduce heating and cooling energy bills.  As with all things, there are also down sides.  Ongoing maintenance, power washing annually and painting or sealing as it wears are the most common.  Because we live in an environment which favors zero maintenance items some companies provide pre-primed or sealed boards which not only reduce the amount of work at the point of installation but should also give you a more even covering which will do a better job of protecting your siding.

NATURAL AND FAUX STONE SIDING:  Natural stone is perhaps the most attractive siding material available.  Natural stone comes in an amazing variety of colors and textures.   Stone looks great when combined with other materials and is often used as accent with lesser expensive siding.  Stone is incredibly durability and like brick, typically lasts the life of the building.  It requires little maintenance and if a repair is necessary it will likely be the mortar and not the stone.  A viable solution of the higher expense of natural stone siding and possible preparation of support area is the stone veneer.  Thin slices of natural stone are now sold reducing cost and of course the weight of the material.  Natural stone veneer is typically about  1" thick, compare that to the 6-8" thick natural stone.

If you love the look of stone but natural stone and veneer seem out of your price range than faux stone siding may be the answer for you.  Faux Stone Siding has been around for a number of years but is gaining in popularity because of the increasingly natural and realistic appearance of the faux stone.  Faux stone can be made to look like almost any style of stone siding, is much lighter and easier to install.  Long term maintenance of faux stone may be even less than natural stone and typically runs half the cost of natural stone.

STUCCO:  Stucco siding is made using a cement mixture combined with water and sand or lime.  It is a a long lasting low maintenance siding but NOT intended for overly wet climates.  It is typically installed over a wire mesh (similar to chicken wire) covered wood frame.  Stucco can be created with a variety of textures but usually smooth then raked or swirled.  It is naturally fire resistant and a good insulator helping maintain comfortable temperatures inside regardless of outside conditions.  A real downside in this area is if water gets through a joint there is not a good mechanism in place to get the moisture out which result in rotting of the wood frame behind the stucco.

ENGINEERED WOOD:  Engineered wood siding is made using wood products combined with bonding agents and is environmentally friendly.  This results in a light weight product that is very strong and still less expensive than natural wood.  This product comes in a variety of patterns but most will be variations of typical wood horizontal and vertical siding styles.  Engineered wood needs to be painted to help weatherproof the material and like other materials it can be purchased pre-primed or pre-finished lowering the time and labor involvement installing the siding.  Moisture-related failures have been reported with some engineered wood products.  Improper installation was found to be a common theme in these failures.  There is a wide variety of wood types and most will be significantly less expensive that natural wood.

The biggest changes in new siding have beenat the "high end" of siding where there is a wide range of realistic and dramatic looking options.  Hometowne Lumber and Building Center handles several different manufacturers and price points of exterior siding to meet all your needs and budget.

CertainTeed Monogram, MainStreet, Wolverine and Fiber Cement Siding offer value with the benefits of a premium panel.

Their Rigidform technology stiffens the siding for a straighter appearance and has been tested to withstand wind load pressures up to 160 mph.  DuraLock features an oversized rigid tear-drop shape which is substantially larger than many competitors' locks, providing secure installation.  The angular locking leg creates a secure, snap-fit installation which allow for expansion and contraction.  Their patented STUDfinder Installation has precisely spaced nail slots with indicator letters designed for accurate and secure installation.  Nail slots align with 16" on-center standards and the letters ensure nails are positioned correctly.  These features provide a strong and secure connection to studs, protect against buckling, helps to avoid nailing into plumbing or wiring and protects against blow offs from under nailing.  The warranty is lifetime limited with PermaColor and fade protection.  Check out their siding colors with coordinating trim colors that are color through.  Make your selection from their several styles and finishes .... CertainTeed has something for everyone.

CertainTeed also offers four different soffit and vertical sidings to complete your exterior updating or modifications.  The Beaded Triple 2" is wainscot style in solid and invisible venting.  It is designed for vertical siding, porch ceiling and soffit applications.  It has a smooth surface with extra long slip-lock design to provide secure installation and comes in 8 low-gloss colors.

The Triple 3-1/3" InvisiVent and solid style is the only viniyl soffit to provide more than 10" of net-free intake area.  The concealed intake vents provide a smooth appearance while the matte finish looks like freshly painted wood.  It is available in 12 low-gloss colors.

Ironmax Double 5" features solid and fully vented styles which are extra thick for optimum strength and flat face appearance.  It is designed for vertical siding, porch ceiling and soffit applications and has a unique post-formed lock design to ensure secure installation.  This style features 24 low-gloss woodgrain colors for your needs.

Universal Triple 4" is solid, fully vented and center vented style.  
This type also is designed for vertical siding, porch ceiling and soffit applications where a matte finish is desired.  The post-formed lock design provides for a secure installation and is available in 35 low-gloss color choices.

All CertainTeed Soffits are virtually free maintenance with no need to ever paint, are Class 1(A) fire rated and carry a limited lifetime warranty.

Vinyl is now the #1 siding material available.  Nothing beats vinyl siding, accessories and trim for sheer endurance.  It is impervious to rain, cold, salt and snow.  Vinyl won't rot, peel, dent or show scratches and will never need painting.  A simple soap and water rinse once a year is all that is required to remove dirt and make your home look freshly painted.

CertainTeed Weather Boards Fiber Cement siding is the fastest-growing product in the siding market.  It is used for new construction, replacement, remodeling and interior uses.  It is the greatest alternative to wood and hardboard siding products.  Talk about a guarantee -- 50-year transferable warranty with their SureStart warranty protection.

WeatherBoards feature the realistic textures of wood without the upkeep.  It is available for siding, decorative shapes, soffit and t rim with a variety of textures, profiles and colors to match any design style.  The patented formula is environmentally friendly using a recycled material which is lighter in weight, lower density boards for easier handling and installation.

The Carrington Collection vinyl siding features an extra-thick design which is exceptionally rigid and straight.  It has superb durability and impact resistance.  The Legacy and Traditional Series feature premium Armor Coat UVA high-performance capstock to resist fading.  The Woodland Series features Kynar PVDF film finish for outstanding durability and advanced color protection.  There are three panel profiles and all have a limited lifetime transferable warranty.

Fairfield Vinyl Siding offer rich, deep-etched woodgrain finish, positive locking system for easier installation, easy-care convenience of never requiring painting, panels which remain straight and true, reinforced nail-hem withstand gale-force winds and a lifetime of beauty and comfort.

Perhaps the top of all siding products is James Hardie.  Their complete solution of siding, trim and soffit products ensure that your home's exterior will be protected by the unmatched durability of the building industry's most comprehensive warranties.  Up to a 50-year limited transferable product warranty as well as a 15-year warranty on their exclusive ColorPlus technology finish that covers both paint and labor.