You don’t need to invest in high-maintenance wood siding to give your home an attractive exterior. There are many siding options on the market today that offer homeowners a look very close to wood siding without the constant upkeep required to keep wood siding in good condition. Two of the most popular of these options are vinyl siding and HardiePlank siding. Although both look a lot like wood siding with much less maintenance required, they are quite different from each other and come with their own unique advantages. If you’re considering choosing one of these exterior options for your home, here are some points to keep in mind when you’re making your decision. No matter what material you choose, chances are you’ll be stuck with it for a long time, so it’s important to make an informed decision.

Durable and Flexible

HardiePlank exterior siding is composed of a combination of cement-like materials and wood fibers. This makes it different from vinyl siding in a number of significant ways. For example, Hardie® board siding is much thicker than vinyl siding, which makes it far more durable in certain circumstances, but also means the labor costs involved in installing it are much higher than with vinyl siding.

Because HardiePlank siding is manufactured to be nearly two-and-a-half times thicker than vinyl siding, it also offers far more texturing options than vinyl. This means HardiePlank siding can be manufactured to take on the appearance of virtually any type of wooden siding you choose, including cedar shingles and shake siding. The product is also available in a wide variety of colors, so it offers a lot of customization options. Unlike vinyl siding, however, HardiePlank siding will need to be repainted periodically. Even so, wood siding needs to be repainted every few years, while HardiePlank can go much longer without needing to be repainted.

Another significant factor in favor of HardiePlank siding is the fact that it is far more heat-resistant than vinyl siding. Whereas vinyl siding can warp or melt in the presence of extreme heat, HardiePlank siding is much more likely to resist fire and heat.

Considering the Cost

The durability and appearance of HardiePlank siding are benefits that can have a significant impact on the value of your home, especially compared to vinyl siding. The presence of HardiePlank siding can give a potential homebuyer more confidence, although the installation costs associated with the product are another area of consideration for the homeowner. Because HardiePlank siding is much heavier and more expensive to produce than vinyl siding, it can be significantly more expensive to install on the exterior of your home than vinyl siding.

Consider your home’s size when choosing between HardiePlank and vinyl siding, because you can expect to spend more for the lowest tier of HardiePlank siding than you would on the highest tier of vinyl siding for the same house. Determining the ideal budget for your siding project means knowing how much siding you’ll need, as well as how much maintenance you are able to put into your new siding for as long as you own your home.

Take the Next Step With Erdmann Exterior Designs

Choosing the right siding for your house’s exterior isn’t easy, but Erdmann Exteriors Designs can help everything else go smoothly. Contact us today for an estimate on your next siding project and find out why homeowners throughout Chicagoland trust Erdmann Exterior Designs.