let's talk about siding...

I will be doing a series on siding over next few days or weeks.  This is what I will be covering in the next several posts.

• The different types of siding products and their appropriate applications.
• wood
• composites
• metal
• manufactured stone
• dimensional stone
• brick
• concrete

• How the size and style of your home should affect your siding choice.
• What are the different options for protecting my home from the weather with siding.
• Design ideas on using different siding options.

You can read my original primer on siding after the jump...




It is very important to me not just to focus on the interior of your home in this blog, but to also think about the exterior and how this can relate to the overall sense of place that we want to create with your home.  An extremely important part of your home is the siding you choose to put on your house.  Lets look at the big picture first.

A clean, consistent, contemporary look.

The siding on your home has a profound effect on the aesthetic, or curb appeal, of your home.  A home that has not carefully considered scale, composition, and context in the choice of siding materials can hit or miss when it comes to maximizing your curb appeal.  Some sidings need to be painted and the color can seem like the more important decision, but I would argue that the type of siding you choose can have just as much impact as the color you choose to paint it. 



The contrast and warmth are dynamic.

Another issue to consider is the way the siding functions to protect your home from the weather.  This is, after all, the reason we all don't sleep under the stars.  Your siding on your home is your first, and too often your only, line of defense against Mother Nature's worst.  Understanding what siding system(s) work best in your particular part of the world is vitally important to the success and long term value of your home.

Lastly, the type of siding you choose (as does any building material) has a profound impact on the environment.  Vinyl siding is one of the worst products you can put on your home; from the manufacturing process to the demolition pile, vinyl is not a recommended product.  Any building material that tries to claim itself as a no maintenance product is probably not telling the truth.  A home takes upkeep just like any other man-made thing that we expect to sit out in the weather for 50 plus years. 



Not risky, but a beautifully executed aesthetic.

Have any of you considered re-siding your home?  Have any of you done it?  I would be interested in your experiences or your anxieties.  Leave a comment if you have a story.

Thanks for reading.