One home’s siding isn’t always the same as another’s. Before hiring a reputable siding contractor, it’s best to have at least a general understanding of how siding works. This article will help you choose the right siding for your home.
One of the most important yet confusing parts of choosing a siding is the profile. What will work best for your home’s design? Here’s some information that you need to help with your decision.
Horizontal Patterns
The most common siding profile is the horizontal pattern. Horizontally installed siding offers highly effective protection against water.
Traditional Lap Siding
If horizontal siding patterns are the most common, you can further narrow down your selection to the most common horizontal pattern: traditional lap siding. It’s highly effective, looks basic and simple, and it’s also easy to install. Boards are partially layered on top of the next board, making it difficult for precipitation to penetrate them. This is also often the most affordable option.
Dutch Lap Siding
What separates dutch lap from traditional lap is the groove cut out of the top of each board. It has the same effectiveness as traditional lap, but with a bit more texture, thanks to the shadows cast by each board.
Beaded Siding
This is a type of vinyl siding, so called because of the bead at the bottom of each board for more texture. If you want to break up the monotony, call your contractor for siding installation services and get beaded siding.
Vertical Patterns
Less common but perfect for certain home designs, vertical siding patterns are effective in accenting the eaves across the home’s facade.
Panel Siding
Do you want something simple but not horizontal? Then this is the siding for you. It almost looks even simpler, because the appearance is flat, as the panels are placed flush on top of the other.
Board and Batten Siding
Board and batten is a traditional vertical siding that used to be exclusively wood, but now there are vinyl and fiber cement options. Battens cover the cracks between the vertical boards for more waterproofing. The battens cast a shadow, so you’ll enjoy a more attractive texture.
Shake Patterns
Shake patterns have more texture and offer better accents when you install them on your home. Shake siding is no longer limited to wood.
Square Shake Siding
For more character on a traditional style, square siding is your choice. Square-cut siding shakes are layered row upon row.
Round Shake Siding
Round shakes are not exactly round, but they have a lower edge cut in a semicircle. In contrast with square shakes, round shakes will give your home a quaint and cozy look.
Staggered Shakes
As you can tell from their name, these shakes are installed in a staggered pattern for a more textured look. It’s never boring, so it gives your home a unique personality.
Mitered Corner Shakes
These are essentially square shakes, but their corners have been mitered off for even more texture. Great for adding appeal to your home’s facade.
Half Cove Shakes
These are almost similar to round shakes, but they have quarter circles cut at the bottom two edges. The boost this gives to a home’s appeal is so high that it becomes intriguing.
Hexagonal and Octagonal Shakes
These shakes have two or three cuts at the bottom for half a hexagon or half an octagon. Visually pleasing, these are close to mitered corner shakes in design.
Fish Scale Shakes
With their rounded lower edges, these shakes will make your home look more creative, paying homage to the organic scales you see on fish.
For more information on what siding profile would be great for your home, get in touch with Universal Roofing & Exteriors. We can also help you with your roofing needs. Call us today at (317) 257-0779 or contact us here. We work with homeowners in Carmel and Zionsville, Indiana.
