Top 9 Exterior Siding Considerations For Your Haverford Home

New siding is one of the most distinguishable ways to give your Haverford home a makeover. Besides offering improved curb appeal, siding and other exterior finishes provide valuable insulation and water protection. Loose or cracked siding lets moisture and insects in, which can lead to the last thing you want or need – expensive structural damage. Older siding in particular is far less resistant to cracking caused by extreme weather variations. Some older homes we’ve seen have asbestos siding, a cement-based material that isn’t dangerous, but is considered unattractive and lacking in curb appeal. Many of the homeowners we work with decide to update their home’s siding during a home addition project or a whole house remodel.

Exterior Siding Considerations in Haverford

The top four considerations when choosing new siding include aesthetics, maintenance, budget, and longevity. With a little homework and expert advice, you can find a long-lasting exterior finish that complements your home’s architectural style, while offering easy upkeep at a price that meets your budget. Here’s a breakdown of the top 9 exterior options.

1. Horizontal Lap Siding can be found everywhere. It’s made of wood, vinyl, aluminum, or fiber cement, and comes in a huge range of colors. A natural fit and good choice for traditional, colonial, and other stately looking homes, selection usually depends on your home’s architectural style. You can pick from simple flat siding, a slightly fancier one with a beaded edge, or another called ship lap, or Dutch siding.
2. Board and Batten comes in wood and fiber cement and, like horizontal lap siding, is a good choice for traditional style architecture. It visually emphasizes the vertical, making your home appear taller.
3. Shingles are available in wood and fiber cement as well as vinyl and are well-suited for traditionally-styled homes that have a craftsman, arts and crafts, or shingle appearance.
4. Wood Strip Siding, also referred to as tongue-and-groove, is a flat, horizontal siding that has a waterproof membrane behind it to prevent water damaging your home’s interior.
5. Vinyl/PVC is a budget-friendly option that requires minimal upkeep, comes in a fairly wide choice of colors and, when viewed from a distance, looks like real wood. It won’t warp or twist, repels insects and water, and requires no painting. Before choosing vinyl, consider whether the architecture of your neighborhood and your own home makes one of the more realistic choices more appropriate.
6. Stone is durable, low-maintenance, and adaptable to just about any aesthetic. Many homes in the Philadelphia area feature stone exteriors. Today, stone quarries have developed technologies that allow them to cut natural stone into thin veneer, resulting in a lower price and a wider range of materials. Impenetrable to insects, stone requires very little ongoing maintenance and comes in a wide range of styles, colors, and textures.
7. Hardie Board looks like wood but is made from a cement-based composite material. It’s extremely durable, comes in various profiles such as a straight flat surface or beaded edge, and can come pre-finished, so there’s less painting to do. Cement based exterior finishes are often preferred over wood siding, which can become home to bees or other bugs that attract birds like woodpeckers.
8. Stucco is a great choice for exteriors with large surfaces and simple lines. It’s a budget friendly mixture that has been used for hundreds of years, and works with many home styles from contemporary to traditional.
9. Metal is not often thought of as a siding material, but it can be an excellent choice, especially if you want to give your home a contemporary aesthetic. From copper to corrugated steel, metal sidings are extremely durable and require little maintenance. It also looks lovely combined with other materials.

Exteriors with different materials can be architecturally interesting in unexpected ways. For example, lap siding combined with board and batten can create a comfortable, rurally-inspired look, while raised paneling used on traditional porches can be a very attractive accent. While a home’s exterior finish is often dictated by the surrounding neighborhood, there’s no one right choice. In the end, let personal taste, climate, home style, and budget guide you in your selection of exterior siding for your Haverford home.

If you’d like to learn more about the home remodeling services we offer, schedule a consultation with us today. And don’t forget to download our free guide, 10 Questions to Ask When Hiring a Remodeling Contractor, which helps you determine whether your contractor is the right choice for your next home remodeling project.