How Do Cladding Materials Compare?

Choosing a cladding material for your home is a major decision when doing a home remodel. Your cladding covers nearly the entire surface area of your exterior, so it’s important that it’s aesthetically pleasing and enhances the curb appeal of your home. But beauty is only part of the equation. You also have to consider performance, durability, maintenance, and ease of installation. Take a look at our breakdown of different cladding materials and how they compare. 

Composite Cladding

Composite cladding is a new, low-maintenance product that mimics the look of real wood. In contrast to real wood, it’s less vulnerable to water, debris and the elements. ASCEND Composite Cladding by Alside combines beauty, performance and minimal maintenance. With a high-end aesthetic and a color palette of 20 shades, you can find the perfect look for your home. With easy installation, you’ll need fewer laborers to do the job, plus with no sealing, touching up, joint flashing or caulking, there’s less mess and less waste, making it a more sustainable option than other cladding materials. 

Vinyl Siding

Vinyl siding is the most popular cladding option available today. With its beauty, durability, easy upkeep and excellent value, you can’t go wrong. It’s recyclable, so if you’re concerned about your effect on the environment, it’s a great choice. Vinyl siding typically lasts about 50 years with minimal maintenance required, and it’s one of the least expensive siding material options, fitting a wide range of budgets. 

Steel Siding

If you’re looking for heavy-duty strength, steel siding could be the material for you. Constructed of galvanized steel and fused with a top coat of PVC, steel siding is highly weather resistant and low maintenance. Steel siding often has a low-gloss finish to give it the appearance of freshly painted wood, so you don’t have to worry about it looking like metal. With steel siding, you get an exceptional shield for your home that helps ensure long-lasting beauty and protection. 

Fiber Cement 

An alternative to vinyl, steel or wood, fiber cement is beautiful, durable and highly weather resistant. Featuring a wide variety of textures and profiles, upscale fiber cement options are available for most every home. It’s sleek, strong and non-combustible, while resistant to insects, fungus and UV damage. Installing fiber cement siding requires a high level of skill and it’s one of the more expensive cladding options on the market.

Replacing your home’s siding gives you the opportunity to create a whole new look. Consider your home’s design, your budget and your desired sustainability when choosing the right cladding material for you!