Choosing the Right Siding for Your Home: A Guide to Popular Siding Options

Your home’s siding does a lot more than make your house look good. It helps protect your home from rain, snow, wind, moisture, and everything else Michigan weather throws at it. And because siding makes up such a large portion of your home’s exterior, changing it can completely transform your home’s curb appeal.

If you’re considering new siding, there are plenty of options available—and each has its own benefits, appearance, maintenance requirements, and price point. Here are some of the most popular siding options to consider for your home.

Vinyl Siding

Vinyl siding continues to be one of the most popular choices for homeowners, and for good reason. It’s affordable, durable, low-maintenance, and available in a huge selection of colors and profiles.

Modern vinyl siding has also come a long way. Homeowners can choose from traditional lap siding, Dutch lap, board and batten, shake-style siding, and more.

Why homeowners choose vinyl siding:

• Affordable compared to many other siding options

• Very little maintenance

• No painting or staining required

• Large variety of colors and styles

• Holds up well to Michigan weather

• Easy to coordinate with new windows, roofing, trim, and gutters

For homeowners looking for a great combination of appearance, durability, and affordability, vinyl is hard to beat.

Vinyl Shake Siding

Love the look of cedar shakes but not the maintenance? Vinyl shake siding gives you that textured, dimensional appearance without having to regularly stain or maintain real wood.

Shake siding comes in several different styles, including hand-split and perfection profiles. It can be installed on an entire home or used as an accent.

One of our favorite ways to use shake siding is in gable peaks, covered porches, dormers, and entryways. Combining traditional lap siding with shake accents can add a ton of character without overwhelming the exterior.

Board and Batten Siding

Board and batten has become extremely popular, especially on modern farmhouse and updated traditional homes.

Instead of running horizontally like traditional siding, board and batten runs vertically, creating taller, cleaner lines. It looks great on an entire home, but it can also be mixed with lap siding, shake, or stone.

Using board and batten on a gable or certain section of the house is an easy way to add contrast and make the exterior feel more custom.

LP SmartSide

LP SmartSide is an engineered wood siding that gives homeowners the appearance of traditional wood while offering improved durability.

It is available in several profiles and can be used for lap siding, board and batten, trim, and other exterior details.

Benefits of LP SmartSide include:

• Realistic wood-grain appearance

• Strong and impact-resistant

• Available in a variety of colors and styles

• Works well for both traditional and modern homes

• Can create a more premium exterior appearance

LP SmartSide is a great option for homeowners who want something beyond traditional vinyl while still wanting a durable exterior product.

Fiber Cement Siding

Fiber cement siding, including products such as James Hardie siding, is another popular premium option.

Made from a combination of cement, sand, and cellulose fibers, fiber cement is designed to provide the appearance of painted wood siding while offering excellent durability.

It is available in lap siding, vertical panels, shingles, and trim, making it possible to create a variety of exterior styles.

Fiber cement is heavier and typically more expensive to install than vinyl siding, but for homeowners looking for a long-lasting, high-end exterior, it can be a great investment.

Metal Siding

Metal siding isn't just for barns and commercial buildings anymore!

Metal siding can give a home a clean, modern look while providing excellent durability. Depending on the profile and design, it can be used for the entire exterior or incorporated as an accent alongside other siding materials.

It is especially appealing for homeowners looking for a low-maintenance exterior that can handle Northeast Michigan's changing weather conditions.

Stone & Stone Veneer

Stone is another great way to add texture and dimension to your home's exterior. While covering an entire home in stone can get expensive, manufactured stone veneer makes it much easier to incorporate the look.

Stone works especially well around:

• Front entrances

• Porch columns

• Garage fronts

• Foundations

• Chimneys

• Accent walls

Pairing stone with vinyl, LP SmartSide, or board and batten can completely change the look of a home.

Don't Be Afraid to Mix Siding Styles

One of the biggest exterior trends is mixing different materials and profiles instead of choosing just one.

For example, you could use traditional lap siding on the majority of the house, shake siding in the gables, board and batten around the front entrance, and stone along the foundation.

The key is choosing materials and colors that complement each other. When it's done correctly, mixing siding styles can make even a fairly simple home look completely different.

Which Siding Is Right for Your Home?

There isn't one siding that's best for every house. Your decision should depend on your budget, preferred style, maintenance expectations, existing exterior, and long-term plans for the home.

If you're having trouble deciding, seeing full-size samples against your home's existing roof, windows, doors, and trim can make the decision much easier. A color or siding style can look completely different on your home than it does on a small sample or computer screen.

Ready to Give Your Home a New Look?

At Dave Murphy Builders, we help homeowners throughout Northeast Michigan choose exterior materials that fit their homes, budgets, and personal styles. Whether you're looking for traditional vinyl siding, shake accents, board and batten, LP SmartSide, fiber cement, metal siding, or a combination of materials, we can help you put together an exterior you'll love.

New siding isn't just about replacing what's there—it's an opportunity to completely change the look of your home.

Thinking about updating your siding? Contact Dave Murphy Builders to schedule an estimate and start exploring your options!

You should know, Murphy Builders is the way to go!