When it comes to installing new siding on your home, you want to find something inexpensive, which is understandable, especially considering the fact that the costs for home improvement/renovation materials are skyrocketing. However, you don’t want a dose of ineffective to go along with it.
When it comes to affordable siding, vinyl is usually king, but you also have fiber cement siding, wood, and aluminum. While they’re all priced close to one another, each one has its pros and cons.
No one wants to go with a budget siding renovation just to discover that a slight breeze is enough to wipe half of it off of the side of the house. You want something that’s affordable and still holds up under adverse conditions.
Table of Contents
Vinyl Siding
We’ll start with vinyl siding because it’s a dominating feature in new home manufacturing and is also a popular choice when renovating the exterior. Vinyl is typically priced low to high depending on its thickness, from thinnest to thickest.
| Pros | Cons |
| A cheap, viable, durable option Wide variety of styles Wide variety of colors Water-repellant Abrasion, gouging, and impact resistant | Tendency to crack All vinyl fades Not eco-friendly |
There’s a reason why vinyl is one of the most enduringly popular siding options in newly constructed homes and in renovation projects. It’s durable, it lasts, and it’s cheap.
It’s also not bland, seeing as it comes in more colors and styles than you can imagine. There are so many different design options that you can give a home the look and feel of just about any theme that you desire.
It’s very water repellant, not only by the nature of the material that it’s made of but by how it’s constructed in overlapping layers. So you essentially get two forms of protection from water and moisture penetration.
Vinyl does have a tendency to crack over time. If you go with white or off-white vinyl, you probably won’t notice much in the way of fading. However, darker colors have a tendency to fade out over time.
This is also one of the least eco-friendly options of the bunch. You simply cannot recycle the stuff so it just sits there, never rotting and never going away.
Wood Siding
You can really go for that wood cabin look—if you decide on wood siding—without having to spend a fortune. It especially looks nice with the deep, green, metallic rooves that are becoming more and more popular nowadays.
| Pros | Cons |
| Wood siding holds up well against weather (so long as it’s sealed) Has a premium look and feel Options to stain and color in any style Adds value to a home Numerous wood types to choose | Has to be sealed, adding to costs Potential target for termites Damaged siding has to be replaced immediately Has to be cleaned annually High-maintenance |
Wood siding is a beautiful addition to any home and it’s priced very reasonably unless you decide to go with a more expensive wood siding option. It has that premium look and feels which is difficult to obtain with other siding options.
Since you have to stain it every three to four years, you can always change the color of the wood grain to anything you feel like. Despite its high level of maintenance, it usually raises the value of a home as well.
Unfortunately, it is really high maintenance for a siding option. You’ll have to clean the stuff once a year and re-stain it every three or four. God forbid if a woodpecker gets a hold of it because you will have to replace any damaged pieces immediately.
Wood siding has to be adequately sealed during installation as well, adding to the overall cost of the project.
Aluminum Siding
Aluminum siding is probably one of the most durable siding options of the entire bunch. There is no trade-off on its durability either, as it is a fairly low-priced option and installs just like any other vinyl installation project.
| Pros | Cons |
| Not very costly Eco friendly A very durable option Limitless number of styles and varieties to choose from Very low maintenance | When it rains, you’ll hear every drop No longer the style of the day It can fade out |
Aluminum siding isn’t going to cost you an arm and a leg to install. Since it’s not a popular option, it’s also not a very expensive option. It’s a very eco-friendly material and is designed to last a long time, regardless of the weather that it’s exposed to.
Since aluminum siding has an outer coat to give it some color, you have a number of choices as to how you want your home to look. There’s no such thing as paint that won’t adhere to aluminum.
It’s also very low maintenance, so you won’t find yourself out there dealing with it as much as you would on wood siding. It isn’t in style anymore, so if that’s your thing, you’ll be a bit disappointed.
Also, since it has to be painted, the weather exposure will likely fade out over time. Lastly, if you’ve ever been inside of a metal building, you’ll know how it sounds when it rains. Aluminum is no different.
Fiber Cement Siding
Fiber cement siding resembles vinyl, however, it’s a little rougher, larger, and more durable than its vinyl cousin. Developed in the 1980s, it’s more prevalent than wood and aluminum, but not quite up there with standard vinyl.
| Pros | Cons |
| It’s very durable Eco-friendly Designed for fire safety and longevity It works as another layer of insulation | Difficult to maintain and extremely heavy Can sometimes cost more |
Fiber cement siding is similar to vinyl in a lot of ways. The major exception is that due to its composition and weight, there’s not much in the way of maintenance or DIY renovations you’re going to be able to do.
Though it’s usually priced very reasonably, sometimes the prices tend to skyrocket, so you’ll have to be at the right timing if you decide to go with it. Outside of that, it’s a very reliable and durable product that will hold up longer than vinyl.
Final Word
When it comes to siding, those four are going to be your cheapest options. The best part is that they are not terrible options by any means. All four products are highly durable and built to last. The only thing your decision is dependant on is the style that you want to go with.