The exterior siding of your home plays an important role in the look, feel and value of your home. Exterior siding or cladding has a dramatic effect on the curb appeal of your home. Siding also contributes to the insulation R Factor of your home responsible for keeping out the blistering heat of summer and the blustery cold of winter in order to keep your energy costs down while ensuring the comfort and safety of your family.
Discerning buyers and builders know the value that high quality and regionally appropriate exterior siding brings to a structure, and anyone considering a renovation or remodelling project would be wise to carefully consider their siding options before slapping up the first or cheapest option they find.
The exterior siding specialists at Renovaction share some insights into a few things to consider when deciding how to choose an exterior siding. As renovation and remodelers in the Ottawa and Gatineau area, we know how important it is to select siding products that serve homeowners well in our diverse environment: diverse climate which fluctuates between -40 and +40 degrees celsius and diverse neighbourhoods with building ages ranging from new builds to over 150 years old.
Here are 5 things to consider when choosing exterior siding:
The Look
Siding options come in a wide variety of colours, textures and styles to suit all design tastes. Whether you’re going for a contemporary, country or traditional look, consider how the siding will compliment other cladding and exterior structures on your home including any brickwork, doors and window frames, roofing and soffits. While a siding sample might catch your fancy in a showroom, don’t forget to “zoom out” and look at the big picture of your home and landscaping.
The Feel
While texture does play a role in what siding looks like and how it can stand up to whatever Mother Nature throws at it (literally), we remind renovators and remodelers to consider the level of comfort and safety that they want to achieve through their exterior siding. There is a vast difference in the R Value and insulating properties of various siding material options, and these annual savings in heating and cooling costs should be factored into your building budget.
The Neighbourhood
Whether you are looking to blend in or stand out from the other homes in your neighbourhood, we recommend taking a close look at the siding and cladding choices of your neighbours when deciding on your own exterior siding. For example, if the immediate neighbours are all sided in clean white, your choice of off-white or cream could have an unintended appearance of being soiled or dated. On the other hand, choosing exactly the same siding as all of the other homes on your street could leave you with a sense of unoriginality or character. Striking a balance between individuality and uniformity is often the wisest choice when it comes to curb appeal and resale value of your home.
The Cost
As we outlined in our article Why Choose Insulated Vinyl Siding versus Regular Siding, the cost of different siding materials can vary dramatically. Whether it’s for a new build, a renovation or remodel, consider not only your construction budget but also the resale value of your property. While a major investment in siding may provide you and your family with a sense of pride of ownership, if the siding does not have wider appeal or match the value of properties in your neighbourhood, you could be left with a low ROI in the long run. Trained and experienced siding professionals will be able to help you determine the best fit for your needs and budget.
The Supply
During these unusual times of the Covid-19 Pandemic, access to building supplies is taking on more prominence when it comes to making design decisions for home builders and renovators. If you are planning a renovation, remodel, or new build in 2021, we strongly recommend looking into the availability of the materials and products that you are considering well in advance in order to avoid disappointment and possible delays.
If you have questions about the best choice of exterior siding for your property, don’t hesitate to reach out to the renovation specialists at Renovaction serving Ottawa, Gatineau, and the National Capital Region.
