Cladding your home with durable yet stylish and easy-to-maintain siding is one of the best decisions you’ll ever make. A wise investment, installing new siding will not only protect your home from the elements but offer a lot more benefits as well. Whether you’re building a new home or improving an existing one, it’s important to go over your siding options, starting with steel siding.
Why Go for Steel Siding?
When selecting a siding material, it is, of course, important to choose one that is highly durable and can last for decades, even a lifetime. But aside from being durable, you’ll want one that is also stylish and has the ability to give your home that wow factor. Steel siding can offer you all of these and more.That’s why you should consider it for your home.
TEXTURES AND COLORS: Steel siding is colored and coated during production, making finishes last longer.
Steel Siding: An Introduction
As a metal siding type, steel siding has quickly become a popular alternative to common siding materials such as wood, fiber cement, and vinyl, especially for home and property owners whose top priority is durability and longevity. Steel has been used as siding since the 1940s, significantly growing in popularity during the 1980s, thanks to manufacturing advancements that made the material look more sophisticated.
Steel siding typically comes in panels that are installed one over the other, like vinyl siding, with panels usually painted and finished during production, guaranteeing controlled and high-quality textures and finishes. You can select from a wide array of colors and styles–you can even get steel siding that mimics the look of wood siding.
Another distinguishing quality of steel siding is its ease of maintenance; it generally just needs to be hosed down a few times a year. It is also good to note that today’s steel siding usually comes with corrosion-resistant coatings, protecting the siding from one of its few weaknesses: rust. Steel siding is also the best in terms of fire resistance.
The Benefits of Steel Siding
Here’s a closer look at the advantages of steel over other siding materials:
- Long-lasting Beauty – Because steel siding’s paint and texture designs are “baked” into the material, it will not easily fade despite being exposed to constantly changing weather conditions. You can be confident that your siding will look good as new even years after installation.
- Maintenance Ease – Because its coating and finish will not easily fade, you won’t have to worry about repainting steel siding to keep it looking its best. It is also very easy to clean, requiring minimal care to perform well.
- High Weather Resistance – Steel siding is practically impervious to any type of weather: rain, snow, hail, wind, sunlight, and heat. As such, it effectively protects your home, withstanding whatever the elements can dish out.
- Incredible Fire resistance – As a metal, steel will not burn. This makes the siding option ideal for homes in areas prone to wildfires.
DURABILITY FOR ALL SEASONS: Steel siding is durable enough to withstand weather conditions no matter the season.
- Reliable Energy Efficiency – Insulated steel siding can help regulate your home’s indoor environment by keeping indoor heat in an outdoor heat out. This is most evident during winter and summer but will benefit your home no matter the season. This results in stable indoor temperature throughout the year, preventing your HVAC system from overworking and needlessly guzzling energy. This translates to lower energy bills for you down the line.
- Increased Home Value – Steel siding bumps up both your property’s form and function so it’s impossible not to enjoy increased home value when you get it.
Steel Siding Style Ideas
When you hear steel siding, industrial buildings and warehouses might come to mind. However, this doesn’t do the siding option justice. Steel siding may have notable durability but it can also be stylish, fitting your design needs. Here are some style tips you can keep in mind:
- Combine steel and wood for balance – Steel siding can make your home look cool, so to add warmth, incorporate elements of the wood into your exterior design. Take note that this doesn’t mean adding wood siding. Rather, ask your contractor for steel siding with a wooden finish. You can then have this style of siding on one full wall or on half of all the sides of your home.
- Choose weathered steel for a rustic look – One thing that’s good about steel siding is it comes in a wide range of finishes.You can find pre-weathered siding options that give your home a rustic appeal. Weathered does not mean rusted so you don’t have to worry about rusting.
PLAYING WITH COLORS. Choose contrasting colors for trim and siding helps to spruce up your home exterior.
- Work that contrast – You may prefer a neutral exterior appeal, but it doesn’t mean settling for monotony. Consider playing with contrast by choosing bright and bold colors for trims or window shutters.
- Two colors are better than one – You can also play with colors and mix at least two complementing steel siding colors to break up a monochromatic exterior.
Steel siding can prove to be a worthy investment for you when chosen and installed correctly. To ensure that, make sure you work only with a reputable siding contractor in your area who specializes in metal siding. Got questions? Don’t hesitate to give your siding contractor a call today!
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Author Bio:
Jeff Jones is the founder and owner of Jones & Associates, an established home improvement company based in Lubbock, TX. He built the company in 1987 with his wife L’Anna, and their family’s effort started paying off when their company was named one of Qualified Remodelers’ Top 500 Contractors in the United States. To this day, Jeff still oversees the company’s projects and operations, making sure he’s hands-on in fulfilling client requirements. When not busy with projects, he enjoys outdoor activities with his family, as well as community service. Check out the company blog for updates from Jeff!
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