What is the best siding for the house?
Metal, vinyl, acrylic, fiber cement, wood - these are all types of siding. Which one should I choose for my home? Which siding is best for the house? A single answer is difficult enough. It all depends on the budget, needs and desired outcome. So, let's take a closer look at each type of siding.
Metal siding
Metal siding is used for finishing private homes, cafes, stores, warehouses, offices, etc. The properties of the finish depends on what metal it is made of.
Steel siding trim premises that require high fire resistance, as well as mechanical strength. It is resistant to aggressive environments - alkalis, acids, salts, etc. However, such panels are quite heavy and have an increased load on the foundation and supporting structures.
Aluminum siding is used to finish commercial buildings, less often - residential homes. Compared with steel, aluminum panels are lighter, but at the same time and less resilient. Under mechanical action they can be deformed, after which they cannot be repaired.
The structure of metal siding includes several required layers:
base (sheet metal);
primer;
polymer coating;
protective coating.
As a polymer coating can be used:
polyester
plastisol
pural
and others.
The geometric parameters of metal siding may vary from manufacturer to manufacturer. But, as a rule, their length is from 2 to 6 m, and the thickness of 0.4 to 1 mm. During installation, it is worth taking into account the rather large weight of the panels.
The advantages of metal siding:
resistance to temperature fluctuations;
durability;
fire safety;
resistance to mold, mildew and pests.
Disadvantages of metal siding:
Low noise isolation (it can cause humming when it rains);
susceptibility to corrosion in areas where the protective polymer layer is broken.
A specific disadvantage of steel siding is an impressive weight. Aluminum panels are lighter, but also less durable. They are easily deformed.
Wooden siding
Wooden panels can be mounted overlapping or butt joints. So, they come in three varieties: block house, ship board and false bar. As a rule, for its manufacture use hardwood, resistant to humidity and temperature differences: larch or hardwood exotic trees. In addition, heat-treated wood can be used - it can be pine, ash, etc.
Recently, as a wooden siding is increasingly used composite material - compressed wood fibers mixed with polymers. This composition makes wood siding more resistant to weather conditions.
The advantages of wood siding:
environmental friendliness;
special texture, which gives the panels an attractive appearance;
High thermal and noise insulation.
However, for the beauty must pay. Wood requires careful and regular maintenance. Therefore, this type of finish has many disadvantages.
Disadvantages of wood siding:
fire hazard;
the need for care (processing with protective primers and paint);
high cost;
a high risk of infection by fungi, mold and pests;
low resistance to variations in humidity and temperature.
Wooden siding can not be installed in rainy weather and subzero temperatures.
Almost all types of siding on the market, imitate wood siding, but with better performance characteristics. Wooden panels are being installed less and less frequently.
Fiber cement siding
This is one of the most modern types of siding. It is produced from a mixture of high quality cement and cellulose fibers with the addition of sand, water and special additives. The surface of such panels can be smooth or embossed. The thickness is slightly greater than metal or vinyl siding, up to 12 mm.
The weight of fiber-cement siding is impressive, so before installing it is worth consulting with experts - whether it will hold the foundation and supporting structures, what kind of mounting system is needed. And for installation will have to resort to the services of the construction team.
Advantages of fiber-cement siding:
does not support combustion;
does not rot and is not susceptible to mold infestation;
does not need special care;
resistance to low and high temperatures, as well as their differences;
moisture resistance;
durability.
Disadvantages of fiber-cement siding:
significant weight of the panels;
high cost;
the complexity of installation.
In addition, it is necessary to take into account that in the process of cutting the panels dangerous to health dust is formed. Therefore, when working with fiber cement, you must wear protective equipment.
Vinyl siding for home finishing
This type of siding is made from polyvinyl chloride (PVC) with the addition of modifiers, stabilizers and dyes. So, PVC is about 80%, the remaining 20% is:
calcium carbonate;
titanium dioxide;
stabilizer butadiene;
modifiers (their composition is chosen by each manufacturer individually);
concentrated pigments for coloring panels
etc.
And, as a rule, the cheaper the siding, the less quality additives used in its manufacture. Or not used at all, which negatively affects its performance properties.
Vinyl siding for home finishing is the most popular on the market. It is easy to install, does not require maintenance and is quite inexpensive compared to other types of siding. PVC panels are lightweight, their installation will not cause difficulty even for the novice, and the design does not have increased load on the bearing structures of the building.
The advantages of vinyl siding:
ease;
resistance to corrosion, fungus, mold and pests;
the ability to install even at subzero temperatures and in hot weather;
resistance to high and low temperatures, as well as their sharp fluctuations;
moisture resistance;
durability;
does not support combustion;
does not require any maintenance and care;
has an optimal price/quality ratio.
Disadvantages of vinyl siding:
less strength than steel or wood panels;
With temperature fluctuations panel shrinks and expands, so the facade is not deformed, it must be considered when installing.
Acrylic siding
Like vinyl, acrylic siding is made from PVC. But it also contains ASA (Acrylnitril-Styrol-Acrylester) polymer, which significantly changes its physical and performance properties.
Compared with vinyl siding acrylic panels:
More resistant to UV radiation
Can operate at temperatures up to +80 ° C
Has a reduced smoke formation under the influence of an open source of fire
Acrylic siding practically does not burn out in the sun. Therefore, this is the ideal material for dark-colored facades. On the other hand, it is more expensive than vinyl.
The advantages of acrylic siding:
resistance to ultraviolet light
a wide range of dark shades of panels
low weight
moisture resistance
resistance to fungus and corrosion
no flammability
resistance to temperature extremes and corrosive environment
Unlike metal panels, acrylic siding can be used on seashores, where the air has a high salt content
Disadvantages of acrylic siding:
Less durability than metal and wood panels
Higher price than vinyl
To summarize - types of siding for home finishing
It is impossible to unequivocally answer which siding is better than others. In different cases, for different purposes, the answer will be different. Wooden panels are good in their naturalness, but on the performance characteristics inferior to the plastic or metal imitation. And if the metal siding makes sense to establish for industrial and commercial sites, then for the facades of residential buildings is more suitable vinyl or acrylic siding. And if the facade will be light shades, you can save a little money and choose vinyl panels. And for those who prefer bright and saturated colors, acrylic siding is more suitable.