Siding is a great option for your home if you want to improve the aesthetics alongside energy efficiency, warmth, and resistance to bad weather. In short: it’s a great option for nearly everyone!
But while the home siding is always better than no siding, there are still questions that need to be answered. For example: what kind of siding?
Choosing Between Vertical & Horizontal Home Siding Installation: Which is Right for You?
One of the biggest questions here is whether you should get horizontal or vertical siding. The two might not seem that different on the face of it, but in fact, they have some significantly different features and benefits. In this post, we’ll explore what those are and help you decide on the best option for your own home.
Vertical Siding
Vertical siding is significantly less common than the horizontal siding, which for many people is a “plus” right away. This makes this type of siding less common and helps your property to stand out more as being new and different.
Where you do often find this is on commercial buildings (offices etc.) as well as barns, libraries, and schools. Homeowners predominantly tend to take this option when they want something that will be unique for their property. As mentioned, this is significantly less common, so it’s a great way to make your home stand out on the street!
At the same time, vertical siding can make a home look taller. That’s right! Just like vertical lines on your pants can make you look taller and slimmer, the same effect holds true for your home. And this is a great choice then if you live in a bungalow, and if you want to make your property appear a little less squat.
Another big advantage of using vertical siding is that it is easier to clean. If you regularly find yourself cleaning your siding, then this can save you some time. In fact, you’ll find that vertical siding doesn’t get dirty quite so often. The reason for that is that the vertical arrangement means there are no small “shelves” for dust and dirt to collect!
Horizontal Siding
So if all of this is true, then why is it that most people still choose horizontal siding? One common reason is that vertical siding is actually more difficult to install. That in turn means that it is more expensive, as you will need to pay your laborer more to do the work.
Vertical siding requires you to install furring stripes between each piece, which doesn’t need to be done with horizontal siding. It is also a little more difficult to fit around the house. For instance, if you need to make one slat narrower, then you will need to cut it straight down the middle – requiring a lot of precision. Fitting siding around pipes and other issues is also more of a challenge.
Another issue is when trying to sell your home. Because vertical siding is less common, this simply makes it more of a sticking point for potential buyers. You’ve handled the installation, so that shouldn’t be a concern for them. And all they now have is house siding that is going to be easier to keep clean and that will set their home apart as different!
But that might not be the way that potential buyers see it. They might just see something different, potentially more difficult as a result, and thus harder to sell!
What’s Right for You?
Ultimately, the decision comes down to personal preference. Do you want a home that has a taller appearance? Do you personally like the looks of this type of siding?
While you might be concerned about the potential resale of your house, this is something that shouldn’t really factor into your decision unless the move is imminent. We could otherwise find ourselves making every single decision through the lens of what other people want, rather than what will make us happiest.
So if you want vertical siding, then go for it! Just keep in mind that it may be a little more expensive to install initially, and it might present a small additional conversation with any potential buyers down the line.
Either way, siding is a great addition to your home that will raise its value.
Superb Painting Omaha, NE
At Superb Painting, LLC we start by sanding & vacuuming the trim, crown, or cabinets using a trim brush attachment for our shop vac. Cabinets may require more work removing hardware and laying them flat to spray so that you don’t get any paint runs. We then use a tack cloth to further remove any sanding residue. Next, if the wood was previously stained, we apply an oil-based primer to help keep the stain from bleeding back through the paint. After that, we do a light sanding/scuffing of the primer to make sure the first coat of paint gets good adherence to it.
Then we spray (or could brush) the first coat of trim paint such as Sherwin Williams Pro Classic. After that, there is another light sanding/scuffing of the 1st layer of paint and then the final finish coat is sprayed (or brushed) on for a beautiful finish that lasts! Contact us today for a FREE Estimate.