When choosing the type of siding is best for your home, you must consider the geographical landscape and general climatic conditions that define your neighborhood. If you live in a neighborhood with a warm summer or an area that experiences extremely hot temperatures, you must choose a siding that will keep your indoors cool. If you live in a tropical region, you need durable siding material that can withstand the harsh effects of direct UV exposure. If you are considering siding replacement soon, it is important to do your homework first and establish which siding materials work best for your region. In this post, we will look at some of the best materials to use when you want to insulate your home from the warm climate.
- Brick
This material is known to not only insulate homes but also withstand all imaginable extreme weather conditions. It is long-lasting; some brick homes have lasted several centuries and are still in good condition up to today. Brick also has a high aesthetic appeal, so you are guaranteed that your home will always look contemporary and stylish. On top of that, you don’t need to reinforce brick in any way as it is insulating and strong on its own. As for maintenance, all you need is an occasional wash-down, probably using a hosepipe. Brick could be more expensive than most alternative siding materials, but the upfront cost aside, it is one of the cheapest materials to maintain.
Note that brick isn’t completely water-resistant. However, the material is not weakened by water and neither does it absorb too much water. Its durability and reliability is never in question. To give your house a better look on the inside, you can always add some decorations that go well with those brick patterns. You can add flowers or plants and even put some grow lights in case you want them to flourish faster. Or you can put some nice paintings in your living-room.
- Vinyl
Vinyl is a popular siding option for warm climates because of its ability to shut out the heat and unwanted foreign material from the outdoors. This material has a lifespan of up to 5 decades, so you will not be replacing your siding any time soon.
- Steel
Most regions occasionally experience uncontrollable winds, so you need a house siding that can withstand powerful winds. When installed right, steel siding doesn’t need any further maintenance. It will outlast the life of all other materials that you’ve used to build your home.
- Wood
Wood is know to be a good insulator thus not allowing the cold or warm air from escaping to the exteriors. Wood is actually a better insulator than aluminum and vinyl. However, one downside of wood is that sometimes, when there is summer rain, the moisture will seep into the wood and might cause rotting around the affected areas. The good news is that you can keep moisture damage away by scraping and painting your wood every year at the end of the season.
- Fiber cement
Fiber cement is arguably the best siding solution to the harshest climates. It doesn’t absorb water as wood does, it can outlive vinyl, and it is a better insulator than aluminum or steel. It is not brittle, it can withstand strong winds, and in case there’s a climatic change in your area, it can withstand extreme heat. This material does not crack or split in either extremely low temperatures, so you will not have to worry about major maintenance or reinstallation projects ever.
- Aluminum
Maybe it is not as dependable as fiber cement, but it presides over vinyl and wood in terms of durability, at the very least. This material withstands weather fluctuations better than vinyl. The major setback with this material is that it is not the most conscious siding material for an energy-conscious homeowner. It isn’t as good as wood when it comes to offering insulation for your cool indoor temperatures. You can, however, minimize the effects of this setback by painting the aluminum siding with shiny, bright colors. These colors are known to retain temperature better than dull colors.
Conclusion
Choosing the right siding for your home helps you keep cool during warm seasons and optimize energy usage in your home. You save a lot in terms of air conditioning costs when you insulate your home sufficiently. And because the right siding is also durable and long-lasting, you won’t be spending much on maintenance and repairs. Choose your house siding wisely!