Keeping Your Maryland Home Beautiful with Today’s Trends in Siding – Top 4 Siding Choices for MD Homes

Nothing will impact the appearance of your home more dramatically than the exterior siding you choose. When shopping for exterior siding for your Maryland home, look for a siding material that not only suits the style of your home but also performs well in the vastly different climate and landscape changes that Maryland offers. Maryland has often been called “America in Miniature” because of its mixture of land and water in its 10,460 square miles. You can find just about any natural feature in Maryland except a desert. So, whether you are searching for siding for your beach front property or new cedar shingles for your mountain getaway S&K Roofing, Siding and Windows offers a wide variety of choices to suit your Maryland home.

While the housing market has continued to suffer across the country, Maryland has held its spot as one the better areas when buying or selling a home. Whether you are looking to add value to your Maryland home or simply make changes to your home’s overall aesthetics, upgrading the siding is a logical place to start. When looking at your siding options you should first consider the type of weather or climate changes your home will see. Next you should consider the style of your home and how your new siding fits into your current lifestyle. Finally you should always consult a siding professional to make sure the job is done correctly.

S&K Roofing, Siding and Windows offers a variety of siding options including vinyl siding, fiber cement siding, insulated siding and cedar siding. First let’s look at vinyl siding. Introduced in the 1950’s as an alternative to aluminum siding, vinyl siding is the most frequently used siding option in the United States. Due to its ease of installation and lack of required maintenance vinyl siding owners will recoup as much as 80% of the installation cost thus increasing the value of the home. Vinyl siding carries warranties from 20-40 years and will hold up well in Maryland’s hot and humid summers and also its cold winters. Vinyl siding requires little if any maintenance, never fades and if vinyl is scratched it doesn’t need to be painted because vinyl doesn’t rust and the color of the vinyl permeates the entire thickness of the panels. Whether you are in the sprawling suburbs of Central Maryland or down by the ocean, vinyl siding is excellent cost effective an option.

Fiber cement siding is fast becoming the next wave in siding options. Fiber cement siding is made from cement, wood fiber (cellulose), sand and other components. Uniquely designed, fiber-cement siding resembles wood and boasts all the characteristics of wood. However, unlike wood, it weathers much better and holds paint longer. Fiber cement siding does require some maintenance and may need to be painted every 4-5 years. Known as a green alternative to traditional vinyl siding, fiber cement siding is often made of recycled materials. Fiber cement siding also carries warranties of 50 years or longer. Among the many enticing qualities that fiber cement siding offers is it’s imperviousness to rain, cold, salt and snow thus making it ideal for your Ocean City summer home or your western Maryland retreat.

Another interesting siding option available today is insulated siding. Insulated siding is essentially vinyl siding with rigid foam insulation that is laminated or permanently attached to the inside of the panel. This type of siding not only keeps the cold out, but also reduces energy loss through framing or other building materials. Insulated siding is described by builders as a “green building” material. By reducing energy consumption insulated siding can reduce air pollution. This product also boasts an average lifespan of 50+ years. Insulated siding is ideal for the harsh weather conditions that exist throughout the state.

A gorgeous alternative to traditional siding options is cedar siding. Cedar siding is commonly cut from the Western Red Cedar. Cedar siding shingles are durable and if maintained properly can carry warranties of up to 25 years. These shingles do however require a bit of maintenance. Cedar must be sealed and stained every few years and it is recommended that you power wash your cedar siding to remove dust, cob webs and other dirt particles that build up over time. Cedar is known to hold in the heat during the winter while keeping the heat out during the summer. The most common enemy of cedar siding is excessive moisture. Cedar may not be the best option for the ocean air but may be perfect for your central Maryland farm or a home in the more mountainous regions of the western part of the state.

Siding is your home’s skin; it adds stability to the frame and protects it from the elements. Siding helps prevent moisture penetration and the growth of biological contaminants such as mold, dust mites and bacteria. Understanding all of your options before you make a selection is a small investment toward adding value to the home while also preserving it for years to come. A carefully chosen siding, appropriate for your climate and the amount of care you are willing to devote to its maintenance, will not only give your house a new look, but protect your family’s health and safety.

Siding MD— Maryland possesses a great variety of topography and offers homes in a vast range of sizes and styles. Whether your home is located on the sandy dunes of the eastern shore, the piney mountains of western Maryland or the city suburbs of Washington, DC or Baltimore, S&K Roofing, Siding and Windows has everything you need to make an educated choice in choosing your home’s new siding. Please visit https://www.skroofing.comand check out all of the different siding options. Refer to the siding FAQ’s page where many of your siding questions will be answered.