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Stucco vs Other Sidings and the Overall Maintenance

Stucco Siding

Stucco is reasonably priced and easy to maintain as well as aesthetically pleasing. With a large variety of stucco colors to choose from, stucco works great with almost any home exterior.

Stucco has been a popular choice for hundreds of years but stucco is more costly than vinyl siding. This is if you are comparing the basic stucco with the basic vinyl siding, depending on the quality they both go up in price. But for the basic price vinyl is cheaper although stucco usually looks a lot better than the basic vinyl siding.

Stucco is very durable, in fact, stucco is fire-resistant and able to expand and contract with the seasonal shifts, so it will not sustain damage under harsh weather condition and it provides excellent insulation from severe weather. It can last up to 50 years before needing to be replaced. Applying stucco the right way creates an attractive exterior to any home. Of all the exterior siding options currently on the market, it is the only one that brings out the true beauty of Spanish-style homes. We have had good success with stucco colors lasting up to 20 years before the need to paint the stucco walls. The color coat has color mixed in with the final stucco finish and requires no paint finish as do traditional wood sidings. Another attractive feature is that the stucco will never have termite damage or wood rot.

Stucco can stain or develop holes over a period of time as well as accumulate dirt, rust stains and mold and should be cleaned with pressure washing and cracks and holes maintained yearly. Holes should be repaired immediately because if water gets behind the stucco and felt paper, it can ruin walls. If maintaining the house and paying for occasional repairs is not a problem then stucco is a good choice for you. Now I am going to be honest here, because of the complexities involved with its installation, stucco siding installation requires an experienced hand. Installing stucco is not easy and should be done by a professional only. Trying to install stucco yourself can be tricky and in the end you may cause damage that will cost you even more in repairs. If you have a really tight budget then stucco may not be the right choice for you.

Vinyl Siding

Vinyl siding is cheaper than any other type of siding out there and comes in many different colors and textures. It is durable and virtually maintenance free. The basic stucco definitely looks better than the basic vinyl siding but like I said before vinyl is cheaper so if you are on a tight budget it may be better for you.

Vinyl is very strong and durable so yearly maintenance isn’t something you will need to worry about with vinyl. Another great thing about vinyl is that it does not fade over time, so it will look good as new for a very long time. Vinyl is very durable but can be prone to cracking. You can install vinyl yourself but you may want to hire a professional if you are installing a higher end variety.

Vinyl is a great option for those of you who do not want to bother with maintenance over the years. Next to stucco and cedar siding, vinyl has established itself among the most popular exterior siding options. However, many homeowners don’t like the manufactured look of vinyl and far prefer the natural texture of stucco. On the downside there is the fact that vinyl siding cannot be recycled once installed. Even though it does not require painting and staining (which adversely impacts the environment), the use of PVC is a sore spot with many an environmentally conscious homeowners.

Wood Siding

From a classic appearance to a rustic look, residential wood siding can give your home a truly distinctive look. No other siding type can compare to the natural beauty of wood siding. There are several kinds of siding that are typically used on residential homes including: wood board (also known as clapboard), wood shingle or shake siding and plywood sheet siding. Each of these wood siding types can be installed by a carpenter or professional siding installer.

Unfortunately there are a lot of cons to wood siding no matter how beautiful it is. First off, wood siding is one of the most expensive siding types. One major drawback to wood siding is the fact that it requires a great deal of maintenance. Wood needs the most maintenance out of any siding type. Not only does wood siding need to be treated, but some wood siding may also need to be painted every five years or so. Maintenance includes repainting and sealing the siding about very two years. Mold repellents must also be applied to prevent mold and fungus growth. Not only can this maintenance be a bit costly, but it is time consuming as well.

Furthermore, if you fail to maintain the siding properly, it may rot or otherwise fall into disrepair. While wood siding can be quite attractive when stained and while it is available in a wide variety of colors, some styles cannot be painted. Cedar shakes, for example, should not be painted because the paint can peel off. Last but not least, one major drawback to using wood siding is that termites are attracted to wood siding. They can eat the wood siding and cause significant damage. You can prevent termites by selecting a wood that has been treated with preservatives. The preservatives ward off termites. Cedar or redwood heart-woods do not attract termites and would be a good choice of wood for siding.

Conclusion

Vinyl siding is more cost effective in the long term considering the maintenance cost is low. Stucco has its own advantages, as it looks unique and is the only way of bringing out the beautiful look of a true Spanish style home. Wood siding is beautiful and classic but unfortunately a pain to keep up over the years. If budget is an important factor for the choice of siding then go for vinyl, otherwise if you are not worried about overall maintenance and keep up, then it depends on the style of your home, individual taste and the overall look you are going for. I really hope this information was useful and helpful in making your decision on what siding you want to use for your home.

Sincerely,

RWT Design & Construction

www.rwthomeremodeling.com