Wall panel type
wood
Wooden siding is traditionally chosen by homeowners and builders. If properly maintained, it can be very durable. In recent years, the logging of western wood has decreased, increasing the cost of solid wood siding.

Lap-The overlapped wall panels are applied horizontally, with the top panel lapped on the lower panel. The board is usually beveled, with the bottom edge thicker than the top.


Mahogany-If sealed, stained or painted on a regular basis, mahogany is a durable wood bamboo wall panel. Mahogany also has significant natural resistance to decay. The reduction in timber harvesting increases the cost of mahogany siding.

Cedar-When cedar is sealed, stained or painted, it is as durable as mahogany. Wood siding usually requires a new sealant, stain or paint coating every 3 to 7 years to maintain durability.

Oriented strand board-Oriented strand board siding is made of wood strands oriented in layers under heat and pressure. The top layer is resin impregnated or protected with a sheet of resin impregnated paper. Some oriented strand board siding has a topcoat or primer applied by the factory. The siding can be painted or dyed as needed.

Cardboard-The wood fibers in the cardboard are randomly oriented and bonded with resin under heat and pressure. The result is a dense, tough material that is not as stable as plywood. The resin protects the top of each piece, and a primer or topcoat is applied in the factory. This product is more dependent on correct installation and humidity control than solid wood. Any unpainted area must be painted. Avoid panels or circuit boards that are chipped or cracked or damaged during installation. Cardboard is sometimes called "Masonite", which is a trade name.

Both OSB and rigid board siding are the cheapest siding options. They perform best when water vapor in buildings is controlled by ventilation and vapor barriers. They are most resistant to weather when painted. These materials cannot tolerate hasty installation and cannot withstand exposure to wet conditions. All horizontal and vertical joints should be weatherproof.

Plywood-plywood siding is cheap and easy to install. The veneers of the outer plywood are glued together with waterproof glue. Panels usually use 4 x 8 feet, 4 x 9 feet, or 4 x 10 feet sheets. Better grades have fewer patches to replace the knots in the face veneer. Plywood siding is applied vertically. The horizontal seams where the panels meet are covered with 1 x 4 inch wood trim. A metal waterproof board is bent to step on the back of the upper piece and on the lower piece. Panels can also be installed so that the upper layer overlaps the lower layer to prevent water seepage. Plywood siding and trim are the most durable when protected by heavy stains or paint. In order to keep it flat and beautiful, the panel needs to be properly fixed with corrosion-resistant nails.

Metal
Metal siding is made of aluminum or steel, and usually looks like wooden siding. It has a factory applied coating. The surface can be smooth or textured. Metal siding has low maintenance costs and does not require regular cleaning. It is non-corrosive, anti-rot and insect-resistant. If the metal siding is installed correctly, it can be more durable than other types of siding. Some communities require the metal siding to be grounded to prevent electric shock.

Steel-Steel siding resists dents better than aluminum. Steel siding is more common than aluminum, because bad weather can cause damage, such as hail that is common in the Midwest. If the surface is scratched to bare metal, corrosion may occur. Damaged spots must be painted in time.


Aluminum-Aluminum siding is durable and does not require painting for many years (20 years or more), depending on the climate and installation. Although the color of the siding will fade or darken over time, the newer coating is more durable than the coating a few years ago. Aluminum siding is very soft and can be damaged by hail or careless placement of ladders. If installed improperly, the wall panels will become wavy or bent during the heating process.

masonry
Brick-Brick is a more durable exterior wall and requires little maintenance. It never needs painting or dyeing. It will not rot or burn, and may lead to a reduction in fire insurance premiums. Bricks are energy-efficient. Its quality keeps the building cool in summer and warm in winter. Brick is a good noise isolator.


Stucco (EIFS)-Most building cement board substrates that use stucco or synthetic stucco (EIFS, External Insulation and Finishing System) support the external stucco surface. Plaster has most of the same advantages as brick exterior walls. It does require regular painting. Because the material is suitable for an infinite variety of shapes and curves, unique architectural forms are possible.



Fiber-reinforced cement-This type of siding usually uses panels. It can have the appearance of wood and the durability of concrete. It is non-flammable, moisture-proof and windproof, not damaged by ultraviolet rays and salt spray, light weight, and insect-resistant. It has the characteristics of dimensional stability, toughness and flexibility. Fiber reinforced board has good structural properties and impact resistance.

Plastic-Plastic siding is color-moulded as a whole. The scratches on the surface are not as obvious as the metal siding. Plastic siding is durable and more resistant to dents than metal siding. The installation price is slightly lower than that of metal siding. There are two types of plastic siding, vinyl and polypropylene. Plastic wall panels are usually fitted with insulating back panels. The back plate increases rigidity and strength, and improves energy efficiency.

Vinyl-Vinyl is the most widely used PVC siding panels. It can be made smooth or textured and looks like rough sawn wood siding. Polypropylene can only be molded to resemble cedar shingles. Both types of siding are durable, maintain their color, and have improved their quality over the years. If installed improperly, the plastic siding may bend in hot weather. If hit hard, it will become brittle and crack in cold weather. In places where hail is common, vinyl may not be the best choice. It may shatter and be severely damaged by hail. If the vinyl siding is not installed correctly, it will rattle in gusts of wind. Textured siding may be more difficult to clean than smooth siding. Vinyl siding has many styles and shapes: partitions, beads, D4 profile (each single panel has two 4-inch wide horizontal partitions), D5 profile (each single panel has two 5-inch wide horizontal Partitions), Dutchlap, shiplap and T3 profiles (three 3-inch wide horizontal partitions per panel).