Stucco and vinyl siding are popular options when upgrading your home’s exterior or looking for an exterior material for your new home. Which one is best for your Mid-Atlantic home? Let’s help you break it down!
Choosing your exterior siding is arguably the most important decision you will make regarding your home. It is obviously important to choose a material that will look nice and add curb appeal, but it is more important to choose a material that can withstand harsh weather and outside factors, or else you’ll end up paying a hefty bill for repairs.
Stucco Siding
We’ll start with stucco material. You may recognize it from its smooth, clay-like appearance and popularity in places of high heat and low humidity. But, stucco is more versatile than one may think. Made up of cement, sand, limestone and water, stucco is solid, durable and low maintenance. The downside to stucco is that it’s very costly and messy to remove if you decide to change the exterior of your home.
Vinyl Siding
Vinyl siding is made up of polyvinyl chloride, or PVC, and comes in a wide array of colors and styles. As one of the most popular siding materials, it is important that it can be personalized, so there’s no need to worry about your home looking exactly the same as everyone else’s. It is most recognizable from its lined pattern of panels that resemble a type of plastic material. Vinyl siding adds a clean-cut look to your exterior. An added bonus is its energy efficiency. Its installation includes an insulation layer that helps regulate your home’s temperature and your energy bills.
Cost of Materials
Cost is generally a huge factor to be considered when deciding on what material to use. Stucco is typically significantly more expensive than vinyl siding, making it one of the most affordable siding materials available. Another benefit to vinyl siding is that you can use different patterns or colors to personalize the exterior of your home.
Durability
Durability is a very important thing to consider if you’re looking to avoid maintenance costs and repairs in the future. Stucco can handle outside weather well and is able to withstand wind gusts up to 130 mph with ease. When properly maintained, it can last anywhere from 60 to 100 years without needing replacement. On the other hand, vinyl can resist wind speeds of about 110 mph, but if there is some damage due to wind, it is one of the easiest materials to replace.
Stucco is most often a popular choice of siding in drier, arid regions because it can withstand heat well, but it doesn’t do as well in rainier climates which is something to consider when living in the Mid-Atlantic. Rain rolls right off vinyl siding installed professionally, making it a better bet when getting wet.
Another consideration is fading. Stucco can fade over time and will need to be painted to keep the color fresh. High-grade vinyl siding has its color baked in, so it won’t crack, peel, flake, rot or discolor.
Finding the Best Siding for Your Home
Of course, there are many other pros and cons to both stucco and vinyl materials, but cost and durability are two of the main factors that influence a homeowners’ decision. Rule of thumb is that the more informed you are, the more confident you will be when making your choice! Visit our website to find more information about the types of siding and why choosing the right material is so important.
When you’re ready to upgrade your home to quality, energy efficient vinyl siding, call the experts at Thompson Creek. We can help you choose the style and color right for your home.