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VINYL SIDING STYLES
When you talk about vinyl siding styles, what you really are talking about is what the siding looks like when it is applied to your house. Does it run from end to end (Clapboard style), or does it run from top to bottom (board and batten style), or does it look like cedar shakes.
Once you decide which one will look best on your house, you literally narrow down your search for siding by two-thirds.
Even though there are hundreds of siding options, they all basically fall into three main styles.
Clapboard Siding Style
Clapboard Style Vinyl Siding
Clapboard Siding runs end to end across the house horizontally.
Basic Clapboard Styles or ProfilesBoard and Batten Siding Style
Board and Batten vinyl siding. This style of siding runs from top to bottom of the house, or vertically.
Board and Batten Vinyl SidingCedar Shake Vinyl Siding Styles
Cedar Shake Vinyl Siding. Looks like real cedar shakes.
Cedar Shake Vinyl Siding used with natural stone.Basic Vinyl Siding Styles
Vinyl Siding Styles Options
When you hear people say 'vinyl siding styles' what they are usually talking about is the different looks of the actual siding panels. Each panel has a different:
- profile
- texture
- color
- thickness
- length (how long the planks are)
- and price
- and insulated or non-insulated.
these items make up the look of the siding, or Style.
Siding 'types' and 'styles' are often used together. However, there is a difference.
Home siding types usually refer to what material the siding is made of:
- Wood (real wood)
- Vinyl
- Concrete Board
- Fiber Cement Siding
- Hardie Board
- Aluminum
- Insulated or non-insulated vinyl siding
- Brick
- Stone
Each of these 'types' have different looks, or 'styles'.
I suggest that you browse through some of the information with a pen and paper and jot down some basic info first. Once you pick out a basic "type' of siding, then spend some time looking at all the different 'styles' that each of the different sidings have.
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Where to start
Let's go shopping for home siding....
You are going to get a lot of information on the different home sidings, styles, types, colors, prices, thicknesses, profiles and so on. You can't remember all that new information, so we suggest the following.
Keep a notebook for siding info.Take a couple sheets of paper and make notes on the distinct types and styles of the different sidings. As you collect more information about each one, you will eventually have enough information to go to a home center or local dealer to actually look at the particular types and styles you have collected the info on.
Mr. Contractor says:
Most people refer to styles and types interchangeably. Once you decide on the particular siding you like, the contractor will know what you are talking about and help you in the final design.
Each Style of vinyl siding comes in many distinct colors, many different textures, from a smooth finish to a rough cedar plank look. Siding comes in many different thicknesses and some brands have insulation attached to the back of the panel. A great way to keep the A/C in your house in the summer and the nice warm air in your house in the winter months.
Every house is different, the trick is to choose the vinyl siding that brings out the best of your house by picking the right colors, textures, styles, trim and so on...
On the house above the homeowner has used Cedar Shake Vinyl Siding on the main house and Board and Batten vinyl siding on the garage gable. Very creative way to combine two different vinyl siding styles. A very popular look today.
The 3 Most Popular Vinyl Siding Styles
Here are the three most popular vinyl siding styles. Since vinyl siding is made to look just like real wood siding, every wooden siding now comes in a vinyl version.
Looks like real wood but at half the cost! And almost maintenance free. Just hose it down once in a while with the garden hose. No more painting!
Board and Batten Vinyl Siding
Board and Batten Vinyl Siding or Vertical siding, runs up and down the house, vertically. It usually consists of wide boards with a smaller board or 'batten' used to seal the crack where the two wide boards meet. This makes it very weather tight and helps keep the harsh winter winds out. It has been used for hundreds of years and is still extremely popular.
Click here to see more information on Board and Batten Vinyl Siding
Clapboard Vinyl Siding
Horizontal or Clapboard Vinyl siding is siding that runs across the house, horizontally hence the name. Sometimes called 'traditional lap' siding because it has been around for centuries. Comes is several popular 'styles' such as Dutch Lap, Beaded and Flat. It also comes in many different textures that look just like real wooden planks. The different vinyl siding styles within clapboard would include dutch lap, beaded and lap. Each would have different textures, lengths, widths, and thicknesses.
Click here to see more information on Clapboard Vinyl Siding
Vinyl Cedar Shake Siding
Vinyl Cedar Shake Siding is a beautiful rustic look of old world real cedar wood shakes. Looks just like real cedar shake, but without the high maintenance of real wood shake.
People have used cedar shake siding forever. Cedar is a rich, hardy wood with beautiful colors and hues. It withstands the weather better than most other woods. It has long been a prized home siding material. Vinyl cedar shake looks like real wood without the high cost and high maintenance associated with real wood.
Click here to see more information on Vinyl Cedar Shake Siding
To see more information on the different 'Types' of siding and vinyl siding in particular, click here.. Vinyl Siding Types.
To go back to the HOME Page, click here
More Information on Styles of Siding
More on Vinyl Siding Styles
Vinyl siding styles refers to the many diverse sizes, shapes, thickness, length, texture, and colors of the new vinyl siding products available on the market today.
Vinyl siding is made to mimic real wood siding; therefore, any type or style of wooden siding will be available in a vinyl version.
Homeowners often combine several different types and styles of siding to create a particular look.
You can use several different vinyl siding styles on the same house.
Here the homeowner has combined clapboard on the main house with vinyl cedar shake on the gables and white scallops for accent.
Incredibly effective use of vinyl siding types mixed together to create a particular look.
What is the difference between Styles and Types??
Vinyl siding 'styles' are the different profiles, colors, and textures that each 'type' of siding has. For example, clapboard or horizontal type siding have three main styles; Dutch lap, beaded and smooth. It also comes in different widths sometimes called profiles. Example, double 4", triple 3", etc..
Board and Batten or 'vertical siding', comes in different widths from 10" to 13"+ and runs vertically from top to bottom of the house.
Cedar Shake comes in 'staggered' and 'straight edge', and textures that range from light grain to thick, rough cut shakes.
Just ask your contractor about the many different products available.
Don't forget to look at Insulated Vinyl Siding to help you save money on your heating and cooling costs.
Insulated Vinyl Siding has foam on the back side to cut energy costsTo see more information on Insulated Vinyl Siding click here.
Houses are all different!! They come in all shapes and styles.
Houses have different 'styles', some houses just look better with particular 'types/styles' of siding. The key to a beautiful home is to pick the right type and style of siding that adds new life to the house.
Here are some basic house 'styles':
What is the style of your home?
You want to first determine what 'style' house you have. Then drive around and find other homes like yours and see what you like about each one, and what you don't like. Make notes and take plenty of pictures on your cell phone as you drive aroud the neighborhood
The homes shown above all are using PlyGem Vinyl Siding
To see more information on PlyGem Vinyl Siding Click Here PlyGem Siding
Types of Siding
Other Types of Home Siding That Looks Like Wood:
Hardie Board
Engineered Wood SidingFiber Cement Board
Cement Board Siding'Vinyl siding styles' and 'vinyl siding types' are generally used together, interchangeably by most people. When you talk to a contractor, he will know the difference and he will know what you are talking about.
Insulated Vinyl Siding
Save money on your energy costs all year long by investing in Insulated Vinyl Siding. Cools in the summer and keeps the house warm in the winter. More expensive but well worth it.
To learn more about how insulated vinyl siding can save you money Click Here Insulated Vinyl Siding
The reason that vinyl siding is so popular is that it can be used on almost any house to enhance the beauty and charm of the home.
Vinyl Siding is Green siding.
Vinyl Siding Protects your Investment
Learn more about Vinyl Siding by going to the Vinyl Siding Institute of America. Lots of great siding information.
More about Vinyl Siding Styles
Popular Style of Clapboard SidingClapboard siding is sometimes referred to as horizontal or lap siding. It is siding that runs across the house, horizontally.
Clapboard Siding StylesWhich is more popular? Dutch Lap or Clapboard Siding?
Dutch Lap and Smooth Lap are two of the most popular vinyl siding styles in the clapboard family. The difference is the grove on the top edge (dutch-lap) and one smooth with no grove (clapboard).
To see more information on Dutch Lap vs Clapboard Vinyl Siding
click here. Dutch Lap vs Clapboard
Dutch lap is a very popular style of clapboard siding. It has been used on homes here in the U.S. since colonial types. It has a very distinct curved notch that runs along the top edge of the panel or board.
Dutch Lap style siding has a hand-cut notch on the top edge of the board giving it a distinguished shadow line well known since Colonial times.
The vinyl Dutch lap siding looks like real hand-carved wooden planks.
Early colonist actually hand-carved the notch into each wooden board to create the look.
Smooth Lap Clapboard Style Vinyl Siding
Smooth Lap clapboard looks like long painted wooden planks. It is used for Restoration of older homes or to create the colonial look.
Note the smooth panels with no additional shadow lines. Looks like freshly painted wooden boards. Traditional clapboard type. Also referred to as 'traditional lap siding'.
Smooth Clapboard
To see more information on Smooth Clapboard Vinyl Siding Click Here
It also looks like the sides of old wooden sailing ships and because of this it is still referred to sometimes as 'ship-lap' siding.
Want to see more information on the History of Siding Click Here
Beaded Style Siding
Beaded Vinyl Siding Styles
Beaded clapboard siding has a bead on the bottom edge of the siding. This was hand carved in olden days creating a unique and sophisticated look.
Beaded Clapboard StyleNote the shadow ling along the bottom edge.
In early America, colonist would hand carve this notch along the bottom edge. This made it cost more. It was a top end product back then used by people who usually had more mo. It was considered very sophisticated.
It is still used today to give that early American look to homes.
Some before and after Shots
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Vinyl Log Siding Styles
Vinyl Log Style siding allows the homeowner to have the rugged outdoor look of a log home without all the cost, up-keep and maintenance of real wooden logs.
Kaycan Vinyl LogVinyl log siding offers that outdoor ruggedly charming look without the high cost and high maintenance of real cedar log construction.
Kaycan Vinyl Log
To see more information about vinyl log siding click here.
Styles of Homes
There are many styles of homes. Houses come in all styles. From Cape Cod to Folk Modern. Each house style can use multiple vinyl siding types and styles. Click here to see more pictures of different home styles
House Styles What is your house style?
Cape Cod Cedar Shake
Craftsman Board and Batten
Federal Adams Clapboard
Folk Victorian ClapboardKaycan Vinyl Siding
Beaded
Dutch Lap
Cedar ShakeVinyl Log Siding
Clapboard
ClapboardTo see more Kaycan vinyl siding styles click here.
Other Home Siding Types
Idea!Vinyl is not the only siding that looks like real wood. There are other types of man-made siding such as Hardie Board, Cement Board, Fiber Cement Board and Engineered Board.
Other Types of Wood Looking Siding
Hardie Board Siding
Hardie Board Siding is one of the most popular home sidings in America. It is sometimes called concrete board siding. Much stronger than vinyl siding.
Hardie Board SidingThere are many different wood like siding available now. Hardie Board is one of the most popular sidings, looks like wood but stronger.
Click here to see more information on Hardie Board Siding.
CEMENT BOARD SIDING and FIBER CEMENT SIDING
Cement Board Siding
CertainTeed Fiber Cement BoardCement Board Siding or Concrete Siding is available in Cedar look, most Clapboard styles, both in Wood Textured or Smooth finish.
Shown here is Certainteed WeatherBoards Fiber Cement Lap Siding in Redwood Color.
Fiber Cement Board Siding is an alternative to vinyl siding. It is more expensive than vinyl siding but had superior weathering characteristics. Strong, durable and impervious to wood-boring insects, resists UV rays and moisture.
It comes in all the most popular styles and colors. Excellent for use in harsh weather areas such as around coast lines.
Click here to see more info on Fiber Cement Board Siding
Engineered Wood Siding
Engineered Board SidingEngineered wood siding is made from wood fibers and resins to create a very strong, durable wood look alike that resists rot, mold, and insects. Comes in many factory painted finishes or pre-primed. Can be painted any color.
Is much stronger than vinyl siding but still costs less than real wood without all the high maintenance of real wood siding.
Click here to see more on Engineered wood siding.
Cost
What does Vinyl Siding Cost?
Siding cost and siding prices are two very different things!
When you get a price from a home improvement store or contractor,
that is only the price of the siding,
not the total cost of installing the siding on your house.
Click here to review all the costs involved in installing siding on your house.
Colors
Vinyl siding comes in almost unlimited colors. Each year new colors come out.
From earth tones to pastels and everything in between.
Many people mix and match different colors and styles to create that perfect look.
Click here to review some of the different colors selections.
Mix and Match Different Siding Types and styles
Half Rounds
Half Rounds are a very special style of siding. Sometime called 'scallops' they are used to enhance elements of your home.
You can mix and match different vinyl siding styles together to create many different looks. Many people combine at least two different types of siding to break up different sections of the house or as trim to accent particular areas of the house.
Cedar Shake and Half-Rounds are used as trim to separate different sections of the home.
Half-rounds have been used as trim or accent for centuries. It adds a special touch of style to any home.
Half-rounds come in many different shapes and patterns.
Cleaning Vinyl Siding
Cleaning vinyl siding is much easier than painting it. Just grab the garden hose and wash it down occasionally. Here is some useful information on cleaning most any type of vinyl siding.
sure beats painting!
Pressure washing
Good old elbow greaseTo see more information on How to Clean Your Vinyl Siding Click Here Cleaning Vinyl Siding
As you can see there are many different vinyl siding styles to choose from. Lots of people use several different types of vinyl siding to customize their home. Mixing and matching different sidings allows you to completely personalize your home.
To see more pictures of homes using vinyl siding click here.
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