By: Nigel F. Maynard
A strange thing happened in the last 25 years: Vinyl, once the king of all siding materials, dropped to second place about five years ago. This may seem like a small thing, but in the world of home building and remodeling, this is huge.
Based on the U.S. Census Bureau’s latest Survey of Construction, stucco was the number one siding material at 26.8 percent for new single-family homes started in 2023; vinyl siding stood at 25.6 percent, fiber cement came in at 21.7 percent and brick or brick veneer held the fourth position at 18.5 percent. (Side note: Once upon a time, wood siding–claps and shiplap–dominated the home siding market, but it fell out of favor as homeowners hated the constant upkeep).
There have been other major trends in siding over the last 20 years, too, the National Association of Home Builders say. “Since NAHB began tracking this data in 2000, the strongest trend has been the growing popularity in fiber cement siding,” the Washington-based group says. “The share of fiber cement siding has increased by five percentage points in the last 10 years and is up by 14.2 percentage points in the past 20 years.
[ Read More: A Light-Filled, Modern Home in the Jordan Desert ]
But the bigger story is the decline of vinyl siding, the group continues. “Although it has remained steady in recent years, the share has dropped 5.3 percentage points in the last 10 years and 12.8 percentage points in the last 20 years.”
Of course, siding material choices are very regional. For example, stucco is a popular choice in the West, where 41 percent of attached homes use it as the primary exterior wall material. Stucco also is popular in the Pacific, Mountain and South Atlantic regions. Brick and brick veneer are the primary exterior material used in many southern states from Alabama over to Texas.
Though vinyl has declined over the last two decades it is still very popular. It’s extremely popular with homeowners, who like the low maintenance benefits and low price point. That it comes in tons of colors and style is a bonus.
Vinyl is especially popular in some colder climates. It is used on 83.1 percent of the new homes started in New England, 67.4 percent of the homes in the East North Central, 65.3 percent in the Mid-Atlantic, and 43.2 in the West North Central, NAHB says.
[ Read More: 9 Innovative Products We Found at the Builders Show ]
But many architects have issues with vinyl. For one thing, they find the faux-woodgrain texture quite objectionable (It’s the same reason architects prefer fiber cement siding that has a smooth finish rather than the wood grain texture). In their eyes, vinyl is pretending to be something that it is not. “It is masquerading as wood siding but doesn’t look at all like wood siding nor is it even installed in a manner similar to wood siding,” architect Lee Calisti, AIA, has written on his blog.
Architects also object to the “look” of vinyl siding. It does not have the crisp edge or produce the deep shadow lines that can often be seen from the curb. The necessary J-channels for installation windows, doors and other wall penetrations are also unsightly to the architect’s eye.
Vinyl is popular for houses when contractors and builders want a traditional clapboard that looks like painted wood siding. And while there are no (good) alternatives to real stucco or brick (or brick veneer), there are some viable alternatives that will give a house the look of wood. As stated earlier, fiber cement siding has been growing strong for years due to its longevity and ability to handle a variety of weather conditions, but it too does not give a home deep shadow lines.
So, if you want the look of wood (or even wood), take a look at these options:
NuCedar siding is made from cellular PVC that is designed to mimic the appearance of wood but offers durability and low maintenance. The shingles are milled, not molded, so they have the same unique character and texture as wood. It’s available in a variety of options, including shiplap, board and batten and shingles. The manufacturer says the products also install in a similar manner to wood products.
Modern Mill Acre siding is made from upcycled rice hulls and is available in siding and trim. The two newest siding profiles are nickel gap and v-groove. Designed, as the brand says, to meet the needs of builders, architects and homeowners seeking sustainable and high-performance materials, the nickel gap has a rabbeted joint for a seamless fit; the v-groove has overlapping joints that create a secure fit and protection against water, weather and pests.
Pika-Pika yakisugi is cypress siding that goes through a Japanese fire treatment called “shou sugi ban,” resulting in a hardened plank that is resistant to decay, insects and weathering. The brand then applies two coats of our plant-derived alkyd oil prior to shipment.
Everlast is made from a combination of inorganic minerals, polymer resins and acrylic colorants, resulting in a thick, solid siding that the company says is highly durable. Technically speaking, the composite product is similar to vinyl. The installation is relatively the same, with J-channels and corner pieces similar to vinyl. But the composite siding is more robust, sturdier and has more defined shadow lines than vinyl. Available in 15 colors and profiles, the siding also offers trim options–a 5½-inch outside corner post, 3½-inch outside corner post, 3½-inch casing and 1¾ J-channel.
Kebony is a sustainable radiata pine that has undergone a modified process to transform the softwood into an eco-friendly alternative to tropical hardwoods. As a result, the brand says, the wood becomes maintenance free and less susceptible to rot, cupping, checking and decay for more than 30 years. Textured with Color is the brand’s first-ever prefinished cladding product line. It comes in various colors.
Manufactured from high tensile-strength aluminum measuring 0.027 inch thick, Urban Reserve is more durable than wood, the manufacturer says. The siding is unbothered by extreme cold, heat, rain, fire and UV exposure; what’s more, it will not crack, peel, rust or erode. It comes in nine smooth solid colors in one 6-inch profile.
At last month’s International Builders’ Show in Las Vegas, Edge introduced a new thermally modified poplar wood siding to its collection. The Thermally Modified Wood collection features prefinished and natural siding boards that resist rot and decay due to a thermal modification process. Products are available in a natural state or factory primed and in beveled and tongue and groove profiles. Boards measure 6 or 8 inches wide and up to 16 feet long.
Thermory is ash or Scots pine that has undergone a treatment process with heat and steam–no chemicals–to give wood rot resistance and stability. It also results in wood that has a beautiful warm color that will age naturally to a silver-gray.
Thermowood siding has been treated with heat to improve its stability, durability and resistance to decay and insects. Dimensionally stable, it makes for a low maintenance exterior and can be ordered with a certified fire retardant treatment. It is shown with the company’s Grad system so there is limited contact with the sub-structure.