Vertical vs. Horizontal Siding
Like most components of your home, there will come a time when you need to replace your siding. And, lucky for you, you’ll have a lot of options to choose from for your home exterior.
However, along with the specific type of siding you ultimately choose, there is another major choice that you might not have thought about—whether to use horizontal or vertical siding.
To learn more about vertical vs. horizontal siding, keep reading.
Benefits of Vertical Siding
Often, you’ll see vertical siding, like board and batten siding, installed on commercial structures (common structures include office buildings, barns, and tool sheds).
But, will vertical siding look right on a residential application? Depending on the style of your home, the short answer is yes! However, when it comes to siding, there’s more to consider than just a unique look. Know your needs and budget, especially when choosing between vertical and horizontal siding.
Siding contractors often need to take extra steps during the installation process for vertical siding. For instance, they must hang a horizontal layer of furring strips. (The horizontal furring strips create a level surface to install the vertical siding securely.) Furring strips for vertical siding also tend to result in an installation that is more durable.
While furring strips help prevent leaking and water damage between vertical siding panels, they also add to material costs. So, while you can install any kind of siding material vertically, you’ll rarely see vertical siding on a residential structure.
Vertical siding can also have some drawbacks.
Potential Cons of Vertical Siding
Since vertical siding is a bit more complex to install than horizontal siding materials, the installation often costs more.
And, while vertical siding orientation can provide your home with a unique, personalized look, the pros of this type of home improvement may be outweighed by the needs and wants of the market.
Ultimately, vertical siding usually costs more in the long run, especially if you plan to sell your home. Potential buyers might not appreciate the eclectic look, preferring horizontal siding installation instead. For this reason, they may want to deduct the cost of installing horizontal panels from their purchase offer.
For many homeowners who choose to install vertical siding, the addition is essentially a vanity investment, meaning individuals are willing to spend extra money on materials and installation costs knowing that those expenses might not pay off in the long run.
However, as a homeowner, keep in mind that there is always the option to incorporate vertical siding installation as an accent to the traditional look of a horizontal siding material—it’s the best of both worlds!
Benefits of Horizontal Siding
Horizontal siding is what most people expect to see on a home. In fact, across the United States, horizontal siding is the most common siding style.
Horizontal siding intrinsically draws attention to the direction lengthwise around the building and can be found in nearly every look and color. For example, a popular horizontal siding choice is a vinyl option that’s made to look like wood siding like cedar shake.
So, as you search for siding ideas, keep in mind that you may come across varying types. You may also see varying colors and accents.
In most cases, manufacturers use horizontal siding when creating the trim and other additional features, which makes horizontal siding relatively easy to install. Contractors are often able to hang horizontal siding faster for siding replacement, and more often than not, the installation is more cost-effective compared to vertical siding.
Which Type of Siding Is Better?
Both horizontal siding and vertical siding have pros and cons. When it comes to comparing the two, it’s not really a question of which is “better.” What’s more important is that different people have different tastes.
For this reason, you’ll need to think about the various materials and colors available with today’s siding offerings. Furthermore, you need to consider the overall style and look of the siding that you desire.
When trying to decide between horizontal and vertical siding, be sure to look through online photos and catalogs. As you do, try to find designs that catch your eye. You can also drive around your neighborhood for inspiration, and as you browse homes, notice styles that appeal to your personal preference.
More often than not, savvy homeowners choose horizontal siding as horizontal siding is attractive yet still within most budgets. (If you’re still craving something different while opting for horizontal siding, you may want to consider vinyl siding that mimics the look of cedar shake.)
Choosing the Material for Your New Siding
Today, you can choose from a wide variety of siding materials. With so many choices, you’re sure to find a siding option that’s perfect for your home and appeals to your tastes.
While you can find vinyl siding in nearly any color and styles, also make sure you take time to consider the practicality of vinyl siding. It’s an extremely long-lasting material, and for this reason, horizontal vinyl siding provides excellent durability at an attractive price point.
It enables homeowners to rest easy knowing that their siding can withstand high winds and other harsh conditions. So, whether you’re planning for a home improvement or are in the process of building a new home, horizontal siding can provide you with the solution that you need and desire.
Vinyl Cedar Shake Siding Is Traditional, Yet Refined
For many homeowners, horizontal vinyl siding is a no-brainer. Horizontal siding is a traditional, trustworthy building material, and even though vinyl siding has been around for quite a long time, advancements in manufacturing now make it possible to meet nearly any style preference.
The days of only finding horizontal vinyl siding in neutral colors like beige and gray are long gone. Now-a-days, you can even find vinyl cedar shake siding in several bold, bright colors!
Thanks to these innovations, as a homeowner, you can stand out from your neighbors. You can enhance the curb appeal of your home and attract buyers, if that’s what you desire, and even better, vinyl siding installation is relatively easy and economical.
While you might think that an option such as vinyl shake is expensive, vinyl cedar shake siding is in fact one of the most cost-effective investments you can make to upgrade your home. Plus, with vinyl siding, you may even be able to complete minor repairs yourself without having to call in an expert!
Vinyl cedar shake is long-lasting and can be expected to protect your home for 30 years or more. For this reason, horizontal vinyl cedar shake siding can deliver a return-on-investment that no other siding can match!
Your Source for Top-Quality Vinyl Shake Siding
Now that you know more about the differences between vertical and horizontal siding, what you need is a source for top-quality siding!
If you desire a vinyl alternative to wood cedar shake siding, Factory Direct Siding is exactly what you need. For more than 80 years, we’ve manufactured and distributed beautiful vinyl siding and we test our products regularly to ensure that our customers continue to receive the quality they’ve come to expect.
With Factory Direct Siding, you’ll have access to the most realistic vinyl cedar shake siding available on the market, because we use state-of-the-art 3D technology to scan and re-create realistic shake. Feel free to browse our online selection of beautiful, low-maintenance vinyl cedar shake siding.
If you have questions, you can reach us at (800) 240-5628 or connect with us online. Our experts will gladly guide you through the selection process.
