From lap to shakes, vinyl siding styles do more to accent and define your home than any other vinyl siding feature. The trick is to know what's available and how to ask for it.
5 Most Popular Vinyl Siding Styles Defined
When researching vinyl siding, it's easy to get in over your head. The number of vinyl siding styles available can be overwhelming. Here are 5 of the most popular:
- Dutch Lap Vinyl Siding. When you envision vinyl siding, lap style is probably what comes to mind. These long, overlapping boards are typically installed horizontally. Dutch lap differs from traditional lap only in that it has a decorative groove running across the board.
- Vinyl Siding Shakes and Shingles. Like the shingles of a roof, vinyl siding shakes and shingles are smaller pieces of vinyl installed in an overlapping pattern. They are available in a variety of shapes and textures.
- Board and Batten Vinyl Siding. These long vinyl panels are typically hung vertically or horizontally and alternate between wide boards and thin strips (called battens).
- Faux Brick Vinyl Siding. As the name suggests, faux brick vinyl siding comes in sheets manufactured to emulate brick (but is much more affordable).
- Cedar Vinyl Siding. Cedar vinyl siding is processed to emulate cedar and is typically sold in board form.
How Does Style Affect Vinyl Siding Prices?
While generally the most affordable product available, vinyl siding prices vary with style. The amount of material needed to produce the style, the complexity of manufacturing it, and its ease of installation are the biggest drivers. Whatever style you choose, control cost by simply shopping around. Request quotes from several contractors--they're typically free and can save you a lot of money.
