Want to find the best exterior siding in Minnesota? This guide provides a clear outline of what details to look for when selecting siding materials for a Minnesota home. By breaking down seven siding specs, it’s easy to determine your style and maintenance preferences and find the best siding for your Minnesota home.
Dotted with parks and natural spaces, the Land of 10,000 Lakes has a unique mix of close-knit communities, luxurious retreats, and touristy small towns that attract seasonal visitors. St. Paul and Minneapolis serve as a dynamic hub of activity and showcase the diversity of architectural styles that can be found here, which include historic homes, rustic cabins, modern designs and more.
Whether fixing up a lake house or building a new home on the outskirts of the Twin Cities, there’s one thing to be aware of: Minnesota weather can pose unique challenges to home exteriors. Accounting for the whiplash of weather events common in the upper Midwest, this guide has been carefully crafted to help you find the best siding materials for Minnesota homes.
Define Your Priorities: What to Look for When Selecting Siding
There are certain elements – like durability and weather resistance – that should be a consistent priority for homeowners, but there are also other siding qualities that often get overlooked. All of these components are important to consider when determining the best siding for your Minnesota home.
House siding can be graded according to seven components: design, protective performance, quality, energy, costs, affordability, and maintenance needs. Determine your priorities first, then rank these qualities according to your siding preferences:
Design
Home value is often determined in part by curb appeal. Depending on your design goals and the existing architectural character of the home, some siding styles may be a better fit than others. For example, homeowners who value a classic style will most likely prefer the look of lap siding – a popular choice for Minnesota homes.
Those with contemporary design goals may want to explore other options like shake, board and batten, stucco-style cladding, brick, or contemporary paneling.
Color is another area that can impact design, and it should be known that some siding materials are better adapted for long-term color consistency. Vinyl siding tends to fade with prolonged sun exposure. Meanwhile, modern materials like fiber cement are crafted with infused color so that they can maintain their original appearance.
Protective Performance
It’s easy to make the mistake of focusing on aesthetics alone and forgetting that siding plays a very important practical role, too. It provides an additional layer to the exterior and serves as a barrier against rain, snow, rodents, wind, and more – something that’s critical in Minnesota.
Homeowners in Minnesota will want to prioritize this protective element of siding, since thunderstorms, blizzards, and severe weather are common in the upper Midwest. Durable, weather resistant siding, like fiber cement or steel, is much better equipped to provide reliable protection in these types of wet and windy conditions than vinyl or untreated wood siding.
Quality
Material composition and fabrication are everything when it comes to determining the quality of siding. Mass-produced vinyl and cheap wood siding are more likely to fail at delivering an acceptable level of quality for Minnesota homes. Siding quality is important because it impacts both the aesthetic appearance and structural performance of the exterior.
Energy
Energy efficiency is another element that homeowners should think about when determining the best type of siding for homes in Minnesota. Existing architectural details may increase the need for more energy efficient siding, too. For example, historic homes built without insulation will benefit from siding that provides enhanced energy efficiency.
Costs
In addition to the sticker price, there are many things to include when calculating siding costs: hired labor for installation, shipping and delivery fees, special tools or equipment needed for installation, purchasing fees, and more. Traditional siding, like cedar shake installation and classic stucco, can be labor intensive, which can skyrocket the overall costs. Modern siding products are much easier to install in Minnesota and typically require less time and labor. Purchase directly from the manufacturer to save additional costs.
Affordability
The price of siding can also vary depending on the material composition and fabrication type. While vinyl tends to be the most affordable option upfront, it doesn’t usually last as long as more durable siding materials – especially in Minnesota where humidity and heat can take a visible toll on vinyl siding. If you plan to remodel again within the next 5-10 years – or you don’t mind doing constant repairs – deterioration may not be an issue. It all depends on your preferences!
Maintenance
Be honest about how much maintenance you want to deal with, because siding upkeep requires time, energy, and money. Wood siding requires nonstop attention to maintain its appearance – especially in high humidity areas near lakes and rivers.
Due to the landscape and climate, low-maintenance house siding like fiber cement may be the better option in Minnesota.
Prepare Minnesota Homes for Severe Weather
Summer thunderstorms, strong wind, and impressive winter blizzards are standard in Minnesota, thanks to its humid continental climate that yields the full spectrum of weather conditions across all four seasons. Some areas of the state have annual snowfall averages up to 170 inches! This makes moisture resistance a huge priority for Minnesota home exteriors.
Humidity is a significant threat, especially for Minnesota lake homes. Wood siding is highly susceptible to moisture damage, and vinyl is prone to droop and crack with temperature changes, so neither of these materials are considered the best siding for Minnesota homes. House siding should deliver the extreme durability needed to withstand the notable weather events and regular seasonal changes common in Minnesota.
Because of its enhanced durability and weather resistance, fiber cement is considered one of the best siding materials for Minnesota homes. Designed as a durable, low-maintenance product, fiber cement siding provides more benefits than other materials – including easier installation, energy efficiency, and overall quality.
Best Siding Choice for Homes in Minnesota: Fiber Cement
Composed of cement, sand, and cellulose fibers, fiber cement offers exceptional resistance to harsh weather conditions, including extreme temperatures, moisture, and UV rays. Its natural resilience makes it virtually impervious to rot, termites, and other common issues that plague traditional siding options in the upper Midwest.
Fiber cement is also fire-resistant to provide an added layer of safety for homes. With minimal maintenance requirements and a long lifespan, fiber cement emerges as the ideal choice for those seeking a durable and aesthetically pleasing siding solution that can withstand the test of time – and crazy Minnesota weather conditions!
Fiber cement from Allura makes designing easy with an attractive array of colors and the following siding styles:
Traditional Lap Siding
With a timeless appearance, lap siding looks great on any home. Plus, Allura lap siding is low maintenance and easy to install!
Smooth Lap Panel
For a contemporary style, try smooth lap paneling. Crafted from durable fiber cement, these unique designs provide a fast and easy way to achieve the look of traditional stucco without the complicated installation process.
Vertical Groove Panel
Great in any color, vertical groove paneling has a board and batten style with attractive texture for a charming aesthetic.
Get the Best Siding Materials for Minnesota Homes with Allura
Allura specializes in crafting durable siding that continues to look great year after year. For the best siding in Minnesota, contact Allura today to explore a full range of exciting styles!
