If you’re searching for the best siding for a home in Illinois, this guide provides an easy breakdown of what to look for. Depending on your preferences, you can determine the best siding for your home based on a list of seven distinct factors.
Whether you’re working on a house in the Windy City or fixing up an estate in one of the many historic small towns of southern Illinois, one thing’s certain: midwest weather can throw out a lot of curveballs. Taking climate conditions into account, this list has been carefully curated to help you find the best siding for houses in Illinois.
How to Assess Your Siding Needs
While some conditions will be a priority across the board, like durability and weather resistance, there are other siding qualities that you’ll want to consider when finding the best siding for your Illinois home. Siding can be assessed according to seven distinct components: design, protection, quality, energy, costs, affordability, and maintenance needs.
Once you’re able to identify your priorities, you can rank these qualities according to your preference.
Design
Aesthetic appearance can play a significant role in home value and curb appeal. Depending on your goals for the home and the architectural character of the structure, certain styles may be more suitable than others. While traditional lap is considered a classic, shake, board and batten, stucco-style cladding, brick, contemporary paneling, or other siding styles may be considered to reach your design goals.
Color is another aspect to consider, and it’s important to note that some siding materials make it easier to achieve consistency in color than others. For example, vinyl siding fades with prolonged sun exposure, while other materials like fiber cement are crafted with infused color designed to last and maintain their original appearance.
Protection
Homeowners often get so caught up in the aesthetic appearance of their siding that they forget about the functional component of house siding. Providing an additional layer around the exterior, house siding plays a protective role that serves as a barrier against rain, snow, rodents, wind, and more.
Illinois homeowners will want to prioritize this element, since thunderstorms are common in the midwest. More durable siding, like fiber cement or steel, are much better equipped to deliver protection in these types of conditions than vinyl or untreated wood.
Quality
Quality is often linked to the material composition of the siding, which gives more durable options an edge over mass-produced vinyl or cheap wood siding. Quality will play a significant role in both the aesthetic appearance and structural performance of house siding.
Energy
Energy efficiency is another factor that homeowners need to assess in order to determine the best siding for their house in Illinois. Existing architectural details may also increase the need to focus on energy efficient siding. For example, older homes without insulation will likely benefit more from siding that provides enhanced energy efficiency.
Costs
Costs include all the things that often go overlooked, like hired labor for installation, shipping, purchasing fees, delivery fees, and more. Traditional siding methods, like pure cedar shake installation and traditional stucco, can be labor intensive, which adds to the overall costs. Modern siding options are often much easier to install, and 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 siding upfront, it rarely lasts as long as more durable siding materials. If you plan to remodel again within the next 5-10 years – or you don’t mind doing constant repairs – this may not be an issue. It all depends on your preferences!
Maintenance Needs
Again, homeowners should be honest with themselves about how much maintenance they’re willing to do to keep their siding looking its best. Remember, upkeep requires time, energy, and money. Low-maintenance options like fiber cement may be the better option in Illinois.
Illinois Homes Must Be Ready for Midwest Weather
Summer storms, high winds, and heavy snowfall are standard in the midwest. Wood is highly susceptible to moisture damage, and vinyl tends to crack or sag with seasonal swings in temperature. The best siding for a house in Illinois should be able to deliver the extreme durability needed to withstand notable weather events and regular seasonal changes as well.
Based on the significant advantages of its material composition, fiber cement is easily considered one of the best siding materials for Illinois homes. Designed as a durable, low-maintenance siding option, fiber cement provides more benefits than other materials.
Best Siding Choice for a Home in Illinois: Fiber Cement
Fiber cement is a fantastic choice for home siding in Illinois. Composed of cement, sand, and cellulose fibers, this composite material offers exceptional resistance to harsh weather conditions, including extreme temperatures, moisture, and UV rays. Its innate resilience makes it virtually impervious to rot, termites, and other common issues that plague traditional siding options. The material is also fire-resistant, providing an added layer of safety for homes. With minimal maintenance requirements and a long lifespan, fiber cement emerges as an ideal choice for those seeking a durable and aesthetically pleasing siding solution that can withstand the test of time and the elements.
Fiber cement from Allura makes designing easy with an attractive array of colors as well as the following siding styles:
Classic Lap Siding
Absolutely timeless in appearance, lap siding looks great on any home. Plus, Allura lap siding is easy to install and low-maintenance.
Smooth and Stucco Panel
For a contemporary look, try smooth or stucco-style paneling. Crafted from fiber cement, it gives homeowners a fast and easy way to achieve the look of traditional stucco without the labor or construction delays.
Vertical Groove Panel
Vertical groove paneling has a board and batten style appearance for a charming aesthetic that looks great in any color.
Choose the Best Siding for Illinois Homes with Allura
Allura specializes in crafting durable siding that’s easy to maintain. If you’re looking for the best siding for a house in Illinois, contact Allura today to discover a full range of exciting exterior styles!
