Rental housing siding is not very sexy but it is important to your tenants and your budget long-term so here are 5 siding materials and the pros and cons of each as the maintenance checkup from Keepe.
When it comes to the siding on your rental properties, many things come into play such as the look and appeal to tenants, energy efficiency and of course your budget which is most important.
Knowing about the needs of different materials can allow you to plan how to best take care of your property’s siding and make an informed decision about which kind really is best for your property, needs, expectations, tenants and budget.
Let’s look at the pros and cons of 5 common rental housing siding materials.
No. 1 – Wood shingles and clapboard rental housing siding materials
Wood shingles and clapboard are a timeless favorite because they create a naturally warm and rustic look that many people like.
What are the pros?
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- Wood siding comes in numerous varieties, which can be customized further by utilizing unique paint and/or stain colors.
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- Fairly easy and thus affordable to install – on average, it’s about $8 per square foot
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- When it is well maintained, it ages beautifully and can last for decades.
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- The Forest Stewardship Council certifies sustainable varieties to offer environmentally-friendly and repurposed options.
What are the cons?
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- Wood requires regular treatments to last. Stains, sealants and paints must be re-applied as directed by the manufacturer to avoid the extensive and costly damage that occurs when untreated wood is exposed to moisture, harsh weather, sun rays and pests. Regular maintenance itself can also be costly, and should be anticipated.
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- Wood is a uniquely attractive material for pests, which makes it fundamental to regularly check for signs of rodent or termite activity.
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- Higher grade types of wood are more durable and do not present as many imperfections, but are more expensive than low-grade wood.
No. 2 – Vinyl siding
Vinyl siding has become one of the most popular siding materials, with thousands of satisfied rental property owners and contractors raving about it.
What are the pros?
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- Budget-friendly vinyl is one of the cheapest materials to purchase and install.
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- Low-maintenance vinyl does not require special treatments and is easy to clean. Pressure washing every few years generally restores vinyl siding back to a like-new condition.
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- Long-lasting vinyl is waterproof, fade resistant and does not retain or absorb moisture.
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- Customizable vinyl is available in many different colors, textures and finishes. Some kinds are manufactured to specifically resemble wood grains.
What are the cons?
– Vinyl is water resistant, but not completely waterproof. It is of utmost importance for it to be installed correctly to avoid water permeating and reaching the property’s core structure, which can lead to internal rotting, mold growth and more serious water damage.
– Vinyl can be easily damaged, dented and scratched, by branches. It’s important to keep this in mind and ideally trim back any vegetation.
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No. 3 – Brick siding
Like wood siding, brick siding creates a one-of-a-kind look that is preferred by lovers of Colonial and Tudor architecture. Bricks are typically made from fired clay that can be engineered to present special colors and textures.
What are the pros?
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- When correctly installed, brick siding can last a lifetime or longer.
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- Countless colors and varieties exist to realize custom looks.
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- Brick is a great insulator, and unlink wood, is fire and pest-proof.
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- It requires minimal to no maintenance; as time passes, bricks can be restored by simply scheduling a pressure-washing treatment.
What are the cons?
– Brick installation requires skill and is labor-intensive, which makes it quite expensive to install. Brick siding is one of the most expensive siding options.
– Additional work is typically required prior to installation to prep a property’s walls before brick is installed. This includes extending foundations and insulating exterior walls.
– The main issue with brick siding is that it is known to be vulnerable to water finding its way between the layer of bricks and the actual wall, which can lead to mold growths and water damage.
No. 4 – Stone and stone veneer rental housing siding materials
Similarly to brick siding, stone and stone veneer add a beautiful rustic finish to a property’s exterior. The naturally occurring variegations in the coloration and texture of natural stone make it a popular siding option featured as an accent. Stone veeners are made with “faux stone” and are often referred as Cast or Manufactured Stone Veneer (MSV). MSV’s are created from synthetic blends and resins.
What are the pros?
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- Stone is incredibly durable: it is not easily damaged by water, weather exposure or fire.
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- Stone is one of the most naturally abundant materials on the planet, which makes it easy to repurpose and source it sustainably.
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- Natural stone offers unique variations of color and texture that are prized by lovers of natural, beautifully rugged aesthetics.
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- Synthetic stone can resemble the look of natural stone but is considerably less pricey since it is more lightweight and easily manufactured.
What are the cons?
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- Stone is another labor-intensive material to install. It is heavy and required to comply with a state building codes. This all contributes to making stone and stone veneer installation particularly expensive.
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- While it does not require regular maintenance, stone can crack. Cracks must be repaired as soon as possible to avoid water infiltrations.
No. 5 – Stucco rental housing siding materials
Stucco results from mixing Portland cement, limestone, sand, water and other chemical additives. Once applied, stucco creates a concrete-like layer on top of a property’s core structure.
What the pros?
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- Since stucco acts as an exterior “shell”, it has amazing insulating properties, which can help with making it so less energy is required to keep a property’s interiors hot in the winter and cool in the summer. It can also help with making a property more insulated from exterior noise.
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- Stucco can be mixed with numerous available dyes to create a variety of color options for a property’s exteriors.
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- In an emergency, stucco can act as a fire-retardant.
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- When it’s properly maintained, stucco can last a lifetime.
What are the cons?
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- Stucco is installed in layers, which is a labor-intensive process. This contributes to stucco installation being a quite expensive project.
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- It does not perform well in wet climates. Continued exposure to regular downpours and moist weather damages stucco finishes, which are water-resistant only up to a certain point. When water permeates, serious issues result from moisture infiltration into the property’s interior – from mold growth to cracking and rotting. Stucco is most popular in the Southwest – which indeed presents the ideal weather for stucco to last in.
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- Stucco is not intended to be painted over, which makes choosing a color quite a permanent decision that will be not so practical to change post-application.
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- Stucco is prone to cracking: earthquakes and the more common shifting of the property’s structure will easily create cracks over the years. Cracks must be tended to and repaired immediately to avoid their expansion and resulting damage.
Other recent rental property maintenance Keepe posts you may have missed:
4 Outdoor Flooring Options For Your Rentals
20 Easy, Affordable Maintenance Projects To Update Your Rentals
Keepe is an on-demand maintenance solution for property managers and independent landlords. The company makes hundreds of independent contractors and handymen available for maintenance projects at rental properties. Keepe is available in the Greater Seattle area, Portland, Phoenix, San Francisco Bay and San Diego areas.
