Throughout the south, brick + rock are a very popular choice for home exteriors. In fact, many neighborhoods require a large percentage of this on the exterior of their homes because it is seen as a higher status and more elite than other materials.

This is actually counterintuitive due to the fact that rock + stone produces a thermal mass that acts as a significant solar collector that gathers heat and dissipates it to the home throughout our long summers.

As we are all well aware, we do not need any extra heat during our Texas summers. Our homes need to be a refuge from the heat, not a host for it.

This is a shame because siding can be beautiful and is also a much more energy-efficient choice for our climate.

One of the likely reasons that neighborhoods tend to require extra masonry is because siding has so often been installed wrong and because some siding products are bad choices for building materials.

What is the best siding for Texas? We will break it down for you.

Vinyl Siding

Vinyl siding is a very common exterior siding material and we have to say, we’re not vinyl siding’s biggest fan at Stearns. Generally speaking, vinyl is a poor choice in building material in most applications. It is prone to have many problems and often lowers your home’s resale value.

(A few exceptions exist, such as Andersen 100 windows, which include fiber in the vinyl to help stabilize it.)

One of vinyl’s many issues is that it expands and contracts drastically with changes in temperature. In fact, we have seen the reflection from nearby windows melt vinyl siding. We’ve always been told that the UV inhibitors in vinyl keep it from cracking. Nonetheless, we have seen large sections of wall rot behind cracked vinyl siding.

When vinyl siding begins to crack, the cracks aren’t visible to the naked eye. In turn, the walls begin to deteriorate from the cracks, leading to the siding falling off the house.

The most frequent malfunction we see with vinyl siding actually has nothing to do with the vinyl but with the aluminum trim that is applied on Fascia and other trim. In most cases, water can get behind this metal and not escape. As a result, the rot cannot be seen and is not realized until it is too late.

This also happens with aluminum siding. Typically, we don’t see that much aluminum siding in this area, so, for this reason, we’re excluding this from our list.

Hardboard Siding

This material is often referred to as Masonite, who was an early manufacturer of the product. In 1996, the maker of Masonite Siding lost a large class-action suit because the material was unfit for exterior use. Today, Masonite no longer makes siding.

However, much of the same siding remains in place, and there are other similar products on the market. A few years back, when more of this product was still used, we may have put it above vinyl as our least-liked siding.

Engineered Siding

Overall, engineered siding encompasses a vast group of products, including plywood and composite woods, such as Smart Siding. Our hot, humid Texas climate is harsh on these products.

Engineered siding issues are often the result of poor installation. We recommend hiring a professional when using this siding.

Commonly, this siding is run closer to the ground than it should be because slab foundations are not built high enough to provide adequate protection from sprinklers and the water splashing from the roof runoff. In addition, they are often improperly flashed to protect them from water infiltration.

Wood Siding

This is tricky. Here at Stearns, we love wood siding. It’s the real deal. Sadly, there are several reasons it’s not the best choice for our hot and humid climate. Over the years, as Americans have grown wood faster, it has lost a lot of the durability that it once had. But even well-cured, old-growth wood has a tough time in our climate.

Nonetheless, it can be a great choice for the well-informed and motivated client. A lot can be done to give the wood siding a fighting chance, going above and beyond a typical application.

This includes making sure that protective coating is applied to every surface, especially the end grain, which is most vulnerable to rot and is most often left unprotected. Though we almost never see it in our area, a rain channel behind the siding is also crucial to making wood siding durable. Furthermore, proper window and trim details are also rare but important to maintaining wood siding.

Cement Fiber Siding

A GREAT siding choice for our climate is cement fiber siding. The material is not subject to rot or insect damage, it is fire resistant, and holds paint very well.

It’s durable, very low-maintenance, and because it is made from recyclable materials, it’s resource-efficient.

Fiber cement comes the closest to recreating a natural wood grain and is virtually indistinguishable from some wood siding products. It is considered a premium product and tends to garner better resale value for your home.

At Stearns Design Build, we specialize in wood and fiber cement sidings because we feel they are the best choices for our climate, the most cost-efficient, and the most durable for our clients’ homes.

Do you need guidance or help with your siding? We’d love to help!