Guide to Home Siding on the Web

Nothing protects your home more against the elements than it's roofing and siding. The materials you use need to be durable and properly installed and maintained. Fail to follow these important factors and your home, and your family, will suffer. Traditional siding materials include wood, brick, cedar, and tile. Today, all of these materials have look-alike versions that are manufactured for much cheaper, and require less overall maintenance. Whether you decide to use these manufactured versions or stick with the real thing is up to you.

How-Tos Tips and Techniques

• Understanding Siding and Framing
  Before you order siding materials, be sure you understand how your walls are put together. » More from DIY Advice
• Top Siding Options: How to Choose
  Want to make a quick and dramatic change to your home's appearance? Change your home's siding. » More from Service Magic

• Your Home's Exterior: Comparing Paint and Siding
  It's tempting to judge a home by its cover, but for decisions about paint or siding, you need to go a little deeper. » More from Bob Vila
• Fiber Cement Siding: A Durable Alternative
  When it comes to protecting your home from the elements, fiber cement siding is a clear winner. » More about the exterior from Danny Lipford
• Cosmetic Problems and How to Fix Them
  Most homes necessitate a complete repainting every 10-15 years, not only for aesthetic reasons, but because weather-resistant paint is the best way to weatherproof your siding. » More from Repair Home
• Brick and Stone-Veneer Siding
  Brick is one of the most durable siding materials - it doesn't need to be painted, doesn't rot or fade, and weathers handsomely. » More from HomeTips.com
• Re-Siding Your Home: Insulation and Other Important Guidelines
  Re-siding your home is a perfect opportunity to increase your home's resale value, as well as maximize energy efficiency. » More from DoItYourself.com
• Siding Materials
  It's time to find out about the many kinds of siding materials that can be used to cover a home. » More from DIY Network
• Top 5 Exterior House Siding and Repair Tutorials
  The exterior material of your house, whether siding or masonry, needs care and maintenance to ensure its beauty and functional integrity. » More from About.com
• Choose the Right Materials: Siding
  Put the best face on your new home or remodeling project with the right siding. » More from BHG

Video How-Tos

Vinyl Siding - Best Practices Step ups, overhangs and where a low roof runs into a wall all require special techniques to get attractive and quality vinyl siding installation.	How to Repair Vinyl Siding Contractor Tom Silva explains how to repair vinyl siding.
Cementicious Siding If you're looking for an alternative to wood or vinyl siding, try a fiber-cement product.	How to Paint Aluminum Siding Contractor Jim Clark explains how to paint aluminum siding.
Ask The Builder: Wood Siding Video When your project includes wood siding, there are some steps to follow to ensure that it'll last a long time.	HGTV: Repair Wood Siding Primer on repairing damaged wood siding.

Projects

• Move.com: Adventures in Siding
  How to fix or replace any type of siding.
• DIY Advice: Installing Fiber-Cement Lap Siding
  Like wood siding, the fiber-cement siding ends should be coated with primer before you install them.
• HammerZone.com: Replacing A Single Piece Of Hardboard Siding
  Vinyl siding is the most fragile of all siding materials and besides melting when exposed to extreme heat, it will become brittle in cold weather.
• About.com: Repairing Damaged Vinyl Siding
  Vinyl siding is the most fragile of all siding materials and besides melting when exposed to extreme heat, it will become brittle in cold weather.
• DIY Network: How to Repair Clapboard Siding
  Repairing a bungalow's siding is easy - fix clapboard siding with these simple steps.
• This Old House: Stucco Repair
  When properly installed, stucco is about as carefree and long-lived a cladding as anyone could wish.
• About.com: How to Replace a Wood Shingle
  Replacing a damaged or missing wooden roof shingle can allow you to avoid leaks and resulting water damage.

Online Tools and Calculators

• CostHelper.com: How Much Does Siding Cost?
• Service Magic: Home Exterior Visualizer
• Cedar Siding: Calculators For Cedar Siding
• Western Red Cedar Lumber Association: Siding Coverage Calculator
• Building On Service: Siding Calculator

Finding Help

• BHG: Siding
• Service Magic: Siding Contractors and Checklist: Recommended Questions for a Siding Contractor
• HGTV Pro: Find a Contractor
• DoItYourself.com: Find a Contractor
• About.com: How to Pick a Contractor - Getting Bids and Evaluating an Estimate
• B4UBuild.com: How to Qualify a Contractor for Your Building Project
• National Association of the Remodeling Industry: To Do-It-Yourself or Hire a Contractor?

Discuss

• This Old House: Siding
• Bob Vila: Roofing and Siding
• AllExperts: Home Improvement
• DoItYourself.com: Lumber and Siding