Curb appeal. It’s definitely important, especially when you’re putting your home up for sale. Curb appeal is the glitz and glamor of your home as viewed by people walking or driving by. When you’re going to sell your home, it’s important to make sure that it’s looking the very best that it can be on the outside.
Worry about the inside later.
It’s a lot like a book. Potential readers can be drawn in by the cover. It is what coerces them to open the book and fall into the fantastical fictional worlds within. Your home is no different.
Curb appeal may as well be the cover of a book, and you want to draw those buyers inside.
So, what are some of the most important aspects of curb appeal?
Here are some, just to name a few:
- Roofing – You want your roof to look strong and sturdy
- Windows – They should be clean and clear
- External Painting – This should be free of chips and fairly fresh
- Doors – As new as possible, aesthetically pleasing, and freshly painted
- Landscaping – Keep it cropped short. An overgrown landscape gives a home an unkempt look.
- Siding – Needs to match the neighborhood and be fitting for your style of home.
That last one, the siding, is what we’re going to focus on today. Siding is one of the most important aspects of curb appeal. If your home were a human model, the siding would be its outfit. That’s why it’s important to pick the right siding to blend with both your neighborhood and your style of home.
But what are the most effective and impressive looking siding options? How can you utilize them to increase the curb appeal of your home?
Here are the top 3 siding options to get maximum curb appeal for your home.
1. Brick
Bricks give a truly classic and rustic feel to any home. It’s the epitome of an American style house. The drawbacks of a brick exterior are that it’s expensive and time-consuming, but it’s perfect for Colonial and Tudor style neighborhoods.
One interesting thing about brick is the variety that you have to choose from. Whitewashed bricks create a very unique look but if you want a more classic approach, you can’t beat classic red. Brick homes are extremely low maintenance. You don’t have to worry about storm damage or sun bleaching. It is an incredibly durable material that retains its color.
When it comes to more degradable siding like wood, you have to worry about rotting or denting. Another great benefit is that it does not have to be painted following installation.
Brick is also a very eco-friendly material. It is made from clay and shale, which exist in extreme abundance. You can also repurpose excess bricks for a nice retaining wall or path. Chipping smaller pieces off of full bricks can create a permanent landscaping mulch.
Another benefit of brick siding is that fire cannot spread along its surface and it is noncombustible. If a fire was to spread within the home, brick walls can help curb the spread of the flames.
If you live in an area with violent storms like hurricanes, bricks will add more protection against high winds and flying debris.
2. Vinyl Lap Siding
This is one of the most common sidings in existence. It’s made out of layered plastic strips and makes a stunning alternative to traditional wood clapboards. It’s less expensive than brick and can be used freely in many different kinds of homes.
Vinyl is incredibly durable. In fact, brick and stone are the only materials that beat it in terms of strength. It can withstand harsh weather like wind, hail, and extreme climates in a way that wood simply cannot. It won’t ever corrode, rust, or warp in any way. It even deters pests like termites, who feed on the traditional wooden siding. Perhaps the best feature of vinyl is that it’s moisture resistant, so you never have to worry about rotting.
Insulated vinyl siding is also eco-friendly. It keeps your interior home temperature warmer than usual during the winter and cooler in the summer, saving you money on energy costs throughout the year.
It also comes in a number of colors and textures, so you’ll have a wealth of options to choose from.
Compared to the other options on this list, vinyl has the quickest and easiest installation process. The materials come with pre-drilled holes that match up with studs, making the installation process that much easier.
3. Stone
Nothing says cozy like a nice stone cottage.
Typically found in more rustic rural areas, stone is common in the mountains. That’s because of its durability and cost. Stone veneer can be a substitute for some of the more budget-friendly homeowners out there. This synthetic material helps to portray that same rustic look, but for a fraction of the cost.
If you’re talking about durability, stone is right up there with bricks. This is a home that will be built to last. When you look at buildings that have stood the test of time for hundreds of years, these are usually either brick or stone.
That’s because stone stands strong against climate-related issues and insect infestation. Termites will have nothing to chow down on when trying to sink their jaws into solid stone.
If you’re the kind of person that wants to worry about siding issues once and only once, then stone is a good bet. It requires very little maintenance. This is not a material that will decay or warp. It will stand strong against the elements. Hail balls will bounce harmlessly off its surface. To put it mildly, your home will stand strong in the face of environmental adversity.
It’s also very energy efficient, saving you a ton on your utility bills year by year. In fact, the savings you enjoy on your utility bills will help to offset the somewhat higher cost of this powerful material.
In Conclusion
Whether you decide to go with brick, vinyl, or stone, you can’t go wrong with any of these durable and effective materials. Your home’s curb appeal will skyrocket when potential buyers get a gander at the serene beauty of siding perfection.
The siding specialists of Blue Nail are ready to assist you with your next major re-siding project. To get more information on our siding services, visit us online, or call us at 973-937-8876.
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