Environmentally conscious homeowners have more options than ever before when it comes to taking great care of their home without sacrificing their commitment to protect the planet. “Green” siding choices can have a smaller ecological impact than some traditional options, while still providing a cost-effective and beautiful solution to home siding needs. However, especially as “eco-friendly” products become more attractive to consumers, it’s important to be well-informed about the pros and cons of the available choices.
Fiber cement siding
Fiber cement siding is made from a mix of sand, cement, and wood fibers, all of which have quite a small environmental footprint in terms of the eventual breakdown of the materials. Sand is naturally occurring, and cement is made from naturally occurring materials and is considered one of the most sustainable building materials in the world. Wood fibers are made from organic materials and will ultimately break down relatively easily once they’ve served their purpose. The downside to fiber cement siding is that the process used to make it is not very energy-efficient, so most of the negative environmental impact happens up front, with a much more eco-friendly future.
Stucco siding
Stucco siding is relatively similar in makeup to fiber cement siding and is also made of all-natural materials. It can be installed in an array of beautiful ways but does require professional installation and may require more routine maintenance than the other types of environmentally friendly siding.
Metal siding
Aluminum and steel siding have the major eco advantage of being almost entirely recycled and recyclable, which means that none of the leftover construction materials or discarded siding will end up in landfills and can instead be recycled for a new purpose. Metal siding can be somewhat less attractive than stucco or wood, however, and is susceptible to dents, dings, and other types of damage if not properly maintained.
Brick siding
Brick siding/masonry has the major advantage of being made from abundant materials (often clay) and being one of the longest lasting types of home exterior materials. Brick home exteriors can endure for 100 years or more, with minimal maintenance, so there’s a positive environmental impact in requiring less new material for the home’s exterior. The process of brick creation isn’t very energy-efficient, however, so there is a negative impact to be considered in terms of energy use and efficiency.
Wood siding
Wood siding is one of the more traditional siding options, so it might be surprising to see this on the list. Other than vinyl siding (see below) it’s probably the most common and popular type of siding, historically. But getting back to tradition here can (maybe surprisingly) also be a forward-thinking choice. Wood is a natural and renewable resource, which is a positive, but it also requires a lot of maintenance which can cause a negative eco-impact.
Vinyl siding
This is probably the most surprising of the types of siding on this list for most homeowners. How can a product made entirely of plastic be environmentally friendly? The main answer here is recyclability. PVC is very recyclable, and it’s also durable. Vinyl siding, properly installed and maintained, has one of the longest potential lifespans of any of the types of siding we’ve discussed here. And, because it’s lightweight, the impact of transporting it is low. Being environmentally friendly in this case is more an indication of the efficiency of the time, energy, and materials used in vinyl siding — once it’s on your home, you won’t need to think about it again, nor impact the environment in any way in order to maintain it, for a very long time.
Considering the environmental impact of your home’s exterior is the responsible choice, and it’s possible to find an eco-friendly option that makes your home beautiful and energy efficient without excessive cost or maintenance. Contact us here at Harper Siding and Roofing today. We’re one of the best siding companies in Cincinnati, and we’d love to show you more about how siding can be the cost-effective and environmentally friendly choice for your home.