Best Siding for Home Additions in Maryland & Virginia
Choosing the right siding material for your house addition in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area
When building luxurious home additions, one of the most challenging tasks is blending new architecture with preexisting structures. Ideally, an addition's exterior should look as though it has always been a part of your house. The last thing you want is an addition that looks tacked on or out of place.The right exterior siding seamlessly matches your home's existing aesthetic while enhancing curb appeal and durability. Whether you're adding to a Montgomery County, MD colonial or a Fairfax County, VA brick home, selecting siding that complements your current exterior is critical. This guide explores the top siding materials and how they perform in the DMV climate.
If you are in the exciting process of modifiying your home, we encourage you to review these four common siding options for houses in the Mid Atlantic below:
- Vinyl siding is an excellent choice for most homeowners because it is low-maintenance and cost effective. It is made from a durable PVC plastic that is weather-, fade-, and insect-resistant.
Vinyl is also easier to install than other materials, as it does not require any painting or grout work. It comes in an array of colors and styles, and can be printed to imitate natural wood grain. This last feature explains why vinyl siding is commonly used on new additions for older homes: it blends well with the vintage siding found on more classic building facades. - HardiePlank. HardiePlank is one of the most popular, longstanding brands of fiber cement siding on the market. While slightly more expensive than vinyl, HardiePlank siding is still relatively affordable. This type of material has the durability of cement, making it fireproof, termite-proof, and long-lasting.
HardiePlank siding can be designed to imitate virtually any other siding material imaginable, from cedar to stucco to brick. You can choose from a sweeping variety of colors and textures, or can opt to paint it yourself. It is a great choice for homes with existing stone, brick, or wood siding because it can emulate these materials at a fraction of the cost. - Brick and stone siding is attractive and durable, however it can be close to impossible to match on older homes. If you are seeking to identify the color and supplier of existing brickwork, you may need to enlist the help of a specialist to determine its source before proceeding forward with your build. If your home has existing brick or stone siding, HardiePlank offers an alternative to directly matching the original material as a result of its versatility.
- Cedar siding. Typically made from western red cedar, cedar siding provides the beauty of natural wood. Like its alternatives, it is offered in a variety of styles, including cedar shingles, lap siding, and bevel. However, while popular throughout the United States, it’s not always the best choice for homes in the DMV region: exposure to excessive moisture can cause it to rot, and it is vulnerable to insects. Cedar siding will typically last 20 to 25 years on homes in Maryland and Virginia, which puts it at a disadvantage to its vinyl and HardiePlank fiber cement siding alternatives.
Even if your home is already sided with cedar, you may want to opt for a synthetic option, as it can mimic the look of natural cedar wood relatively well while resisting the weather, rotting issues, and termites that can plague the real thing.
When deciding on a material to dress up your home addition, it's not just your budget and personal tastes that matter. Your contractor - if competent - will be more than capable of advising you on the best options available to you.