Which siding is best. Methods for determining the best quality siding for house cladding. How to compare acrylic and vinyl siding

People have been asking the question of finishing houses since the beginning of construction as such. Insulation of walls, concealment of communications on them, protection from moisture and heat - external decoration is used for this.

Since the Silicon Age, ancient people have finished their huts on the outside. Then - dense foliage or bark, animal skins. Now a lot of finishing materials have appeared - both cement-based (all kinds of plasters), and hinged ones made of plastic or metal (siding). It's easy to install, non-toxic, comes in a variety of textures and colors, easy to clean, doesn't fade in the sun, and often costs less than other home exterior finishes.

Questions arise: which manufacturer's siding is best to buy? What will be better? What is more profitable in terms of price / quality ratio? What is the best siding? An article on the topic will help answer the questions posed: “Rating of the TOP 7 best sidings for house cladding!” Reviews, photos, which one to choose - we will talk about this a little lower.

Advantages and disadvantages

• Ease of installation. The siding is installed on a wooden formwork using self-tapping screws. Installation is simple, you can do it yourself, because there are enough guides and articles on the Internet on this topic.
• This is a very durable coating that retains its beautiful appearance for a long time (about 20 years).
• Another important plus is ease of care. If necessary, the coating can be washed.
• Siding is an environmentally friendly coating, so when exposed to UV rays, it does not emit substances harmful to health.

• Vinyl siding is subject to extreme temperature fluctuations. Moisture contained in the material and on it, including easily expands and contracts with perceptible changes in temperature. A drop of more than thirty degrees Celsius is already critical, so it is not advisable to use this type in the northern regions.
• The need to prepare the wall. Before installing the panels, a wooden formwork (rail system) should be attached to the draft surface of the outer wall, to which the plastic will be drilled.
• The fragility, however, concerns only the budget plastic coating. The plastic itself is designed for ten years of use, after which the top layer begins to degrade and peel off. All this does not apply to metal siding, but after a while the steel still needs to be updated and freshly painted.
• Not safe. Chipboard and plastic are flammable and melt. In the event of a fire, it will not help to stop the flame due to its combustibility.

Comparison with analogues

In addition to using steel or vinyl panels, you can finish the facade of the house using:

1. Plasterers. A budget option. It is difficult to apply, since for plastering the wall it is necessary that it be as smooth and even as possible. Suitable for walls made of brick or Inkerman white stone.
2. Porcelain stoneware. An expensive solution, but very aesthetically pleasing. Artificially created pressed plates are resistant to temperature fluctuations, keep their color well, and do not crack in the cold. Mounted with facade adhesives on a flat prepared surface.
3. wild stone. A more accessible version of the previous version. If desired, finishing wild stone can be collected in the forest belt. Its preparation consists in trimming the ugly back in order to form an adjacent plane. Aesthetically, it is quite inexpensive, but laborious.
4. treesa. One of the oldest cladding solutions. In itself, it is not cheap, it is fire hazardous, wood is afraid of moisture and frost. But it is very beautiful and warm, since the tree easily forms an air cushion between the room and the street, thereby not allowing heat to quickly escape through the walls.
5. brick. An energy efficient solution, but can be expensive. Beautiful, durable, massive. It is used in areas where their manufacture is available and it is important to insulate the walls with massive cladding.

Types of siding

There are such types:

1. Chipboard. Glued lining. It is made from wood fibers (development of the cellulose and woodworking industries), pressed under high temperature using binder resins.
2. Vinyl. The thin plastic based on PVC compounds, from which the panels are smelted, is relatively durable and cheap.
3. Metal. Stainless steel coating. It is more often used for finishing industrial buildings and premises, workshops and hangars. It is afraid of corrosion, mechanical damage and is able to collapse under its own weight if not installed correctly.
4. Cement-bonded. Plates made by a press from cement and cellulose fibres. Not afraid of fire, quite flexible, massive. Requires preparation in the form of a crate to which it will be attached. It is expensive and rarely used.

Top 7 siding for home cladding

Our selection includes:

• Dolomite Rockvin;
• Dolomite Rocky Reef Luxury Coral;
• Eskosell Malachite;

Let's get acquainted with each position in more detail.

Simple, but very high quality PVC panel. It is made under a bar, beige color, with longitudinal fastenings. The minimum thickness and smooth surface make installation easy. Perfect for finishing small utility rooms.

Price: from 220 to 244 rubles.

Siding Grand Line America

• longitudinal fastener;
• 3 m span length.

• thin (1.1 mm).

Easy-to-install plastic from a foreign manufacturer. Lightweight, durable, not afraid of the sun. Sheathed the extension, everything is fine, no complaints. Cheap and cheerful. I am satisfied and would recommend this cover to you.

Or the facade of the house, often the choice falls on vinyl siding - a material that has proven itself and is in ever-increasing demand due to its many advantages. Today, manufacturers offer several types of siding with different performance properties, and one can talk about the variety of colors and relief for an infinitely long time. Understanding all this can be difficult even for a professional builder, what can we say about beginners? Our advice on choosing vinyl siding will help you find the best option that best suits your needs.

No. 1. What are the main properties of vinyl siding?

The first thing that interests buyers is the properties of the material, because everyone wants to evaluate how suitable it is for a specific purpose. Appearing in the middle of the last century, this material first conquered North America, and then the whole world. The reason for this is a lot of positive qualities, which today continue to distinguish vinyl siding against the background of analogues:

Of the shortcomings only the ability to melt at high temperatures can be distinguished. It is clear that vinyl siding is inferior to wood or metal in terms of mechanical strength, but it is not so easy to damage it, so it will retain its original appearance for a very long time.

No. 2. Composition and properties

Vinyl siding owes all its advantages to its composition. Of course, the main components remain unchanged, but certain additives, as well as their amount, can affect some of the properties of the material. So, Vinyl siding contains:

No. 3. Features of production and quality of vinyl siding

Some of its properties also depend on the production features of vinyl siding, which is quite natural. Manufacturing is based on extrusion., the essence of which is as follows. All components of the future siding are mixed at high temperature, and then the mixture is forced through the hole, forming a tape. During the production process, it is cut into separate parts, which are given the desired shape. After hardening, the shape is preserved. The differences are what extrusion technology is used.

Vinyl siding can be divided into two types:

No. 4. Types of siding by purpose

Vinyl siding depending on the purpose can be divided into several types:

No. 5. Basic parameters of vinyl siding

If we are not talking about basement siding, then panel thickness ranges from 1-1.2 mm, but experts do not recommend taking material with a thickness of less than 1.1 mm. Length and width can vary significantly depending on the manufacturer. So, the length of the siding can be 2.5-4 m, and by width - 20-30 cm. A medium-sized siding sheet weighs no more than 2 kg.

Depending on the appearance of the siding, when choosing a material, it is worth paying attention to some other parameters. Today it is very widespread herringbone siding, and in this case, an indicator such as a form factor is added that determines the number of herringbone waves.

In the marking, siding is indicated as:

• with single herringbone S,
• with double - D,
• with triple - T.

The number following the letter indicates the width of the panel in inches. For example, siding labeled D 4.5 means the double herringbone panel is 4.5 inches wide.

No. 6. Color and texture

Panels can be not only smooth or herringbone, but also , block house or stone. This is an excellent solution for facades, since, along with excellent performance, this material also has decent performance properties.

The color of the siding can be absolutely any. Light standard shades are in the greatest demand - they are calm green, yellow, pink, brown, beige and others. Recently, manufacturers offer many bright colors, so you can suit every taste.

No. 7. What to consider when buying?

When there is a clear idea of ​​what kind of siding will suit your case, what color and size it should be, it is important to purchase a quality product. It depends on how careful you are when buying. You need to pay attention to the following things:

No. 8. Which manufacturers to look out for?

TOP 5 global manufacturers

Siding appeared in North America, where they still produce the highest quality product. Material from companies from the USA and Canada is the most expensive, but it is also in the lead in terms of quality.

A Canadian company that has been producing vinyl siding since 1957. During this time, the manufacturer has become a market leader, and the highest quality of products is confirmed by a 50-year warranty! As for diversity, finding a siding that is suitable in color and shape is not difficult. The only drawback is the high price, but this is a price for confidence in the material and for its durability.

Gentek

The main competitor of the previous company. It has been operating since 1965, all production facilities are located in Canada, and the manufacturer gives a guarantee of 55 years for its products. The company's siding is characterized by high mechanical strength, precise geometry, fading resistance and beautiful texture.

Georgia Pacific

A company from the USA, which has been on the market for a long time, and entered the domestic market in the 90s. Product warranty - 50 years. In assortment there is a siding for a socle, vertical and horizontal surfaces. The collections are constantly replenished, and finding the material of a suitable color is not difficult. Recently, rich burgundy and brown shades have appeared.

Foundry

This manufacturer from the USA is also confidently among the leaders in the field. Like others, he provides a guarantee for his products for 50 years. There are all types of vinyl siding in the assortment, and appearance is given no less importance than performance. If the sheets repeat the structure of stone or wood, then maximum naturalness is preserved, and it will be impossible to find repeating elements on a segment of 14 meters.

Novik

A young Canadian manufacturer that started operations in 1995. Over the past years, he managed not only to become a leader in the local market, but also to conquer the whole world. The company's products are also widely represented on the domestic market. Basically, this is a plinth vinyl siding, which has excellent properties and excellent appearance, very accurately repeats the structure of stone, wood, and other materials.

TOP 5 Russian manufacturers

dock

It is the leader among domestic manufacturers of vinyl siding. The company entered the market in 2005, developed very quickly, and today it has two factories, a wide range of products, a lot of representative offices throughout the country and abroad, thousands of positive reviews. The choice of vinyl siding is sufficient to find the right option. The prices are much lower than those of imported analogues, and the quality is on the level.

Alta Profile

The company was the first in Russia to start producing vinyl siding, and has been operating since 1999. Today, the manufacturer offers several extensive collections of siding, and in the manufacture uses all the world's achievements and its own developments. The material will serve faithfully for at least 30 years. Experts compare the quality of products with some American and Canadian companies operating in the economy segment, but at the same time Alta-Profile's prices are much lower.

Initially, the company produced metal roofing and, recently, began to produce vinyl siding, in which it succeeded. Today, the assortment includes all types of siding, incl. and soffits. Production is carried out according to American technologies on imported modern equipment, so the quality of the products is quite high, and the guarantee is 50 years, like that of foreign manufacturers.

northside

The company has been operating in St. Petersburg since 2001, immediately headed for the production of vinyl siding and today is considered one of the leaders in the field among domestic manufacturers. The production is carried out according to the highest standards, the material behaves perfectly in operation, the choice of textures and colors, although not the richest, is quite sufficient for most.

The company from Tver, has been operating on the market since 2005, delivers not only throughout the country, but also abroad. For the manufacture of siding, German equipment is used, strict production control is carried out at all stages, which allows us to produce products of the highest quality.

In recent years, it has become very popular to finish your homes with siding. This material is able to perfectly cope with the protection of the outer surface of the walls from negative external influences. Sheathing the house with siding with insulation allows you to make housing not only beautiful, but also the most comfortable. However, you need to know which siding is best for house cladding.

Currently, in specialized stores there is a huge selection of this material, the types of which differ in design, colors, composition and much more. Practice shows that siding is currently considered the most durable cladding material. Such material is able to serve for about 30 years, or even longer, if you follow the rules of installation and operation. However, before starting this work, it is necessary to decide What is the best siding for your home?.

As a rule, this material is made on the basis of high-quality polyvinyl chloride using extrusion technology. The panels are distinguished by a special structure, which implies the presence of two layers at once, while the inner one is characterized by impact resistance. The outer layer is characterized by resistance to pigment fading. If we compare vinyl siding with plaster and other finishing materials, which, by the way, are considered very expensive, there are some advantages that distinguish it. . These benefits include:

• Ease of installation.
• Burnout resistance.
• No need for periodic repainting.

In addition, vinyl siding is quite unpretentious in operation.. Many craftsmen noted that such cladding of houses can be installed on any frame building by literally one person. This is also due to the fact that each panel has a very small specific gravity. It will be quite difficult to install facade panels incorrectly, as manufacturers include instructions in the kit, and fasteners are supplied with the products, so there is no need to select them additionally.

Vinyl siding has gained its popularity due to the fact that during operation there is no need to paint it. This is the main advantage of PVC sheets over wooden counterparts. Manufacturers guarantee that for ten years the decoration of the house will keep its original attractive appearance. Panels need to be replaced only after at least 25 years. However, it is worth paying attention to the fact that the replacement period will depend on the conditions operation and correct installation.

If you want to choose a good siding for lining your house, then you should pay attention to vinyl varieties that practically do not fade in the sun during the entire time of their operation. You can install such a finish even in areas with an unfavorable climate. These panels will be resistant to temperatures down to -50 degrees Celsius. High air temperature, wind and precipitation are not terrible for siding. Many buyers noted that such products are absolutely not susceptible to infection by fungi and mold. Finishing is not afraid of exposure to various insects, does not rust or rot.

Owners of detached houses say that an important feature of PVC is the inability to conduct electricity. So if you want to save more, opt for vinyl siding. The installation costs of these panels will be much less when compared with lining the facade, which requires painting literally every year.

Choosing facade panels for cladding, you should consider varieties of acrylic, which are made using polymers of the same name. This finish is very similar in its characteristics to the one described above, however, acrylic is made using a completely different technology. In addition, acrylic has absorbed all the advantages of a vinyl counterpart, thanks to which it has gained many other advantages. People at the same time argue that the main advantage is less susceptibility to ultraviolet radiation.

If you still can't decide which, which siding for home decoration to choose, then you should consider the option of acrylic cladding. Acrylic will not lose strength during the entire period of its operation. In addition, the attachment points will not become points of weakness.

Such lining can also be used at higher temperatures, which in some regions can rise to 50 degrees above zero. The maximum temperature that acrylic panels can withstand is 85 degrees above zero. The front part of vinyl siding is resistant to various chemical solvents. This suggests that it is possible to clean the panels with synthetic detergents.

Acrylic practically does not burn, and during direct exposure to fire, it emits only the smallest amount of harmful elements and substances for the respiratory system of the human body. If the issue of price is important to you during the purchase, you should know that acrylic siding will cost more to finish than vinyl cladding. It should also be borne in mind that the life of the acrylic cladding will be much longer: it is about 50 years. Most homeowners claim that the net benefit is clear.

Metal panels for decoration

Choosing siding for your home, you should also consider a metal cladding that can handle very high temperatures. Buyers claim that the cost of this cladding is much higher when compared with the aforementioned panels. By visiting a specialized store, you can finally understand that the cost will depend on the polymer coating and the thickness of the steel. At the same time, the polymer coating protects the panels from the effects of various atmospheric precipitation.

Thanks to the metal cladding of the house, you can get a facade that will be distinguished by its durability. The service life of this type of siding reaches several decades.

As a rule, such a coating consists of individual elements that are not subject to deformation. A fairly thick base is well able to withstand various mechanical stresses. The owners of private houses noted that they opt for metal products because of their high environmental friendliness, since various chemical reagents are not used in the manufacturing process. In addition, the metal is distinguished by the fact that it is used to produce a finish with a maximum service life, it can also be used in the most aggressive environments. It should be noted that acrylic and vinyl siding will not have such characteristics.

Attention! Installation of siding, which, as a rule, is not too expensive, is carried out quite simply because it is almost impossible to damage it. The manufacturing technology and structure of products are in many ways similar to metal tiles. The difference lies only in the profiling of the sheets, as well as in the dimensions.

Despite the combination of all the positive qualities, we can say with confidence that vinyl siding, in particular, pastel shades, is the leader in the modern market. For the manufacture of such panels, titanium dioxide is used, the difference of which lies in the color fastness. However, bright colors on such coatings may fade.

To achieve a rich shade, manufacturers add rather expensive stabilizers to their products. This is not reflected in the best way on the cost of the panels. Even though the composition of the ingredients includes special items, the bright colors are exposed to the sun. If we take this circumstance into account, it is recommended to purchase vinyl panels in pastel colors.

Metal cladding colors

If we compare vinyl panels with other facade systems, then the advantages in a variety of colors stand out here. The range of metal cladding is so diverse that you can easily choose absolutely any color, from dark to light. At the same time, the brightness of the shade will not affect the final cost of the panels. That is why you can create a truly original facade of your home. Before buying, you need to pay attention to the color scheme of buildings in the neighborhood. If the neighboring houses were created taking into account a certain trend, then you need to decide what will be a priority for you:

• own originality.
• General harmony.

The calculation of siding for facing your house is considered an important step, since after carrying out it, you can determine how much material is required in order not to visit a specialized store a second time and not overpay employees for unclaimed finishing. It all depends on how the siding sheets are supposed to be oriented:

• vertically.
• Horizontally.

In the second case, you need to measure the height of the walls on the house, and then turn your attention to the width of one sheet. The next step involves dividing the first value by 2, after which the resulting number is multiplied by 4. This will be true in the case when the structure is distinguished by a simple architectural solution. Otherwise, the result of the division must be multiplied by the number of walls that are supposed to be finished. The material is taken taking into account a margin of 15%, since it will need to be cut during the installation process.

Exterior cladding of the house with siding can only be done after you become familiar with this technology. Installation involves initial preparation, when old finishing materials are removed from the surface of the house.

Installation of metal panels can be done independently. During their installation, a frame assembly, called a crate, will be required. This system can be made of metal or wood. The second option is cheaper, and also does not require special skills from the master. However, such a frame will not last too long, as it can rot.

You can also choose a vinyl version of the finish. The price of one product is an average of 200 rubles per panel. The technology of the crate will remain the same. The first panel is inserted into the grooves of the vertical profiles, while it is necessary to bend the middle. Further, the panel is lowered to the old profile, the lock connection is latched. When the lower part is fixed, the top of the sheet can be pressed and fasteners can be installed in the middle of the technological holes.

The cost of siding for a home is usually not the main factor for material selection in all cases. Each person is individually guided by certain principles. Most often, consumers pay attention to quality, aesthetic appearance and environmental friendliness.

When choosing what is better to sheathe the house from the outside, so that it is beautiful, fast and cheap - many stop at such material as siding.

It would seem that everything - the problem is solved, the lining is selected.

However, this is only the beginning of the journey. After all, in fact, siding is such a popular material that there are many varieties of it on the market. And there are new ones all the time.

So, for example, when answering the question of which siding is better vinyl or acrylic, it is important to note that acrylic siding differs from vinyl siding in addition to the percentage of acrylic in greater UV resistance. The rest of their characteristics are identical.

And when choosing which siding is better, aluminum or steel, it is important to understand that the difference is only in the structure of the core. It is impossible to check this visually. And it’s not yet a fact that you will be given the correct information.

Therefore, it makes sense to compare only those materials that differ significantly from each other, namely:

• wooden siding (block house);
• (PVC, plastic);
• (steel, metal siding).

Which siding is better vinyl or metal

The table shows the comparative characteristics of the three, based on these data, we can draw a definite conclusion which material is suitable for specific tasks.

Additional Siding Comparison

Are there differences within the same species?

metal siding

It should be noted that metal siding can be made of steel with different types of coating.

Comparative characteristics of coverage by type are provided in the table.

Vinyl siding

The parameters of different brands of vinyl siding are presented in the table.

Calculation of the cost of siding for facing a house

A number of factors affect the total cost of cladding the facade with siding.

Comparative parameters:

• Siding cost

  Calculated according to the formula:

  The price of the material + the cost of additional elements and components.

  Material cost = price per square meter * number of square meters. Similarly, the cost of additional elements for siding is considered.

  To calculate the amount of siding, you can use a special one.

• Fastener cost

  For the types of siding under consideration, the amount will be approximately the same.

• Cost of delivery

  Depends on the size of the siding and accessories to it. The vinyl panel is quite long, but it bends well. Wooden panel of small length. They can be easily brought to the Gazelle. Metal siding 6000mm long. requires the use of a vehicle with a suitable body length. This may affect the shipping cost.

• Installation cost

  Installing a block house will take more time if you install it yourself or money if you involve professionals. With vinyl and metal, the situation is reversed.

• Availability of a guarantee.

  The longer the warranty period, the better for you as a buyer.

• Lifetime costs.

  The highest costs are for wood siding. Vinyl and metal siding are low maintenance.

• Energy efficiency

  Wood retains heat better than any comparable material. For vinyl siding, this figure is negligible. Metal siding does not contribute to the preservation of heat at all and requires the use of insulation. Consequently, the low energy efficiency of the material will either lead to additional costs for heating the house, or to additional costs for its insulation.

Conclusion

We hope that the comparative characteristics provided in this article have shed light on what types of siding are, what are their distinctive characteristics. This information will answer the question of which siding is better vinyl or metal, and states why.

If you decide to reliably protect your home from the weather, but do not know how to choose siding, then this article will help you.

We have been sheathing houses with siding since 2009 and during this time we have understood many important and useful features of this material for any customer.

And we will tell you about them.

How to choose the best siding

Unfortunately or fortunately, "the best siding" is a myth, like the Phoenix bird and unicorns.

If you are choosing siding for your home, then you need the one that suits you the best.

Judge for yourself: siding with the best mechanical properties (tensile strength, etc.) may be completely unsuitable for you, for example, in color.

Or it may not be sold in your area, and shipping from afar will make it "gold".

Therefore, when talking about the best siding, it must be borne in mind that it should be the best for you. Everything else is not so important.

How to choose siding: what to look for

The question of choosing a siding is quite complicated, but the purpose of this article is to make this choice easier for you.

In order to do this, we will look at a number of key characteristics that will influence which siding you choose for your home.

How to choose siding by manufacturer

In the Leningrad region, you can buy siding from only three manufacturers from abroad:

• Canadian siding Mitten (Mitten);
• Polish siding Vox (Vox);
• Belarusian siding U-Plast.

And seven Russian manufacturers:

• siding Fineber (Fineber);
• siding Tecos (Tecos);
• siding Snowbird (Snowbird);
• siding Docke (Docke);
• siding Grand Line (Grand Line);
• siding Alta Profile;
• siding Nordside (Nordside).

There are people who do not believe that something good can be produced in the post-Soviet space. If you are such a person, then you should focus on imported siding: Canadian Mitten and Polish Vox.

Canadian siding has been in production for over 60 years (if the manufacturer is right), and in that time you can learn how to do anything.

House sheathed with Mitten siding ()

We installed Mitten siding a lot before the dollar (for which local shops buy it) jumped above the clouds.

This is a very good quality siding. Unfortunately, all other parameters (choice of colors and shapes, price, ease of purchase) are worse than those of domestic counterparts.

Nowadays, Russian manufacturers make siding of a fairly high quality, therefore, if you do not have a pronounced craving for everything foreign, then we recommend that you do not write off our compatriots.

How to choose siding by shape

Previously, when siding first appeared in Russia, everything was simple: one manufacturer, five colors, one panel shape.

Now everything has become more complicated: there are many manufacturers of siding, siding comes in different shapes, and there are a lot of colors.

Let's look at the basic shapes of siding panels.

Siding under a log, he is a blockhouse, he is a half-beam

The article describes this siding in such detail that there is nothing special to add here.

Is it just that you will not find imported siding under a log. From abroad, only standard "ship timber" is brought to us in the Leningrad Region.

As far as we know, the same Mitten does not produce blockhouse-type siding at all.

Well, okay.

The main thing is that Russian factories make it.

When log siding first came out, it was exotic, and our customers chose it to make their house stand out from their neighbors' houses sheathed in standard "ship timber".

Photo of a house sheathed with Fiber Blockhouse siding ()

This went on for about 5 years, and in the last two years it has changed: there are a lot of blockhouses and ship timber around, so your house can no longer be distinguished by the shape of the siding.

Herringbone siding

Another form factor of siding is the so-called "herringbone". Siding of this form has retained its exoticism, because in the Leningrad region it is rarely chosen.

This is due to a less favorable area/price combination: a herringbone siding panel costs the same as a ship's timber siding, and less in area.

In addition, not all plants produce the herringbone, and those that do do not make it in all colors.

Photos from our facility in the village. Kiskelovo ()

Hence the problem: I like the shape, but there is no color that I would like.

Manufacturers who make herringbone siding usually have it in two to four colors.

The choice, as they say, is small. And this must be taken into account if you choose siding for your home.

By the way, the same "Christmas tree" may differ in shape from different plants.

For example, Döcke's herringbone siding panel consists of two "boards", while Tekos's has three, narrower ones:

The photo is taken from the website of the TPG "North-Western Union".

Siding "ship timber"

This siding is a classic. Ship timber or ship board is the most common form of siding in the Leningrad region and Russia in general.

It is produced by all factories, and this form is the most popular in all stores.

This situation has both pros and cons.

The downside is that a house sheathed with "ship timber" siding is likely to be very similar to neighbors' houses sheathed with the same siding.

Considering that in horticulture, often, houses are similar to each other, because they are built according to the same project, sheathing with such siding will leave even less difference between your house and your neighbor's house.

Photos from our facility in the village. Ulyanovka ()

The advantage is that it is "ship timber" siding that has the largest selection of colors from all manufacturers.

In addition, you can choose not only a color, but even a shade if you compare siding of the same color from different brands.

Siding in the form of "ship timber" is produced and sold the most.

vertical siding

If herringbone siding is exotic, then vertical siding is even less common.

We ordered its installation only a couple of times, and once - only on the pediment of the house:

Photos from our facility in the village. New Ropsha ()

The problem with this siding, even if you liked the look of it, is that it has even less variety.

If you choose vertical siding for your house in the Leningrad region, then most likely you will only choose the color of the siding, because. You can buy vertical siding only from Döcke plant dealers (for example, from us).

How to choose siding color

The color of vinyl siding is the parameter by which the choice is the widest.

Any manufacturer has a standard palette of the most popular colors (beige, light green, yellow, white).

Shades can vary slightly from brand to brand, and this gives you real freedom to choose "clothes" for your home.

In addition to the siding colors listed above (which are even called differently by different manufacturers), most factories make gray and pink siding.

For example, look at the choice of colors for Snowbird siding:

Photo of one of the stands in our office, Snowbird siding - in the middle

But, if you believe the new trends in siding production technology, now even dark siding can be safely chosen for house cladding.

This is due to the emergence of a new acrylic-coated siding, which, as the manufacturers swear, reliably protects the panels from color loss, and even helps to reduce the thermal expansion of the panels.

We cannot yet confirm or deny these bold statements: acrylic-coated siding appeared not so long ago, therefore it has not yet stood the test of time.

Acrylic siding is darker than usual, and some factories, such as Tecos, produce acrylic siding with a pattern that imitates a wooden board to the smallest detail.

So the choice of siding color every year is becoming more diverse.

It is also worth mentioning the issue of siding mounting accessories (or additional elements, as they are also called).

From most siding manufacturers, you can order accessories in the color of the siding, as well as white and brown.

In addition to two positions: a wind board (J-bevel) and a window trim (slope). These accessories make only white and brown.

Everything else, as a rule, can be bought in color: external and internal corners, finishing profile and J-profile.

This provides additional color options: the roof and window openings of your home can be framed in different colors.

For example, white:

In this photo you see a house sheathed with Mitten siding with white accessories ()

Or brown:

In this photo - Fineber siding with brown accessories ()

As a rule, we dissuade the customer from choosing brown accessories, because the near-window trim and windboard tend to ripple when heated, especially on the south side of the house.

A few years ago, we even had a conflict with the plant for this reason. After we proved that we mounted the siding strictly according to the technology, the representatives of the plant just shrugged their shoulders (we understand, but we can’t do anything).

Therefore, when ordering siding installation, we immediately honestly warn the customer: brown accessories can wave when heated.

Acrylic-coated accessories are said to be unaffected by this issue. Wait and see.

Brown accessories are about 20% more expensive. Accessories with acrylic coating - by 60%.

How to choose siding according to the surface of the panels

We thought for a long time whether to include this parameter in the article or not, and decided to include it, despite the fact that few people pay attention to it.

The surface of siding panels of different brands is different.

This is due, firstly, to a different pattern of shapes with which siding is made, and secondly, to a different composition of the vinyl mass.

So, for example, Snowbird siding is brilliant. And you will immediately notice this shine, as soon as you decide to pay attention to it.

And Döcke siding, on the contrary, is matte. And someone likes it, someone does not, but for someone it is unprincipled.

In addition, the pattern on the siding panels, even if we talk about the usual standard series vinyl siding, varies from brand to brand.

For example, Fineber siding imitates softwood, so the wood grain on the panels of this siding is more pronounced, and you can easily notice the fibers and even knots that appear on the surface of the panels.

The same Döcke siding, on the contrary, imitates hardwood, and the wood pattern on its surface is almost indistinguishable.

How to choose siding according to technical specifications

When we were just starting to install siding, we were sent samples from the factories that had passed strength tests.

In these tests, the siding is crushed with a steel ball and the force at which the siding bursts or tears is measured.

And then the manufacturer could boast that the breaking force of his siding is the highest in his price group.

We have not heard stories about tensile strength from representatives of factories for a long time.

And it seems that we know the reason: these figures are of no interest to anyone. What difference does it make, at what pressure of the steel ball on the siding will it burst?

The wall of your house will most likely not have steel balls that press against the siding.

The maximum that threatens your siding is an accidental hit with a shovel or rake. And this is able to withstand any siding.

Once one of the customers told us a terrible story that he read on the forum. In this story, Snowbird's siding was struck by hail.

Any more or less technically literate person will understand that this is impossible. The panels are fixed freely, and hail cannot break through them under any circumstances.

On the other hand, if you want to increase the strength of your walls and turn your house into a fortress, then siding will not solve this problem. Even fiber cement.

Siding has a different purpose: it makes your home warm, cozy and beautiful, and also increases its life by protecting walls from moisture.

The next metric that won't tell you anything is the chemical composition of the siding (unless, of course, you're a professional industrial technologist specializing in vinyl).

We are professionals. But even we do not know what the content of titanium dioxide in the vinyl mass should be in order for the siding to be resistant to fading.

And, of course, we do not have the equipment to measure this content in finished siding of different brands in order to say: this siding will not burn out, but this one can.

Therefore, the choice of siding according to technical characteristics is a very ambiguous approach.

How to choose siding for the price

To choose anything only by price is stupid. It is necessary to take into account all the parameters, not just the price.

But the price is also an important point.

This is especially noticeable in Mitten siding, which seems to be superior to Russian siding in all respects, but costs so much more that this superiority loses its meaning. Therefore, sales of Mitten siding in Russia fell after the jump in the dollar.

And some of the American siding, in general, left the Russian market, because no one buys them.

Be that as it may, if you take into account the price when choosing a siding, then there are two price ranges.

One is imported siding, which costs a lot. The second is Russian siding, which costs less.

For example, we will give the cost of materials for sheathing a country house 6x6 m with turnkey siding without insulation (with wind and hydro protection, deliveries, unloading and consumables).

• Mitten: 152.5 thousand rubles;
• Fineber 103 thousand rubles;
• Vox 102 thousand rubles;
• Tekos 98 thousand rubles;
• Decke 102 thousand rubles;
• Snowbird 89 thousand rubles.

As you can see, Mitten siding costs one and a half times more.

This calculation is more indicative than the price of the panel, because it includes the cost of the frame and the cost of accessories for installing the siding.

You may notice that there is a significant gap between Mitten siding and other brands.

In addition, there is a slightly smaller, but also noticeable gap between all Russian brands and Snowbird siding, the lining of which will be the most economical. At least if you decide to sheathe the house with Snowbird siding in STK Etalon.

We have signed an agreement with the factory, so buying siding through us is more profitable.

How to choose siding: step by step instructions from STK Standard

So, we have come to the most important thing: how, after all, to choose siding if you don’t understand anything about it?

And here is a step-by-step algorithm, according to which we suggest that you choose exactly the siding that will give you the most important thing - satisfaction from the fact that your house is sheathed as it should.

The algorithm is very simple:

1. Choose the shape of the siding (ship timber, herringbone, blockhouse).

2. Choose the color of the siding (at least approximately).

3. Read what they write about this siding on the forums (if you have time).

4. Go to any store that sells siding. We recommend Top House because they have a great selection of siding brands.

5. Choose a brand that suits you up close (in color, shape and surface) and also fits within your budget.

If you are going to mount the siding yourself or hire a team for this (you will most likely have to buy and deliver it yourself), then you can stop there.

If you plan to hire a company for professional siding installation, then the algorithm will be different:

1. Take measurements of your house (length and width along the foundation, the height of the side wall and gable, the number and dimensions of windows and doors).

2. Send us these dimensions by mail This email address is being protected from spambots. You must have JavaScript enabled to view. or here on this page through the form.

3. Get a quote from us.

4. If the estimate is within your budget, call the measurer to diagnose your home and draw up an accurate working estimate.

5. Come to our office to conclude an agreement (with a 3-year guarantee), and we will help you with the choice of siding: we will consult and advise based on our experience since 2009.

That's all.