Balance is an essential component of home design. Although it’s good to think outside the box, it’s still crucial to ensure that all elements of your home work together well. Of course, this does not only apply to your interior since your exterior should look good, too. After all, first impressions matter.
Your siding makes up most of your exterior, so make sure you’re properly guided when combining materials and profiles. Here are a few helpful tips you can remember when selecting your siding materials and profiles.
Why You Should Mix Up Siding Materials and Profiles
Your exterior is just as crucial as the indoor spaces of your home. It provides your guests a glimpse of your personality and style. While keeping a uniform, consistent design is generally a safe choice, there are significant advantages to combining materials for your siding. Here are some of them:
- Combining different materials and profiles can boost curb appeal and increase your property’s value.
- Mixing and matching materials and profiles can help you save money. You can combine premium siding products with less expensive ones.
- It distinguishes your home from the other houses in your neighborhood.
Things to Consider
Using different siding materials allows your home to grab attention and instantly appeal to people. However, make sure this is done correctly because, if not, your home might stand out for the wrong reasons. Here are things you can do to achieve good results.
- Before anything else, pick your home’s overall style. You have several options when it comes to your siding. But ultimately, make sure your choices are in line with the overall style and design of your home. If you have a modern home, your siding contractor might recommend fiber cement. This material is durable, and it prevents noise pollution and has excellent weather resistance. Meanwhile, you can use natural wood, stone or brick if you have a traditional Craftsman-style home. If you want the natural look of wood, choose laminated lumber for long-lasting appeal.
- Plan ahead of time. Any kind of home improvement project requires careful and thorough preparation. What you can do first is to create your desired color palette for your exterior. Consider the colors you’ll be using on your siding, roof and trim. Apps and websites that offer swatches work great as a guide. You can also create a mood board consisting of all design ideas you’ve found online or in magazines. These things will enable you to plan your selections carefully. Then, look for a reliable contractor to assist you in polishing and executing your ideas.
- Use different colors, and match them with the rest of the exterior. Color is a critical element in architecture that can make or break your home design. Typically, a good color palette has at least three hues to highlight the accents, roof and walls. If your siding is made up of two different materials, you should avoid using only one color. Instead, use two different shades of the same color so that the materials will look more distinct from each other. You should also choose a light- and dark-colored hue for greater contrast. Moreover, your local contractors will suggest drawing inspiration from the houses in your community. This is necessary if your homeowner’s association (HOA) board has specific rules regarding siding colors.
- Play with textures and profiles. Aside from choosing different colors for your siding materials, you can also use different textures on your siding profiles. A good rule of thumb is to have a smooth finish on one siding system and a rugged appearance on the other. Trying out different profiles can also make a big difference to your façade. For example, horizontal and shake siding is a popular combination because these profiles go nicely together.
- Decide on where to splurge and where to save. Don’t hesitate to spend on premium material if it would make an interesting focal point, especially if you’re going to use it only in smaller areas.
Best Siding Combinations
Combining siding materials requires attention to detail and careful planning. To ensure your project will yield excellent results, you might want to draw inspiration from these popular siding combinations.
- Brick veneer and wood – This combination will instantly give you different colors and textures. Bricks are an exceptionally good choice since they are low maintenance. They are also resistant to rot, moisture and fire – essential features that convince several homeowners to select this material.
- Fiber cement and metal – If you want a modern or industrial look for your house, this pairing is perfect for you. You can further enhance this combination’s appeal with tinted glass windows.
- Stone veneer and stucco – This is a designers’ favorite, which you may want to consider. This combination has a simple finish that doesn’t look dull. Moreover, siding experts recommend stucco because it is crack-resistant and energy-efficient.
- Wood and metal – The bright, glossy surface of wood looks extra special with the metal siding’s darker contrast.
Other Siding Materials You Can Choose
- Vinyl siding is a popular choice as it matches various home styles, making it a safe choice for homeowners. Although it is one of the most affordable types of siding, it may not be as durable as other siding options.
- Insulated vinyl siding is an upgraded version of your regular vinyl. Its insulation is built into the panel’s ridge, making it a more durable and energy-efficient option.
- Manufactured wood siding is an excellent choice because it costs significantly less than natural wood. Homeowners also consider this their go-to product as it only requires minimal maintenance. The biggest enemy of this type of siding is moisture.
Schedule a Consultation Today!
Ensure your next siding project brings out the best in your home! If you’re still looking for a siding and roofing contractor, choose AQ Roofing LLC. We are a family-owned company with many years of experience. Call us at (501) 951-1683, or fill out our online form to request a project estimate. We look forward to working with you!