Affordable siding doesn’t have to be low quality. Actually, today’s homeowners have quite a few great options to choose from, making it possible to get the look you want without spending a fortune.
While it’s hard to go wrong with the choices available today, some affordable siding options are better than others. Below, we’ll examine some of the most popular types of siding so that you can gain insights into purchase costs, siding installation expenses, and what you can expect over the long term in regard to durability, maintenance, and longevity.
How 5 Siding Materials Compare: Cost, Durability, Maintenance, and Longevity
Let’s look at how the following types of siding compare on both initial costs and long-term affordability when it comes to durability, maintenance, and longevity:
- Vinyl
- Steel
- Fiber cement
- Engineered wood
- Real wood
1. Vinyl Siding
Vinyl siding is widely regarded as the most affordable siding option out there. However, as experienced homeowners will attest, it’s actually not as cost-effective as it’s made out to be. While your initial investment will be low, this material has a low lifespan and poor durability, which leads to higher long-term costs in the form of repairs and frequent replacements.
Initial Costs
- Vinyl siding costs on average between $4.50 and $8.20 per square foot.
- Installation costs between $4 and $8 per square foot.
Durability, Maintenance, and Longevity
- Durability: Vinyl siding is prone to cracking and warping, especially in extreme heat, and it’s not fire-resistant or resistant to impact damage. Colors fade over time due to UV exposure.
- Maintenance: Vinyl siding has relatively low maintenance needs — but expect to replace panels or whole-home siding if you experience extensive warping, cracking, wind damage, or hail damage.
- Longevity: Vinyl siding has the shortest lifespan of any material, lasting only 20 to 30 years, and in harsh or hot climates, often only 10 years. This can leave you wishing you’d gone with a vinyl alternative.
2. Steel Siding
TruLog steel siding is an excellent value both in the short term and the long term. The initial purchase and installation costs are both budget-friendly, and this siding material has one of the longest lifespans.
It’s also among the most durable siding options that you can buy, boasting high resistance to fire, pests, impacts, moisture, and more. TruLog’s steel siding comes with a 30-year paint protection warranty because it features a specialized UV clear coat that protects the finish from wear and fading, ensuring that the siding delivers plenty of curb appeal over the span of decades.
Another thing to note about TruLog steel siding is its energy efficiency. Among affordable siding options, it’s the only one that features a layer of foam insulation, which gives it an R-value of 4, far higher than any other type of budget-friendly siding.
Initial Costs
- TruLog steel siding costs on average between $4.25 and $8.25 per square foot.
- Installation costs between $5 and $8 per square foot.
Durability, Maintenance, and Longevity
- Durability: TruLog steel siding is highly resistant to fire, pests, moisture, impact damage, and extreme weather. A UV clear coat protects colors against fading.
- Maintenance: TruLog steel requires next to no upkeep — simply rinse it with a garden hose once or twice per year to remove dust and keep it looking fresh.
- Longevity: TruLog steel boasts the longest lifespan of any material, lasting between 40 and 70 years or more.
3. Fiber Cement Siding
Fiber cement siding costs roughly the same as other siding choices, but installation is a bit higher than other materials because it’s a heavy material that requires a lot of extra labor — and may even call for structural reinforcement to support the weight. Still, when compared to alternatives like stucco siding, brick, or stone veneer, fiber cement is considered one of the more affordable siding options.
When it comes to durability, maintenance, and longevity, fiber cement is again somewhere in the middle. It does have better fire resistance than most other types of siding — and it has better moisture resistance, too. But it must be repainted every few years to keep the material sealed for effective moisture damage prevention. It’s also pest-resistant, weather-resistant, and impact-resistant. Fiber cement has a long lifespan compared to most other types of siding, but it’s not as long-lasting as steel and does require regular repainting to preserve that longevity.
Initial Costs
- Fiber cement siding costs on average between $4.70 and $8.50 per square foot.
- Installation costs between $5 and $9 per square foot.
Durability, Maintenance, and Longevity
- Durability: With high fire, impact, pest, and weather resistances, fiber cement siding is more durable than most options. Its main drawback is that it needs regular repainting to keep it moisture-resistant.
- Maintenance: Expect to repaint every five to 10 years as paint chips and cracks, and UV rays fade the color. You may also need to make minor repairs to moisture-damaged areas.
- Longevity: Fiber cement has a relatively long lifespan, lasting between 30 and 50 years with proper maintenance.
4. Engineered Wood Siding
Engineered wood siding is one of the cheapest siding options available in terms of upfront costs — but it’s also one where you’ll end up paying a lot more in the long run in higher maintenance requirements and more frequent replacements.
This type of siding uses wood fibers and byproducts, often paired with chemical treatments to help it last longer, which makes it more durable and moisture-resistant than options like vinyl or real wood. It’s also relatively impact-resistant.
However, engineered wood is not pest-resistant or fire-resistant, and much like fiber cement siding, its moisture resistance depends on regular repainting to keep the wood sealed.
Initial Costs
- Engineered wood siding costs on average between $3 and $7 per square foot.
- Installation costs between $1 and $6 per square foot.
Durability, Maintenance, and Longevity
- Durability: Engineered wood siding is impact-resistant, and it has slightly improved moisture and fire resistance compared to real wood, but it’s not completely impervious to either. It’s also not pest-resistant.
- Maintenance: Engineered wood must be repainted every few years when paint starts to chip and crack, not only to refresh colors but also to maintain as much moisture resistance as possible. Expect to repair flaking or water damage when repainting.
- Longevity: At only 20 to 30 years, engineered wood siding is comparable to vinyl — one of the shortest lifespans of any type of siding.
5. Real Wood Siding
While real wood is a popular choice for the natural look that it delivers, it’s also one of the most expensive of the more affordable siding options. Both purchase and installation costs are mid-range — and they can easily skew toward the higher end if you purchase more premium materials like cedar shakes or shingles as opposed to lap siding made from less expensive woods.
In terms of durability and maintenance, it also leaves a lot to be desired. While it is relatively impact-resistant, it’s not fire-resistant, and it’s seriously lacking in moisture resistance.
In fact, natural wood has a tendency to mold, mildew, and rot — problems that can sneak up on you if you’re not inspecting and repainting often. It also attracts pests like chewing rodents and wood-destroying insects. However, if kept properly sealed against moisture and pests, it’ll last longer than vinyl or engineered wood, but not as long as steel.
Initial Costs
- Real wood siding costs on average between $6.90 and $13.90 per square foot.
- Installation costs between $7 and $14 per square foot.
Durability, Maintenance, and Longevity
- Durability: Real wood is one of the least durable siding options. It’s weak against moisture, pests, and fire.
- Maintenance: Expect high upkeep needs. You’ll have to inspect regularly for mold, mildew, and rot, and replace damaged boards or shingles often. Wood should also be repainted at the first sign of cracking or chipping to help keep it sealed against moisture.
- Longevity: Real wood siding lasts between 30 and 50 years, but only if meticulously maintained.
What Is the Most Affordable Siding Option?
When it comes to affordability, TruLog steel siding wins on all fronts:
- It costs roughly the same or less upfront as all other affordable siding options.
- Labor for installation is inexpensive.
- It’s durable against all kinds of threats, which keeps your repair and maintenance costs down over time.
- It has by far the longest lifespan of any affordable siding option, which keeps your replacement costs down.
See for yourself! The chart below offers a head-to-head comparison of the affordable siding options we’ve discussed so that you can directly compare costs, strengths, and weaknesses.
| Vinyl Siding | TruLog Steel Siding | Fiber Cement Siding | Engineered Wood Siding | Real Wood Siding | |
| Purchase Price | $4.50-$8.20 per sq. ft. | $4.25-$8.25 per sq. ft. | $4.70-$8.50 per sq. ft. | $3-$7 per sq. ft. | $6.90-$13.90 per sq. ft. |
| Installation Cost | $4-$8 per sq. ft. | $5-$8 per sq. ft | $5-$9 per sq. ft. | $1-$6 per sq. ft. | $7-$14 per sq. ft. |
| Durability | Poor — It cracks and warps easily and is not resistant to heat, fire, or impact damage | Very high — It’s resistant to fire, moisture, pests, impacts, and extreme weather | High — It’s resistant to fire, moisture, pests, impacts, and extreme weather, but it requires regular repainting to maintain moisture resistance | Moderate — It’s impact-resistant, moderately moisture- and fire-resistant, but not resistant to pests | Poor — it’s not fire-resistant, and it’s especially prone to moisture and pest damage. |
| Maintenance | Low — but expect frequent repairs or replacements | Low — needs only periodic cleaning | Moderate — needs repainting every 5-10 years | High — needs repainting every 5-10 years and regular inspection for pest and moisture damage | High — requires regular inspections and repairs for moisture and pest damage, and needs repainting every 5-10 years |
| Longevity | 20-30 years, only 10 in harsher climates | 40-70 years or more | 30-50 years | 20-30 years | 30-50 years |
TruLog Is the Right Siding for Your Home’s Exterior
When it comes to overall cost, TruLog steel siding stands out among all the other affordable siding options as the top choice. It offers you low purchase and installation costs and a hassle-free lifespan that will have you enjoying the look of your siding for decades to come.
Ready to learn more? Our siding is available in a variety of colors and styles, including lap, log, and board and batten. For additional details, download our free catalog.
