For landlords, rental properties are an investment — and that means siding is about more than curb appeal. It also helps you protect your investment.
And that’s not all. The right siding will go several steps further by minimizing property maintenance costs, increasing your return on investment, and even helping you to lower vacancy rates.
That’s why we’re going to show you the qualities you should look for when choosing siding for rental homes. You’ll also discover why steel siding may be your best choice.
What Makes Good Siding for Rental Homes?
There are several qualities to look for when choosing siding for rental homes. Rather than simply select the most budget-friendly option, you should assess durability, maintenance needs, curb appeal, energy efficiency, and long-term costs like repair needs and repainting. Below, you’ll discover how crucial these factors are when choosing new exterior siding for investment properties.
Durability
Renters aren’t as invested in rental homes as homeowners are, and that’s why rental homes experience more wear and tear than owned homes. It’s not that most renters are deliberately abusive. Rather, they’re just not as alert to problems like peeling paint or small cracks in siding — and that means you may not be aware of problems until the renter moves out or you conduct a property inspection.
This is what makes durable siding a smart choice. Options like steel or fiber cement will stand up better to moisture, weather, impact damage, and general wear and tear, whereas more fragile options like wood, stucco, or vinyl can take on damage rather quickly.
Low Maintenance
Landlords have a lot of priorities — and that’s why low-maintenance siding is essential. Choosing a siding option that saves you money on painting, repairs, and cleaning will maximize your ROI over the long term.
Even more importantly, materials that require minimal maintenance allow you to provide safe, functional, beautiful housing, all while minimizing the amount of time you need to spend on maintenance. It can create a feedback loop: The less time you spend making repairs to siding, the more time you can spend making other improvements to your rental properties.
Curb Appeal
Curb appeal is another great reason to choose a durable, long-lasting siding. For single-family rental homes in particular, perhaps even more so than owned homes, curb appeal is crucial:
- Curb appeal can help you attract tenants and get them interested in your property.
- This leads to a competitive edge and an improved reputation for you and your properties compared to similar properties in the area.
- It can also increase the property’s value by 10% or more, which raises the amount you can charge for rent.
- Good curb appeal leads to happier tenants, and when tenant satisfaction is high, they’ll stay in your property longer. Lower turnover reduces the costs incurred to find new tenants.
Energy Efficiency
Energy costs can go in one of two directions: Either the landlord handles utility bills, or more commonly in a rental home, the tenant is responsible for utilities. No matter what, it’s important to keep energy costs as low as possible.
If you’re handling utility costs, then you save money. When tenants are the ones paying for utilities, energy-efficient homes are much more attractive. You’ll secure tenants faster and keep them longer.
When it comes to energy-efficient siding for rental homes, there aren’t that many great options. Historically, builders have relied on insulation within wall cavities plus sheathing to insulate the home. Most types of siding don’t offer all that much in the way of insulation. For example, uninsulated fiber cement, vinyl, and wood have R-values ranging between 0.37 and 0.70.
That doesn’t mean there are no options, however. Insulated fiber cement has an R-value of 2.5, and insulated vinyl siding has an R-value of 4.
Better yet, insulated steel siding like TruLog features a layer of foam backing that gives it an R-value of 4 — and it features a reflective top coat. This means that not only does it help to insulate against the cold in the winter while turning away drafts, but it also reflects some of the sun’s rays in the summer, which keeps cooling costs down.
Cost Effectiveness
Ultimately, rental homes are an investment — and as such, there is no shame in doing whatever you can to maximize your ROI. The right siding can play a major role in your finances, both in the short term and the long term.
To understand the short-term and long-term costs, consider three popular options in the new siding cost comparison below:
| Steel Siding | Vinyl Siding | Wood Siding | |
| Initial Cost | $9.25–$16.25/sq. ft. for materials and installation | $8.50–$16.20/sq. ft. for materials and installation | $13.90–$27.90/sq. ft. for materials and installation |
| Durability | Resistant to fire, moisture, pests, and impact damage | Prone to cracks, impact damage, warping, fading, and shifting in extreme temperatures | Prone to rot, water damage, and pest damage |
| Lifespan | 40–70 years | 20–30 years, but only 10 years in some climates | 30–50 years |
| Maintenance | Low — outside of weather-related disasters, it should only need to be rinsed with a hose periodically | Low to moderate — needs repairs and replacements more frequently than other options | High — requires frequent repairs as well as resealing, restaining, or repainting |
| Energy Efficiency | R-value of 4 | R-value of 0.61 | R-value of 1 |
If you only look at the short-term costs, vinyl or steel siding wins since wood siding can cost almost twice as much.
But that’s just the initial investment. The larger picture tells a different story:
- With a short lifespan, vinyl and wood siding need to be replaced roughly twice as often, which means you’ll spend twice as much (or more) on new siding if you plan to keep the home past the siding’s lifespan.
- Vinyl siding will cost money over time through small repairs whenever it cracks, warps, or shatters, and you’ll need to be on constant lookout for wood rot or cracked and warped boards — maintenance costs that will add up year after year.
- The low R-values of vinyl and wood mean that either you or your tenants will pay higher utility bills, which will either eat into your ROI or make the property less attractive to renters.
What Is the Cheapest Long-Term Siding Option?
As you can see in the chart above, TruLog steel siding is the most affordable option in both the short term and the long term:
- The cost per square foot is comparable to vinyl, which is usually the least expensive option in most markets.
- It lasts up to 70+ years, which means you won’t need to make a repeat purchase in just a decade or two.
- It won’t nickel-and-dime your repair budget with cracks, warping, rot, or other types of damage that are common among siding materials like vinyl or wood.
- TruLog steel offers more in the way of insulation plus a reflective coating that keeps homes warmer in the winter, cooler in the summer, and less drafty all year long — savings that will keep your energy costs down or improve tenant retention, depending on who is responsible for utilities.
Is Steel Siding Good for Landlords?
Steel siding is absolutely good for landlords! In fact, if you look at the cost comparison above, you’ll discover that TruLog steel siding wins when it comes to cost effectiveness and your ROI, both in the short term and the long term. What’s more, it checks all the boxes when it comes to desirable qualities in siding for rental homes, like durability, high curb appeal, and energy efficiency.
There’s also one more reason to appreciate steel siding: It may help lower insurance costs on your rental properties. That’s because, in determining your rates, insurance companies assess the risk of damage to your property. Using storm-resistant and fire-resistant building materials can improve your property’s risk assessment, which can lower your premiums.
What Siding Is Best for Rentals?
If you want a durable siding material that will protect your investment for decades — and look great while doing it — TruLog steel siding is the best for rentals. As we’ve noted, it’s an inexpensive option that won’t incur large maintenance or repair costs over the years. It’s also very energy efficient, which will either save you money or make your property more attractive to budget-minded renters.
On top of that, TruLog steel siding is available in beautiful styles like log siding, board and batten siding, and lap siding. These are all available in both realistic wood-look shades as well as stylish solid colors. You can get a fantastic look no matter the home’s style — and that will make your property stand out on the rental market. Your rental will spend less time unoccupied and more time filled with happy tenants.
Ultimately, that means you’ll be spending less money, time, and effort — and you’ll be better equipped to focus on scaling your property management portfolio.
Choose TruLog Steel Siding for Rental Homes
When it comes to choosing siding for rental homes, the right answer is clear: TruLog steel siding comes with excellent affordability and durability while requiring minimal upkeep. It looks great too, which will make your property stand out on the rental market. Tenants will appreciate not only the curb appeal that comes with TruLog steel siding but also the lower energy bills, thanks to the material’s foam insulation and reflective coating.
Ready to learn more? Download our free catalog to check out the different styles and colors available.
