Which is better: stucco or vinyl siding?

Depending on a home’s style and where it is located, a homeowner may prefer a stucco siding instead of the more traditional vinyl siding. However, is one better than the other, and what are the differences between them so you can choose one? A few facts to consider: 

• Insulation: Vinyl siding installation comes in a hollow-back material and foam-back. Stucco siding has no insulation but can be applied in multiple coats to create layers for insulation. 
• Cost: Always a concern for homeowners, higher-quality vinyl siding installation costs the same as low-end stucco siding, averaging between $7.00 and $13.00 per square foot. Higher-quality stucco siding can cost upwards of $14.00 per square foot. 
• Durability: Any homeowner will want siding to be made from a durable material that won’t need repair or replacing soon, and both stucco and vinyl siding installation will offer you that. Note – the thicker the vinyl, the better the durability. Vinyl has wind resistance up to 110 mph and stucco offers up to 130 mph. When it comes to impact-resistance and life expectancy, stucco is the winner, lasting up to 100 years whereas vinyl installation will last up to 75 years. 

• Insulation: Vinyl siding installation wins in this category with an R-Value of .20 per inch. Stucco siding has to be installed in a triple thickness that maxes it at .75 R-Value. 

Secondary Factors to consider between stucco and vinyl siding install is the ROI, with vinyl winning at 77% and stucco offering only 70%. Both come in a wide range of colors as multiple colors are mixed together to achieve the desired color. Design-wise, vinyl is more varied with anything that wood siding can offer, with options such as a lap board profile, shakes, shingles, split-wood, and vertical panels. Stucco doesn’t mimic other material, but is instead installed without seams in a basic texture. 

Both stucco and vinyl siding installation are fire-resistant materials, but vinyl will buckle or warm in an intense heat from even the grill or UV ray reflection. Vinyl siding installation can be a DIY project with plenty of how-to vinyl siding installation videos available online, whereas stucco should be installed professionally due to the specialized equipment required. Both need to be cleaned annually. 

What brand of vinyl siding is best?

Fortunately, and unfortunately, there is a wide number of brands to choose from for your vinyl siding installation. There may be too many if you don’t do some research and study before you go into this project. Some are superior, and some offer bottom-of-the-line quality, but you can find a good value for vinyl siding that suits any budget and purpose. A few of the brands we recommend are: 

• ALSIDE

Alside has been in the business of vinyl siding installation for more than seventy years. The company started with a residential baked enamel siding in 1947 and has improved upon their already great product over the years. With this company, they offer 14 different product lines with 19 colors for the Premium Charter Oak siding. 

• CERTAINTEED®

CertainTeed® is a high-end brand of vinyl siding with great popularity in this country. Starting as a roofing company in 1904, it has diversified with the times to offer other exterior and interior construction products. They offer a variety of options that are attractive, including accessories. This is a well-known brand name that offers affordable quality. 

• CRANE

Crane has been dedicated to helping homeowners save money since 1947 with technology that it sells to other vinyl siding manufacturers. It offers a large selection in colors and styles, and also provides an insulating material. 

What is the average life expectancy of vinyl siding?

Vinyl siding installation will last up to 60 years or longer, depending on the quality of the installation, material, and the homeowner’s upkeep and maintenance. 

What is the average labor cost to install vinyl siding?

In Frisco, Texas and surrounding cities, a 1,200 square foot home will cost around $4,500 for vinyl siding installation labor. The rate per square foot is between $2.15 and $5.25 with the average cost at $3.70 per square foot.

How much does it cost to put siding on a house?

While many homes in Frisco have brick siding, there are almost always areas that are not brick. In this case, homeowners may choose to go with vinyl siding installation. For 2020-2021, the average costs began around $3,800 and went up to $5,300.00. Some homeowners prefer Hardie board siding, a more expensive, but also a more durable material. This can cost between $2,500.00 and $15,999.00.

When considering how siding works, contractors and expert siding services will tell you that siding is more than just for aesthetics. Siding offers a level of protection from weather elements like hard, harsh winds, hailstones, rain, and snow. It also provides a level of safety and security for your home.  Keep reading as we discuss in more detail the importance of siding services and how your home benefits.

Benefits of Good Siding

What can siding do for you? Consider these factors:

1. A Waterproof Envelope

Moisture is the enemy when it comes to your home’s stability and structure. It can begin deteriorating and causing expensive, excessive damage to the cement foundation, doors, masonry, and windows. Moisture left unaddressed will create mildew and mold, with mold eating away at the structure and causing health problems in addition to structural issues. 

Properly installed siding will protect your home with waterproofing. In addition to the foundation, gutters, and roof, which provide the first line of defense, getting siding services to keep your home’s interior dry is essential.  

2. Critter and Pest Control

Properly installed siding services will keep small critters, insects, and pests out of your home. Today, most siding is manufactured to be crack-resistant and warp-resistant, which makes them critter, insect, and pest-proof. When the siding is of low quality, it wicks moisture, and that attracts critters, insects, and pests, especially termites. 

3. Insulation

Siding services offer an added layer of insulation along with providing weather protection. Cold north winds and hot summer sun have a huge impact on your home’s energy efficiency. With quality siding, the energy efficiency is increased with an outer envelope, upgraded with rigid foam insulation and house wrap. 

4. The Curb Appeal

While we have this listed last, it is not the least important factor to any homeowner. Siding services do more than what we have listed here already. They also improve the curb appeal of your home, and with the various choices in siding materials available, finding the right one for your home’s architectural style is easy. 

For a home that is looking old and worn, having new siding installed will renew the home’s exterior and give it a boosted curb appeal. If you’re planning to place your home on the market, new siding will bring in more offers at a higher value. 

What are the different types of siding? 

There are several types of siding services available today, each having its own character, positives, and negatives. From this list of six, you can find one that has the appearance you want with the durability and longevity you need.

• Stucco: Maybe the most unique siding that is made from blending aggregates like cement and sand.  Applied in layers to be smooth or textured, it can complement many architectural styles. A fairly durable siding service that includes resistance from dings and knocks. It is cold and heat resistant as well and can be painted, allowing you to change your home’s exterior look. During hot summers, stucco siding services will reflect the UV rays, keeping your home cooler. 
• Wood: A popular choice for siding, and one of the oldest around. The appearance and style options are almost endless with this lightweight material. Easy installation with various sizes that allows you to create different patterns like board-and-batten, shiplap, or the traditional horizontal install.  It can be made to look contemporary or rustic, working with most architectural styles with the different types available. 
• Brick: A common material found today on homes all across the country, easily recognizable with a completely different appearance from other siding services. The look of brick has remained unchanged for centuries and is unaffected by the weather. Fire retardant and insect resistant, it requires little to no maintenance and never needs painting. 
• Stone Veneer: A popular choice in siding service for the accents both interior and exterior. No longer made from actual stone, this fiber cement stone is lighter weight making installation easier and faster. 
• Metal: An older style but tried and true, aluminum siding has been around for what seems like forever. Available in other types of metal now, including a standing seam type of metal siding that gives it the look of a log cabin. Flame, insect, and moisture resistant in either contemporary, rustic, or traditional styling. Boasts a long lifespan with little maintenance required.
• Fiber Cement: Created from mixing cellulose fiber, Portland cement, sand, and silica, and installed to have the appearance of wood siding. A durable material that is fire, impact, insect, moisture resistant. Choose from a board and batten style, lap siding architectural panels to create a contemporary or traditional style. Available in a variety of colors with a chip and peel resistant finish with low maintenance required. 

What siding lasts the longest?

While vinyl siding will give it a run for the dollar, fiber cement siding services are not only attractive, low maintenance, and has a fairly inexpensive cost, the durability gives it a lifespan of 100 years or more. Next to that is brick siding – with either one, you’ll never need to redo the siding on your home again. 

What is the cheapest way to side your house?

If budgeting is a concern, vinyl siding services offer the same result of making your home look refreshed, but for less money. Vinyl siding has improved over the years and more homeowners are choosing it when their budget is tight. While you can paint it, with advancements in the colorfastness and texture, you probably won’t ever want to, but if you do, remember – you’ll have to repaint on a regular basis. 

Which is better, siding or stucco?

Well, this is a tough one because both siding services offer a home several different pros. Each has a wide variation in profiles and styles with two main applications.

Vinyl siding services come in a non-insulated and an insulated version. Stucco siding is a single, low insulated coat or up to three coats for greater insulation. Cost is always a concern for homeowners, and vinyl siding services win that as the less expensive choice. 

Both stucco and vinyl materials are pretty tough, with vinyl taking wind speeds of 110 mph and Stucco taking wind gusts of 130 mph. For hail resistance, vinyl isn’t as resistant as Stucco. 

When properly installed, both can last up to 50 years or longer with vinyl stretching into 75 year lifespan and Stucco stretching into a 100-year lifespan. For your investment dollar, vinyl will get up 77% ROI, and Stucco averages an ROI up to 70%. 

What are the arguments between siding vs painting a house? 

If your home has wood siding, it will need painting every few years – usually every five to seven years, depending on the quality of paint used and the weather in your area.  If your home has aluminum or vinyl siding, both siding services, you can replace it, a pretty costly investment, or paint it.  

Before painting vinyl siding, consider that you’ll void any warranty on the material, and most come with a lifetime warranty. Those choices of colors are limited as to what will work well on vinyl, it can be difficult to find a color that paints well on vinyl, and replacing any later will be difficult, perhaps requiring repainting of the entire house. 

Before painting aluminum siding, issues to consider are that dents and dings will show more after painting.  There are perforations along the planks that will stand out and aluminum will rust. 

Can siding be repaired?

In many cases, yes, vinyl siding can be repaired.  There are do-it-yourself kits at home improvement stores for dents, small holes, and similar issues. This is an inexpensive way to get your vinyl siding services looking good again. 

For vinyl siding that is buckled, delaminating, split, or warping in larger areas, you may be better off hiring a siding services company to make the repair for you. There may be damage under the siding that will take some extra work you may not be equipped for.

Do I need gutters around my entire house?

Usually not; this depends on the slope of the roof. Water is a home’s worst enemy, as it causes erosion around the foundation along with rot under shingles and inside walls. Most roofs are designed for directing water down the roof slopes, and where they slope is what determines where gutters are needed. An experienced contractor will help you determine by the architecture of your home and the landscaping around your home where to install gutters on a house so that it gives your home the most benefits. 

Is gutter installation expensive?

The cost of a gutter installation will be determined by a few factors: 

• The size of the house 
• Single story or multiple story home
• The type of gutters

Experienced contractors typically charge by the linear foot for the material and additional for the labor. For a home needing 125 feet to 200 feet of gutter installation, materials will start around $1100 and reach upwards of $2500. The labor will add another $10 to $20 per linear foot. 

Is gutter installation difficult?

While it may not seem that difficult from the hundreds of YouTube videos, the experience and skill of a contractor is recommended. That’s because the experience and skill acquired from providing gutter installation will give you a gutter system that has accurate pitch and components that are properly fitted and sealed. 

How long does gutter installation take?

The gutter installation process for an average sized home, around 1200 square feet to 1500 square feet, can typically be completed in four hours or less. A gutter installation for a larger home, around 1800 square feet and up, can take a full day, or eight to 10 hours. 

Closing Comments and Information

There are six steps we recommend when getting a gutter installation. Figure out what to know about gutter installation first. From there, the research continues.

Research

Do thorough research before hiring any contractor that claims they can do a gutter installation, especially if their pricing is a lot less than other quotes. Remember, you get what you pay for! After you have narrowed it down to a few companies or contractors, do your due diligence in following up with checking references.

Check the online reviews, ask your neighbors who did their gutter installation, and choose a local contractor. They are the ones that will know the weather patterns where you live and will typically have a solid client base that you can get references on this contractor. 

Request Written Estimates and Quotes

Once you have a contractor lined up that meets your needs and requirements, you want to get a written estimate and quote, with details spelled out. An experienced gutter installation contractor will take measurements around your home to provide you a quote. Going with a contractor you should get custom-made gutters, either made in a shop or the seamless style gutters that are made on-site. 

Check Documentation

Ask to see their licenses and insurance, making copies for your records. Ask about their guarantee or warranty, and again in writing. Having your gutter installation done by a contractor without the proper credentials can put you and your home at risk.

Why is window replacement important?

Window replacement is one of the best home improvements you can do to your home. The following benefits are an important features to consider when investing in your home with upgrades: 

1. Energy Costs Reduced

Nobody likes skyrocketing energy bills, and a window replacement job can reduce your cooling and heating cost by as much as 30 percent. Why? Because the thermostat won’t be constantly adjusted to cool or heat the house. It also saves you money because you won’t be wearing your HVAC unit out faster too!

2. Secure Your Home

Yes, a window replacement is essential in keeping your family safe and providing a peace of mind. With better window technology today, keeping intruders out is as much a feature as keeping the UV rays out.  And with the film they build into the windows days, should a window get broken, it splinters into small pieces, instead of shattering in big shards.

3. Curb Appeal

While a window replacement is a large investment, because windows are one of the most visible features of a house, it can improve the curb appeal. There is a variety of colors, materials, and styles today that will improve any home’s aesthetics and give your home a new visual interest too. Realtors and home builders will tell you that a window replacement job will add value to your home should you decide to sell. Buyers are always looking for homes that offer energy efficiency. 

4. Comfort 

All these benefits we’ve mentioned will also make your family feel safer and more comfortable. This is the place where you make the important memories and with the more natural lighting and noise reduction that new window replacements offer, you’ll be glad you made the investment. 

5. Less maintenance

With new window replacement, the maintenance of cleaning and painting are gone! This leaves you time to simply enjoy looking out your windows. 

How do you know when you need to replace windows?

If you are experiencing any of the following, it is time to look into window replacements: 

1. Windows are opening and closing as they should. 
2. Cold air drafts in the winter making it uncomfortable and causing the heat to run more. 
3. The outdoor noises are getting louder every day.
4. The curb appeal is old and outdated, the house looks tired.
5. You have as many or more damaged windows as you do good windows.

Should I replace all my windows at once?

It is recommended to do them all at once, but you can do one at a time or a section of the house at one time. It is your financial choice, but yes, it is recommended having all the window replacements at one time is the better option if possible. 

What does window replacement cost?

New window replacement will have a high return rate! The more energy efficiency level of windows you choose, the higher the ROI. According to remodeling experts, the Cost vs. Value with an upscale vinyl window replacement has over 70% return! A kitchen remodel is just over 60% and a new deck is less than 70% ROI. 

Is window replacement tax deductible?

And another win for window replacement! Go with an EnergyStar-rated window replacement and you’ll be eligible for a tax credit, even if you must do one window at a time. 

Is window replacement messy?

It isn’t the neatest job.  A replacement window installation will be messy, but by choosing the right contractor and taking some precautions yourself, it doesn’t have to be as messy.  There will be hammering, painting, and sanding being done – possibly even some drywall work. An experienced and professional contractor will clean as they go through, and then do a walk-around after the window replacement job is complete.