Types Of Shingle Siding
Shingle siding is one of the best products for adding texture and visual interest to your home’s exterior.
Traditionally, builders have used it on craftsman bungalows and cape cod style homes, but more and more, it’s added as an accent to modern or traditional styles.
Cedar shakes have been the most popular shingle siding in the past, but other options are available, including vinyl and fiber cement.
Here’s what to know about shingle siding, plus some ideas for adding it to your home.
What is Shingle Siding?
Cedar shakes are the traditional shingle siding. They’re small wooden pieces, the shape of shingles, installed one by one to create an overlapping, staggering effect. They add dimension and texture to a home.
But today, there are far more options than the standard cedar shingles.
You can find shingle siding in vinyl and fiber cement materials. Plus, you can get these options in panels rather than individual pieces – making installation easier and less time-consuming.
You can use shingle siding to cover your entire house, typical for cottage or cape cod styles, or use them as a small accent on the front of your home.
Types of Shingle Siding
These are the three most common types of shingle siding:
Cedar Shake Siding
Cedar shingles are a durable softwood used in various outdoor applications. Its rich, warm color adds classic beauty to a home.
Cedar is naturally weatherproof – it stands up to moisture and resists rot and bug infestations, making it a popular shingle siding option.
You can add a sealant or coat of paint to make your cedar shingles last longer. You can also leave cedar untreated and unpainted. The downside is that it won’t last as long and will fade to silvery gray over time.
You can find cedar shingles in many styles, including straight edge, wavy, beveled edge, and other decorative shapes.
2. Vinyl Shingle Siding
If you’re looking for a low-maintenance siding, this is it! You can find vinyl shingles in many colors, styles and textures.
From afar, this type of shingle siding looks incredibly wood-like. In fact, most of your guests will assume it’s painted cedar shake.
Vinyl shingle siding usually comes in two-foot-long strips for easy installation.
2. Fiber Cement Shingle Siding
Fiber cement siding is quickly becoming one of the most used siding materials in newer home construction.
As the name implies, this is a cement-based siding that is termite, wind, rot, and fireproof. And like vinyl, you can find fiber cement siding in all forms – smooth boards, wood-look, stucco, and shingles.
The most popular brand of fiber cement siding comes from James Hardie. That’s why you’ll often hear this product referred to as Hardie Siding or Hardie Board. However, you can also find fiber cement shingle siding from other brands and at major home improvement stores.
Like vinyl, you can get fiber cement shingles in multiple colors, textures, and shapes.
Lifespan - 25-30 years
Maintenance Level - Low