The November issue of Realtor Magazine had a wonderful article about "Dissecting a Home's Exterior". Very good information for when you, as a buyer, are ready to purchase Real Estate. They covered various exteriors and cited the pros and cons. I thought this was great information for me, as a Real Estate Agent, and especially for my clients: past, present and future!
Let's start with Brick. In Alabama, and especially North Alabama, and ESPECIALLY in Madison County, brick is probably the MOST desired exterior. And, normally the most expensive. Many mid-level builders offer "4-sided brick" as an upgrade option. Higher end builders in this North Alabama area automatically build a full brick home, unless the subdivision is calling for a "different" look.
1. BRICK: Brick is usually laid outside a wooden frame of the house. Brick can easily last a lifetime, requiring very little - if any - repairs. The most common "repair" on brick is cracked mortar - which sometimes happens when a house settles. A good brick mason can pull out the old mortar and replace. Brick, for the most part, looks exactly the same as it ages.
PROS: Tough, durable and low-maintenance. Doesn't rot or fade.
CONS: Expensive - due to the high cost of material and labor.
2. STONE AND CULTURED STONE: This exterior is made of actual rocks or stones, and are known for being able to withstand extreme weather conditions, but their durability means extra cost. One way to cut the costs is stone veneer which gives the high end look, but is less expensive. Most of the time, stones are used on homes as an accent and to highlight one section of the exterior.
PROS: It is the most durable of all building materials and it can withstand severe weather. Very low maintenance.
CONS: Very expensive.
3. ALUMINUM SIDING: Can look very similar to vinyl. You can tell the difference between the two by tapping on the siding - aluminum has a hollow, metallic sound. It comes in a variety of textures, such as wood shake and shingle style. It's often used in "pieces" of the exterior.
PROS: Easy to maintain, durable, fireproof and low-maintenance. Typically, low to moderate in price and is termite-proof, rust proof and water-proof.
CONS: This siding is easily dented, and it can be difficult to repair or replace. It's also noisy, particularly when raining or hailing.
4. VINYL SIDING: Vinyl is the most widely used siding and one of the most affordable options. It's made from a durable plastic and is known as very low-maintenance. But, it should be power-washed at least once a year as it can stain. As in aluminum, you can get vinyl in the look of cedar shakes or wood clapboard.
PROS: Doesn't ever need painting and can withstand many weather extremes.
CONS: Vinyl siding can warp or buckle if not properaly installed. Also, any damage requires the entire panel to be replaced, which means possibly difficult to match. It can also sometimes trap moisture which can lead to mildew.
5. CEDAR SHINGLE SIDING: This is also called "shakes". It's usually found in the New England area among Cape Cod Homes. The cedar shingles can be stained in many colors. This "look" has become VERY popular in some subdivisions in North Alabama, particularly new builds in the Madison area.
PROS: Can last up to 30 years and it doesn't "buckle" or "curl".
CONS: Can be high maintenance as these shingles do need "treatment" roughly every 5 years to prevent rot or mildew. Not necessarily the best choice where fires are common.
6. CEMENT FIBER SIDING: Commonly known as "hardy plank". This is one of the latest developments in residential siding. It's also known as "green" material as it can be made from a variety of recyclable materials. It's made from sand, cement and cellulose fibers and comes in a variety of finishes and can be made to resemble wood or stucco. This has become VERY popular in North Alabama by builders who are targeting the "lower price than brick" market or by builders looking for that certain "wood frame" look but know their clients want a much more DURABLE product!
PROS: Much more durable than wood or stucco; low maintenance; fire-proof; and water resistant. It doesn't rot and is not prone to insect damage.
CONS: DOES require painting - BUT not for at least 10-15 years. However, if not painted/prepped correctly, it could hold moisture. And, due to the fact that it is a very heavy material, it does need significant structural support.
7. WOOD CLAPBOARD SIDING: Often used on historic homes. Many options available and the cost depends on which type of wood is used: i.e., redwood and cedar tend to be more expensive than pine and spruce.
PROS: A renewable material known to be energy efficeint. Can be painted any color.
CONS: Very high maintenance. Requires painting about every seven years or so (depending on shade vs sun on your home); regularly needs to be power-washed, stained and sealed. Also requires caulking to prevent water damage. Can be very susceptible to rot and termites.
8. STUCCO SIDING: Typically used on Spanish and Mediterranean style homes. It's identified by its flat, smooth, concrete look, and is composed of cement, water and materials such as sand and lime. Many homes built after the 1950's used a lighter synthetic material that resembles stucco. To determine whether it's real stucco vs. synthetic, tap the walls! If it's a solid sound - most likely, it's real.
PROS: Very durable, fire resistant and a very good insulator. Very rarely needs to be re-painted and it works best in dry climates (NOT in humid areas like North Alabama!)
CONS: As stated above - NOT ideal in wet or HUMID climates! Some synthetic forms of stucco have been associated with moisture problems - especially here in North Alabama.
I hope this information from Realtor Magazine has been helpful to you - and please remember, if you are looking to buy or sell Real Estate in North Alabama, please contact me, Karen Borden! I would like to be your Real Estate Professional for any Real Estate transactions you may have! I love relocations, so call me if I can help you find your perfect home!
, a mainstay for centuries, tends to be a favorite among home owners. The brick is usually laid outside of a wooden frame of a house. Brick can last a lifetime, very rarely requiring any patching or repairs and looking the same as it ages for years to come.
Pros: Tough, durable, and low-maintenance; doesn’t rot or fade.
Cons: Expensive due to the high cost of materials and installation.riBrick, a mainstay for centuries, tends to be a favorite among home owners. The brick is usually laid outside of a wooden frame of a house. Brick can last a lifetime, very rarely requiring any patching or repairs and looking the same as it ages for years to come.
Pros: Tough, durable, and low-maintenance; doesn’t rot or fade.
Cons: Expensive due to the high cost of materials and installation.ck, a mainstay for centuries, tends to be a favorite among home owners. The brick is usually laid outside of a wooden frame of a house. Brick can last a lifetime, very rarely requiring any patching or repairs and looking the same as it ages for years to come.
Pros: Tough, durable, and low-maintenance; doesn’t rot or fade.
Cons: Expensive due to the high cost of materials and installation.
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