Metal siding provides pest-, water- and rot-resistance
Metal siding is used for many commercial and residential applications for its pest-, water- and rot-resistant qualities. And, with all the design and price options available to facility- and home-owners, aluminum siding and steel siding can be configured to meet almost any structural, cost and design needs.
If you’re considering installing, repairing or replacing a metal siding system, here’s what you need to know:
Design and cost versatility of metal siding systems
Metal siding is a cost-effective alternative to more expensive siding systems such as stained cedar shakes or James Hardie fiber cement. Metal siding costs depend on your material selection—aluminum metal siding costs about $2.20-5 per square foot, while steel metal siding costs about $4-8 per square foot. Metal siding costs vary depending on the type of protective coating used, as well as the thickness of the metal sheets—the thicker the sheet, the more expensive the system.
Aluminum siding is lighter and easier to install, but is more susceptible to dents. Steel siding provides better dent and hail resistance, but is much heavier. The metal siding material you choose will depend largely on your building’s structural needs and your price constraints.
And aluminum siding and steel siding are available in many texture and color variations. Metal siding can, in fact, be manufactured to mimic the rich texture and tones of cedar shake siding. Some varieties of metal siding are coated with PVC, and can resemble vinyl siding.
A licensed siding contractor can guide you toward the right material for your home or facility’s design and structural needs.
Metal siding installation and repair considerations
Metal siding can be installed in almost any configuration—horizontal, vertical, diagonal. All configurations, though, require the same care during installation. Underlayment must be installed before metal siding sheets to ensure the water- and weather-resistance quality of the siding system. Then, an experienced siding contractor will carefully measure and chalk out guidelines for where each metal sheet should go—lining up sheets perfectly is paramount to the effectiveness of any metal siding system. Aluminum siding and steel siding should also be installed so that there is at least a 2” overlap between each sheet.
Almost all metal siding is coated for color and corrosion—or rust—control. This prevents premature material failure. Metal siding often come with a ”lifetime warranty.” You will, however, need to be vigilant about replacing your coatings every 15-25 years in order to maintain the structural integrity of the system. Your siding contractor will guide you toward materials that meet ASTM standards for metal siding, and install your siding using industry best practices.
The added value of a quality siding contractor
When you’re thinking about installing or replacing your siding, be sure to schedule a consultation with Wildwood Roofing & Construction. We’re St. Louis’ experts on roofing and siding. We have the care and precision to replace siding on homes, and the bandwidth and diligence to take on large-scale commercial projects. Home- and facility-owners around St. Louis trust us to protect their assets.
Here’s why.
We’re passionate about what we do. We live for the feeling of seeing a job well done. This means using knowing the proper siding installation techniques better than anyone else. It means being up-to-date on fire safety codes, St. Louis City and County building codes and international standards. Our goal is to deliver siding solutions that meet your facility or home’s needs. And we do it seamlessly.
We operate by a higher standard. Other guys? They want to get the job done. We want to get it done right—on time and on budget. When we give you a quote for your vertical siding, we’ll stick to it. Same with the timeline. We want the finished product to be something we’re proud of and you’re happy with. Maybe that’s why we’re proud of every commercial and residential siding project we’ve ever completed.
So schedule a risk-free siding consultation and learn what sets us apart.