Picking the right siding for your house is a delicate balancing act between good looks, durability, maintenance, and affordability.

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Vinyl siding

The primary advantage of vinyl siding is that it requires little or no ongoing maintenance, but another advantage is that it can be manufactured to mimic other materials. You can choose vinyl that looks like cedar-shake shingles or historic wood clapboard and comes in a wide range of colors.

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Fiber cement siding

fiber cement, a resilient mix of wood pulp and Portland cement, you get all four. It’s the only siding that combines the performance of masonry—minimal upkeep; rot-, fire-, and termite-proof; unaffected by wind or cold—with the look of painted wood clapboards, shingles, even stone or brick. Yet fiber cement goes for just a fraction of the cost of these other materials.

Fiber cement siding was introduced about 25 years ago. Homeowners like it because it holds down costs without compromising aesthetics. It’s even accepted for use in some historic districts.