Residential Siding with Resilience in Mind

Specifying the best home armor to handle the changing climate has become more critical than ever.

In a perfect world, a builder selects a home’s siding by carefully balancing aesthetics, durability, cost, environmental impact, and maintenance. The reality, however, is that the decision sometimes comes down to familiarity and cost.

Many builders apply the same siding in every situation, unless compelled to change by an HOA or development standards. They may be doing their clients a disservice.

In our view, the metrics by which siding is selected should weigh each of the following factors:

• Upfront Costs (material and installation)
• Maintenance and Longevity
• Resilience and Local Climate (fire, storms, heat, moisture)
• Environmental Footprint (embodied energy, recyclability, resource depletion)

These criteria will vary by client, of course, but to some degree, they’re universal. How much maintenance is a homeowner willing to exchange for a lower upfront cost? How concerned is she about the risk of wildfires in the region? Each product has its strengths and weaknesses.

Market Overview and Usage Statistics

In the United States, siding preferences vary by region, cost considerations, and architectural style. According to a recent analysis from The Freedonia Group and data shared by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), here’s where we stand:

• Vinyl Siding: Continues to hold the largest single share of the market, at around 28-30% of new single-family homes.
• Fiber Cement Siding: Holds roughly 23-25% of the market, steadily growing due to its durability and fire resistance.
• Stucco: Strong in the southwestern and warm coastal regions, comprising 21-23% of new single-family homes.
• Brick: Remains popular in the South and parts of the Midwest, representing approximately 18-20% of the market.
• Engineered Wood and Wood Siding: Together hover around 5-7%, with slight growth in the premium custom home sector due to sustainability considerations.
• Metal Siding (Steel/Aluminum): Captures roughly 3-5%, typically used in modern or high-end custom designs.
• Stone Veneer/Real Stone: Though still a niche, usage is growing for accent walls and premium projects, at 2-4%.

Note: These figures may vary slightly by source and are derived from aggregated industry studies, including U.S. Census Bureau data on exterior finishes 

Let’s break out some of the most familiar categories of siding products, with an eye toward innovation and “updated” building science.

1. Vinyl Siding

Latest Developments: Improvements in vinyl formulations have led to better UV resistance, reducing fading and warping. Some manufacturers now offer vinyl siding with higher recycled content.

Historically, however, Green Builder has not advocated use of vinyl siding, because very little of it is recycled. You may find a lot of misinformation about high levels of vinyl recycling online, where the narrative is dominated by The Vinyl Siding Institute. But our estimates put the amount of post-consumer vinyl recycled at 5 percent or less, with 20 percent of the rest incinerated, and the other 80 percent buried in landfills.

Vinyl’s story has improved somewhat, as more companies add post-industrial recycled vinyl to their products, such as Polaris. This is a step up, but the product, in our view, won’t make major headway on sustainability until they address the post-consumer disposal problem. It’s far from a closed circle.

Environmental Pros and Cons:

• Pros: 
  • Lower maintenance than wood, virtually mold proof and flood resistant.
  • Some brands include scrap and waste from industrial processes.
  • Requires less water and energy to produce than some heavier materials like brick.
• Cons: 
  • Made from PVC, which relies on non-renewable petroleum and chlorine feedstocks.
  • Challenging to recycle at the end of its life; programs exist but are not yet widespread.
  • Vinyl siding is not especially resilient in the face of high heat, wildfires or storm-tossed debris. 

2. Fiber Cement Siding

Latest Developments: Fiber cement remains a go-to choice for areas prone to fire or harsh weather. Manufacturers have introduced more realistic wood-look textures, advanced color options, and improved moisture resistance. 

From an environmental standpoint, these products face two challenges. They’re heavy, and burn more energy to transport, and they contain cement, which requires a lot of energy to produce. However, companies such as James Hardie, Nichiha and Allura have taken various steps to reduce their carbon emissions.

New approaches include replacing Portland cement with additives such as fly ash, adjusting transportation methods and patterns, and using renewable energy at various stages in manufacturing.

The biggest potential CO2 gains or fiber cement may come from the cement producers themselves. The Portland Cement Association has developed a roadmap to shrink the industry’s footprint. Part of the solutions will be solar. For example, a successful pilot test using renewable, highly focused solar energy to produce solar clinker (a key ingredient in cement) has been underway in Spain for several years.

Environmental Pros and Cons:

• Pros: 
  • Highly durable and long-lasting, reducing replacement needs.
  • Fire resistant, making it suitable for wildfire-prone regions.
  • Made from readily available materials (cement, sand, cellulose).
  • At least one company (James Hardie) is actively engaged in recycling and has aimed for 50 percent landfill reduction by 2030.
• Cons: 
  • Producing Portland cement can have a high carbon footprint.
  • Heavier weight can increase transportation costs and fuel use.

3. Engineered Wood Siding 

Latest Developments: Engineered wood, made from wood fibers and resins, has improved in recent years, fine tuning resins and manufacturing methods. New coatings extend the time between re-coating, and warranties are solid.

For example, LP’s Smartside includes a 5/50 warranty that covers the substrate for 50 years. If you go with their premium Diamond Kote finish, that comes with a 30-year no-fade finish warranty. KWP offers a 50-year warranty on substrate, plus up to 25 years on factory-applied finish

Better than wood siding? For reference, finishes on traditional shingles or wood clapboards need recoating every 5-10 years. The high embodied carbon of acrylic paints, along with their plastic content, should be considered when weighing the impacts of “real” wood.

According to Chris Magwood at the Rocky Mountain Institute, paints are often overlooked when examining the embodied energy of homebuilding. He estimates 2 tons of emissions for the first set of coatings alone for a new home.

Environmental Pros and Cons:

• Pros: 
  • Mostly renewable resource, if core material is sourced from sustainably managed forests (look for FSC certification).
  • New coatings extend surface protection many years.
• Cons: 
  • Higher maintenance than some alternative materials.
  • Not easily biodegradable at the end of life due to binders and additives.
  • May contain various types of VOCs.

4. Thin Brick and MSV

Latest Developments: Advancements in thin-brick veneer products and pre-cast stone veneers reduce weight and installation costs. Traditional clay brick remains a favorite for its classic appeal and longevity, and MSV can be purchased in a wide range of colors and stone looks.

Although higher in cost than other types of siding, masonry products hold their value. A recent study found that manufactured stone veneer (MSV) has one of the three highest returns on investment of any home feature, surging to 153 percent in 2024. In other words, homeowners are getting back more than what they paid for the upgrade when they sell their homes

Environmental Pros and Cons:

• Pros: 
  • Extremely durable, often lasting the lifetime of the structure.
  • High thermal mass, which can aid in energy efficiency in certain climates.
  • Minimal maintenance needed.
  • Veneer products cost less to transport than full-size bricks or natural stone.
• Cons: 
• Thin brick and MSV require energy intensive cement for production. 
• Heavier than other alternatives, transportation is also energy intensive unless plants are located close to job sites.

5. Synthetic Stucco

Latest Developments: Synthetic stucco (also known as Exterior Insulation Finishing Systems, or EIFS) has improved greatly since the product’s high-profile problems back in the 1990s. Since then, EIFS manufacturers have retooled their products, greatly reducing the risk of trapped water behind walls. 

The reason many builders opt for synthetic stucco is threefold: First, it’s much lighter than traditional stucco—about 80 percent lighter. Next, it has much higher insulating value, typically around R-5, compared with R-.2 for cementitious stucco applied direct to block walls. And finally, it’s low maintenance, fire resistant and paint tends to fade rather than peel off over time.

Companies such as Sto Corp. have gone to great lengths to improve the water management layers of modern EIFS, offering several pathways of defense to keep moisture out of walls.

Environmental Pros and Cons:

• Pros: 
  • Good fire resistance and decent insulating qualities.
  • If locally sourced sand and cement are used, transportation impacts can be relatively low.
  • Lighter and easier for trades to work with  than traditional stucco.
• Cons: 
  • The stucco component relies on cement, which has a high carbon footprint.
  • Stucco surfaces still need to be painted every 5-10 years, although that may be extended if fading is acceptable.

6. Metal Siding (Steel and Aluminum)

Latest Developments: New factory-applied coatings are more durable and resistant to fading. Steel is increasingly used for its durability, and aluminum for its corrosion resistance—especially in coastal settings.

While these products are typically reserved for high-end architectural homes, the resilience qualities of metal promise to expand their use, particulary in western states, where wildfire risks are highest.

Environmental Pros and Cons:

• Pros: 
  • Often includes a high percentage of recycled content.
  • Excellent resistance to fire and insects.
  • Lifespan can be 40+ years with minimal maintenance.
• Cons: 
  • Prone to dents (especially aluminum) from hail or wind-blown debris.
  • Energy-intensive production (especially steel), though recycled metals mitigate some impacts.

Ultimately, the best siding choice balances these factors in the context of a home’s location, architectural style, and the homeowner’s priorities. As technology evolves, the lines between sustainability, durability, and style will continue to blur, offering a broader palette of options for both new construction and remodeling projects.

Siding Resilience Under Extreme Conditions

Below is a new comparison table of the most common siding materials, rated on a 1-10 scale for four factors: impact resistance, exposure to heat, fire resistance, and flood/water resistance.

Key Observations:

1. Vinyl performs moderately in most categories, though it can crack in extremely cold temperatures or warp under prolonged high heat if not properly installed.
2. Fiber Cement stands out for balanced performance in heat and fire resistance. Its water resistance is good but can be compromised if the siding is not adequately sealed.
3. Wood and Engineered Wood have moderate to lower ratings, especially in fire resistance, though modern treatments can improve performance. Engineered wood usually fares better in moisture resilience than natural wood.
4. Brick and Real Stone score high in impact, heat, and fire resistance due to their masonry composition. They can be susceptible to mortar damage under freeze-thaw cycles if poorly maintained.
5. Stucco ratings depend heavily on proper application and the presence of control joints to prevent cracking. It remains fairly fire-resistant, but water intrusion can be a major issue if not sealed properly.
6. Metal Siding provides excellent fire resistance; steel offers better impact resistance than aluminum, though both can dent under severe impact.
7. Stone Veneer is more vulnerable to cracking under impact than real stone, but still scores high for fire and heat resistance compared to synthetic products.

Publisher’s Note: Green Builder's 20th Anniversary celebration is sponsored by: Carrier and Trex.