Often in the wintertime, homeowners realize their house is in need of new siding. If a home has poor insulation and the outdoor temperatures are low, energy costs could become out of control. This is because in addition to the attic, a large portion of a home’s insulation comes from its walls. Of course there are several other tell-tale signs that it’s time to replace siding (extreme fading, cracks, dry rot, bubbling, etc.), but in this blog we want to focus on the selection of siding rather than the causes for new siding.
One of the most fun aspects of picking new siding is choosing the color! Here are five areas to consider to help guide this decision-making process:
1. Neighborhood: Always check with your HOA if you have one. If you don’t, you’ve got a bit more freedom here. Keep in mind that while you don’t have to match your neighbors, you do want your home to look like it fits in with the neighborhood. Keep your eye out for your favorite homes around you and use them as inspiration.
2. Size of home: We like to view colors in two categories for this tip: dark and light. Dark colors can appear gloomy and daunting if used on a larger home, while light colors may not give a home enough “pop” to stand out from its surrounding area (i.e. other homes, landscaping). Ask your contractor if they have any programs to recommend to help you visualize what the color would look like on your home, rather than just referencing another home you found on the internet. Get specific when making this decision because every home is unique and has nuances that may not generalize well to inspiration photos.
3. Roof color: A roof makes up about 40% of a home’s overall exterior, so it’s important to coordinate your siding with it. Keep in mind colors and shades. You want the colors of your roof and siding to complement one another and not clash. Also, if you have a very dark roof, you may want to consider a lighter siding color (and vice versa).
4. Resale Value: A good rule of thumb here is that greens, yellows, and dark browns have been shown to shy away buyers. These colors are considered outdated and undesirable by the larger population. However, we recommend talking with a local real estate agent to see if they’ve noticed any trends in your specific area. Ask them if they’ve noticed any colors or shades (light or dark) that have sold particularly well in recent years.
5. Personal Preference: At the end of the day, this is your home that you paid good money for. Go with something you love. Go with something that you’ll look forward to seeing every day when you come home from work.
If you have any questions or would like to talk with us about the siding options we offer, give us a call. We’d love to meet you.
