Metal Siding Types (For Houses)
When it comes to siding options, few materials can compete with metal’s numerous benefits. Metal siding can be stylish, durable, long-lasting, low-maintenance, and cost-effective.
But did you know there are a number of different types of metal siding? In this guide, we will introduce you to various options for metal siding panels that are worth considering for your home or other building.
Why Choose Metal For Your Siding?
Regardless of which type of metal siding you end up choosing for your building, you can look forward to a lot of great benefits:
- Great insulation. Metal can be a great insulator, helping you to maintain comfortable conditions inside your structure.
- Fireproof. Metal siding will not combust, unlike wood siding. So, if you live in an area where fires are common (forest fires, for example), metal siding can be a good choice.
- Insect-proof. Insects like termites tend to infest wood buildings, but they are unlikely to be a problem in a metal structure. While they might still get inside your building, they are not going to compromise the structure itself by damaging the metal the way they would wood.
- Won’t rot. Although metal can rust, it cannot rot the way would does when exposed to rain.
- Mold-resistant. When wood is compromised by moisture, mold tends to take hold quickly and be hard to get rid of. But you will not have this problem with metal siding. Similarly, you are less likely to need to worry about leaks through your metal siding.
- Durable. Metal is a stronger material than wood, and can stand up to wear and tear. That is especially true if you choose steel, which has the added advantage of being lightweight (this can be helpful during construction).
- Low maintenance. Because it is so difficult for metal siding to be damaged, the amount of maintenance you can expect to deal with in the future is low.
- Long-lasting. Metal siding can stand up to decades of exposure to the elements and continue to look beautiful and perform great.
- Stylish and versatile. Whether you choose batten metal panels, box rib metal panels, shiplap metal panels, corrugated metal or any other style of metal panels, you can get a great appearance for your structure. It is totally up to you whether you want your building’s look to be modern, traditional, or a blend of both. Whatever you are envisioning, it is possible to make it happen with metal siding.
What Drawbacks Do You Need to Watch Out For?
The biggest problem with metal siding is just that despite its overall durability, it can develop dents and scratches.
From a distance, you probably won’t notice these, but close up, they can stand out.
If you are concerned about dents and scratches, consider choosing zinc for your material, and/or corrugated metal for your siding type (more on that later on in the post).
How Do You Choose the Right Type(s) of Siding?
When deciding on a type of metal siding for your residential or commercial structure, here are a few things to think about.
- Installation: How challenging and involved the installation process is for metal siding depends in part on the type you choose.
- Appearance: Every type of metal siding has its own distinctive appearance. Decide what look you want for your building. Here is a look at some modern siding options.
- Maintenance: Overall, you should not need to spend much time or money maintaining any type of metal siding, but there are some options that are particularly low-maintenance.
- Cost: Figure out your budget, and choose a type of metal siding that will fit within it.
You can either cover your entire structure with metal siding, or you can use a mixture of metal siding and other types of siding.
Regardless of the type of siding you choose, you also will need to pick a material as well as a gauge (thickness).
Popular materials for metal siding include steel, aluminum, zinc and copper. Each of these materials has pros and cons. 24-29 is a typical range for steel siding gauges.
You also can choose to have your metal siding panels installed vertically or horizontally.
Metal Siding Options
Now that you know some of the key considerations for when you are choosing metal siding, let’s check out some of the different types.
1. Shiplap
When most people think about shiplap siding, they think of wood. But there is such a thing as metal shiplap siding as well.
Metal shiplap bears a strong resemblance to the wood variety. Indeed, you can specifically order a wood grain texture on metal shiplap panels if you want them to mimic wood.
When to Choose It: If you want the strength of metal but you are looking for the traditional appearance of wood shiplap, metal shiplap is the way to go.
2. Board & Batten Metal Panels
Do you like the look of traditional wood board and batten panels? If so, you can capture that same look and feel by ordering batten metal panels.
Metal shiplap is usually horizontal, but batten metal panels are normally vertical. The seams are raised and the fasteners are concealed.
When to Choose It: Batten metal panels are incredibly versatile from a style standpoint. Get narrow panels for a look that is more traditional, or order wider panels for a look that is more modern.
As with metal shiplap panels, wood grain texturing is an option.
3. Corrugated Metal
If there is one type of metal siding that is utterly unmistakable, it is corrugated metal. As the name indicates, this is a type of metal panel that has a corrugated surface of ridges and troughs.
Corrugated metal tends to have rustic vibes. It is a look that is a bit “rougher around the edges” than smooth, flat panels. You also can use it if you want your building to have an industrial appearance.
When to Choose It: Style is not the only reason to consider going with corrugated metal. Actually, the biggest reasons to choose corrugated metal are practical.
Corrugated metal is renowned for its ability to deflect heat. That means that it is an excellent choice if you live in a hot climate and you want to reduce the energy and costs required to keep your interior cool and comfortable.
Another advantage of corrugated metal is that it offers easy installation. So, it may be ideal if you are going to be handling installation on your own, or just want to keep installation fast and affordable.
One more bonus is that wear and tear is hard to see on corrugated metals, whereas it can stand out on other types of metal siding.
4. Standing Seam
Standing seam siding features flat panels. As the name states, between them are standing seams.
When to Choose It: Standing seam metal siding looks so much like batten metal panels that you can mix the two up easily. Consider it as an alternative to batten metal panels if you prefer how it looks.
5. Box Rib
This is a type of metal siding that features exposed fasteners and ribs with a box shape. It is common to see it in a vertical or horizontal configuration.
When to Choose It: Many people choose box rib metal siding for its distinctive appearance. But another reason to consider it is if you want an easy-install option.
6. V Groove
You have had a chance to check out more than one type of metal siding panel that features standing seams and flat panels. But you might be wondering if there is a type of metal siding panel that instead features concave grooves between its panels. The answer is yes, and it is called “V groove siding.”
When to Choose It: V groove siding was developed with the goal of being similar to wood siding that you find on traditional homes.
Nevertheless, the look of V groove siding is quite clean and modern. So, it is a versatile siding option that looks great with a wide range of building styles.
There is an Ideal Steel Siding Option for Every Project
You have now had a chance to discover some of the most popular types of metal siding for houses and other structures. If you are ready to take the next steps in your metal building project, click below to visit any of our recommended metal building companies.
