Combining Siding Materials for a Unique and Eye-Catching Facade
As a siding contractor with over 15 years of experience transforming Dallas & Fort Worth home exteriors, I’m always seeking innovative yet practical ways to give clients’ properties a signature look. While unified siding can appear monotonous over large expanses, pairing complementary materials creates visual depth and dimension. The textures, sheens and color variations make facades “pop”.
In this post, I’ll explore clever ways to mix and match siding materials for gorgeous, head-turning results your neighbors will envy.
Mix Natural Stone with Engineered Lap for Contrast Uneven natural stone siding adds delightful organic texture when combined with the straight lines of lap siding:
Vinyl Lap with Stacked Stone
Vinyl remains the most budget friendly siding option starting around $3 per square foot installed. Pairing vinyl lap boards with a stone veneer focal feature creates contrast and directs the eye. Stacked stone columns framing a garage door or encasing a home’s front entryway never fails to impress. We use thicker panel profiles like double 5” for modern appeal.
Fiber Cement and Cultured Stone
Premium fiber cement sidings like James Hardie offer an upscale, wood-like look but with extreme durability and tensile strength topping 1015 psi. Blend these fiber cement planks with the consistency of cultured stone veneer for a stately feel. The fiber cement siding withstands sun, rain and hail while the faux stone brings natural beauty without the maintenance headaches of real stone. Cost falls around $6-9 per square foot.
Varying colors and depths within the same siding category also spices things up:
Multi-Tone Composite pairings
For clients seeking siding with lots of personality, we’ll create custom combinations using contrasting hues of composite products from brands like Royal and Ply Gem. Think a neutral gray plank vertical siding on upper levels with navy blue below and bright white trim framing windows. Composite feels crisp like painted wood but resists rotting, swelling and insect damage ten times better thanks to its plastic-wood fiber mix.
Dual Color Cedar Shake Accent
Certain DIY-savvy homeowners with passion projects attempt real wood installations like cedar shake siding themselves to cut costs. But improper moisture sealing often causes early damage. Instead, use authentic texture embossed composite shake siding in a secondary accent color to contrast primary hues in fiber cement, stucco or vinyl. It creates coveted dimension.
Vary Direction and Width Many clients overlook the impact of alternating horizontal and vertical board orientations or wide and narrow planking. It’s a game changer!
Wide+Narrow Combination
Wide plank fiber cement siding exudes modern minimalism. Strategically placing more narrow width planks of painted composite alongside and framing doorways makes surfaces less monotonous. The slimming effect draws the eye upward vertically as well.
Horizontal + Vertical Pairing
Transitioning a horizontal clapboard vinyl siding facade to vertical seam metal panels along dormers guides the viewer’s gaze skyward. Use alignment and spacing between the siding styles to heighten the flow too. Disjointed applications distract rather than dazzle.
Diagonal Adds Distinction
Finally, don’t rule out using angles with diagonal wall cladding applications as a custom detail. This works especially well on gable accent walls where diagonal cedar shake siding from peak to corner makes a statement. We fit the angles precisely for professional seamless quality.
The Material Possibilities Are Endless Beyond ubiquitous vinyl, fiber cement and wood, many specialty sidings exist to realize one-of-a-kind designs:
Brick
Thin brick veneer siding replicates the stately historic beauty of structural brick at a fraction of the weight and cost. Blend these modular bricks with focal points of quartzite Ledgestone stone veneer or use faux reclaimed barn bricks for eclectic charm.
Stucco
Traditional Southwestern style homes wouldn’t be the same without the elegant finishes and decorative flair only authentic stucco coatings provide. Apply an initial base layer then the desired floating finish texture and paint. Use judiciously between swaths of neutral composite lap siding.
Metal
Sleek architectural grade steel siding in on-trend brushed or rusted patinas feedbacks an industrial modern mood. Intersperse metal between accent sections of fiber cement or cedar planks. Sturdy metal stands up to harshest weather and sheds rather than absorbs heat and moisture like wood.
>> In Conclusion
Skillfully combining siding materials enables properties to stand out from the status quo. Match depth dimensions between sidings for alignment. Mind proper gapping – 3/8 inches for planks and 1⁄4 inch for shakes, verticals and panels to enable underlying structure expansion. Finally, take material expansion rates into account so edges don’t gap or buckle once exposed to the elements.
With smart design planning on paper first and impeccable fabrication and fitting by seasoned siding contractors like those at NRG Remodeling, we can implement creative mixed media exteriors that will wow yet last thanks durable materials.
I welcome anyone seeking a blended siding aesthetic to call NRG to request a personalized quote from our siding specialist. We take your vision and refine mixes tailored to the architectural style, overall budget and long-term wear factors given DFW climate. Get ready to see boring same old siding applications be a thing of the past!
