How Do Vertical and Horizontal Siding Compare?

Siding orientation is one of the key decisions homeowners must make when choosing new siding. If you’ve been making plans for siding replacement, you’ve probably asked yourself whether you should get vertical or horizontal siding, or maybe a combination of both — but which one should be the dominant style? In today’s post, Shine Construction Inc. helps you with your decision-making by sharing insight on the pros and cons of both styles.

Horizontal Siding

Between vertical and horizontal siding, the latter is the more popular two styles, and typically seen on traditional home styles. Take a stroll around your neighborhood, and chances are most of the homes are cladded with horizontal siding. Horizontal siding types are made of long boards of equal width, overlapping like shingles to facilitate efficient shedding of water. Alternatives to traditional clapboard style siding include Dutch lap style, which has ridges designed to give the exterior a flatter look. Another is siding with beaded seams that feature a V-shaped lip that curls underneath the panel. This highlights the seams by creating a more pronounced shadow on the panel below it.

It’s important to note that horizontal siding can be more susceptible to water infiltration if there are gaps at the overlaps between the boards. However, this can be prevented with proper installation methods. Also, manufactured options like vinyl siding are made with interlocking slots that help protect them against infiltration.

Aesthetically, horizontal siding creates a wide look, which may not be ideal if you want to add the illusion of height to your home. Also, some homeowners find horizontal siding too conventional for their taste, but this can be improved upon by creating gradients or choosing unique colors and textures.

Vertical Siding

Vertical siding is a great option for modern or contemporary style homes, and can create the illusion of height. Its orientation makes it shed rainwater more efficiently. The most popular vertical siding style is board and batten siding, made of alternating wide and narrow boards. The narrow pieces or batten cover the seams between the wide boards, which helps protect the building’s exterior from moisture infiltration. Alternatively, reverse board and batten siding features narrow boards and wider batten covering the seams.

One of the drawbacks of choosing vertical siding is that not all siding installers have the training to install them. Board and batten siding also uses two different siding profiles, which may increase the overall material cost. 

Aesthetically, vertical siding gives the building a specific look that some refer to as a “barnhouse” style, which may place limitations on other factors such as your choice of exterior color. Some HOAs may also have rules against using vertical siding, so make it a point to check your CC&Rs before you commit to your siding choice.

Questions to Ask Yourself When Choosing Between Horizontal and Vertical Siding

Still can’t decide between the two styles? Here are a few questions that can help you weigh your options.

• Which one fits my home’s aesthetic? Your personal style and preferences should inform your design decisions. Horizontal siding has a traditional or classic look, while vertical siding has a more modern feel. A good drawing or digital rendering can help you visualize how new siding will look on your home. Some designers and contractors use apps that virtually “install” siding on your home and swap out options.
• What do other houses in my neighborhood look like? Even without an HOA dictating your community’s choices, you’ll want to avoid your home standing out like a sore thumb. Take a quick drive around a few blocks and just pay attention to your neighbors’ houses, and see which style is the dominant one. In addition to siding style, pay attention to other details like the general color palette.
• Do I have proper drainage? As discussed above, vertical siding sheds rainwater more efficiently. While a functional gutter system takes most of the rainwater away from the building, you may need to make sure that the building has a secondary drainage system to protect the house foundations.

Other Factors to Consider

Your siding replacement also involves other factors to consider beyond the siding style.

• Material. Both horizontal and vertical siding are available in a wide selection of materials — wood, vinyl, fiber cement and aluminum to name a few. Each material has its pros and cons, but an important consideration is their maintenance requirements, and how much work you’re willing to put in. For example, wood siding typically needs regular repainting to protect it from moisture damage. In comparison, vinyl and fiber cement are inherently water-resistant. They also come with molded-in or factory-applied colors, eliminating the need to repaint.
• Color. Choosing a single color for your siding is not a bad choice by any means. As a part of the house’s exterior, it has to be in harmony with the roof color, as well as other elements like the trim. However, don’t let these considerations limit your choices if your home calls for a more complex color palette. For example, you can choose siding with different shades of the same color to create a gradient effect.
• Home style. Some home styles call for specific siding styles, and choosing one that’s not associated with your home style may result in an inauthentic look. Authenticity is particularly important if you own a historic property, so you may need to do a little bit of research or consult your local historical council before reaching out to a siding contractor.
• The siding contractor. If you’re trying to decide between the two siding styles, narrow your siding contractor choices to those that offer both. This means you’ll have to do your due diligence and research their services, verify their credentials, and ask for references. Make sure that you call the said references and ask questions that are relevant to the siding style.

Lastly, it is possible to use one siding style to complement the other, or to create a visual contrast. When you’re ready to have your siding replaced, give Shine Construction Inc. a call at (508) 278-3300. You can also fill out our contact form to schedule an appointment.