According to "Today’s Homeowner" magazine, tastes in siding are changing. Aside from curb appeal considerations, there are some very practical reasons for the shift. New materials have been developed that resist rot, have higher fire resistance, require less or no paint and come with a long warranty. How do they stack up?

Brick - About 21% of new homes use brick. Bricks are extremely fire proof and do not require paint, although periodic mortar inspection and repair is needed. Like the smartest of the three little pigs learned, you can huff and puff but bricks tend to stand for a long time.

Cost: High Durability: High

Vinyl - 33% of new homes have vinyl siding. The product has improved immensely over the years and now comes in stylish looks and carries a long warranty. For homeowner associations, it has the added advantage of no paint required which will significantly reduce the amount of money needed for reserves.

Cost: Medium Durability: High

Wood - Many still use traditional wood sidings like cedar and hardboard (wood fibers mixed with binder and formed under high pressure into sheets. Maintenance is relatively high. Hardboard sidings have developed a bad reputation in recent years due to premature failure caused by moisture absorption that creates swelling and delamination. It usually performs well in dry climates.

Cost: Medium Durability: Medium to Low

Traditional Stucco - This form of stucco is a cementaceous mixture that is usually applied over concrete, masonary block or brick like cake icing. The dramatic textures and accents possible with stucco make it a popular, although expensive, alternative. It has a long history dating back many centuries in Europe.

Cost: High Durability: High

Synthetic Stucco (aka EIFS-Exterior Insulation and Finishing System) - became popular in the mid ‘80s as a cheaper alternative to traditional stucco. It combines a foam board which is attached to the structure, followed by a plastic mesh and then finished with a thin acrylic stucco-like coating. Since it is light weight, it can be applied on wood frame buildings without fear of weakening the structure due to the extra load. Unfortunately, EIFS has experienced many water related problems that dryrot the framing structure at an accelerated rate. EIFS requires a considerable technical expertise to install properly which few installers possess. The product rarely carries more than a 10 year warranty and even if it does, the warranty is voidable due to installation errors.

Cost: High Durability: Questionable

Cementaceous - A new generation of siding made primarily of cement is rapidly gaining popularity. It has the look of traditional wood siding yet is fireproof and rot resistent. Name brands like Hardiplank offer 50 year warranties.

Cost: Medium Durability: High

If your homeowner association is contemplating siding repair or replacement, consider some of the modern alternatives. From the perspective of no more paint cost, vinyl is a hands down favorite. For durability and fire resistance, cementaceous siding offers good alternatives. When choosing siding, side with the best you can afford and consult with the manufacturers representative to increase the quality of installation.

For more information on this subject, see www.Regenesis.net.

Published: January 19, 2000

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Richard Thompson owns Regenesis, a management consulting company that specializes in condominium and homeowner associations. He is a nationally recognized expert on HOA management issues. Regenesis publishes The Regenesis Report, a monthly newsletter for HOA boards, developers and managers. To subscribe, go to Regenesis.net. He can be contacted by email at .