Guide to Exterior Siding & Roofing Materials
The exterior of a house makes a big impression, and the wrong siding can age it prematurely, while the wrong roofline throws the whole profile off. Get these details right, and the house will look stylish and have excellent curb appeal. This guide covers all of the exterior decisions that make a difference, like the siding materials and types, roof shapes and shingles, gutters, and the architectural elements that pull the whole exterior together.
The biggest exterior decisions
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- Types of house siding. Every major siding material, sorted by use and budget
- Roof types. The roof shapes and what styles they belong to
- Matching siding and roof colors. Pairing siding and roof so the whole house reads coherent
Siding types and products
They call this the skin of the house, and every material has a different lifespan, maintenance bill, and look, so you’ll want the best one for your area.
- Clapboard siding. The original lap profile, still everywhere
- Exterior shiplap siding. Shiplap as exterior cladding
- Aluminum house siding. Aluminum siding, what’s behind the look
- Engineered wood siding. Wood-look siding that holds up better than real wood
- Exterior wood siding types. Cedar, redwood, pine, and the rest
- Board and batten exterior walls. The vertical-strip exterior look
- White vinyl siding. White vinyl, the default exterior
- Vinyl siding sizes. Sizing and coverage for vinyl panels
- Black siding house. Black siding, when it works and when it doesn’t
- White siding house. White siding done right
- House siding cost calculator. Estimating the siding job before you call
Roof types and roofing materials
The roof is the second-biggest visual element after the siding. The material you choose decides its longevity.
- Types of metal roofs. Standing seam, corrugated, stamped, and more
- Black metal roof. Black metal, what it does to the rest of the house
- Types of roof tiles. Tile roof options across regions
- Barrel tile roof. Spanish-style barrel tile, the look and the upkeep
- Types of canopy roofing. Canopy and awning-style roofing options
- Types of green roofs. Living roofs, the realistic version
- Types of roofing sheets. Sheet roofing options compared
- Types of roof damage. What to look for during inspection
- Types of roof overhangs. Overhang depth and what it changes
- Roof cleaning. Cleaning a roof without wrecking it
Roof shapes and forms
The roofline reads from the curb, and its pitch, slope, and profile showcase the house’s silhouette.
- Pitched roof types. A closer look at sloped roof forms
- Flat roof vs pitched roof. The fundamental roofline decision
Roof shingles
This is the wear layer on most American roofs, and its material and weight all matter when it comes to its lifespan and cost.
- Types of roof shingles. Asphalt, architectural, composite, and beyond
- Black roof shingles pros and cons. Dark shingles, heat, and curb appeal
Roof architectural elements
The pieces of the roof line signal its style before anyone reads the listing.
- Parts of a house exterior. The vocabulary for everything on a facade
- Types of dormers. The little roofed windows and what each is called
- Garage dormer designs. Dormers that add light and style above the garage
- Gable vs dormer. Two roof features people mix up
- Cupola roof. The little rooftop structure and what it’s for
- Roof soffit. The underside of the eave, and why it matters
- Types of rakes. The roof edge that most people don’t know is called the rake
Chimneys
Find out the chimney type, cap, and liner choices that matter for function and look.
- Types of chimneys. Masonry, prefab, and metal chimney systems
- Types of chimney caps. Caps that keep water and animals out
- Chimney cap sizes. Sizing a chimney cap to the flue
- Types of chimney liners. Clay, metal, and cast-in-place liners
- Faux chimney. Adding a decorative chimney for the look
Exterior window features
The window shape and trim you select do as much for curb appeal as the siding.
- Transom windows. The window above the door that dates a house
- Types of bay windows. Bay window styles and projections
- Bay window sizes. Standard bay window dimensions
- Bay window vs bow window. Two projecting windows, people confuse
- Awning vs casement window. Two operable styles, different uses
Exterior shutters
Shutters were original equipment on most American houses. Now they’re often decorative, but they still need to look stylish.
- Types of shutters. Shutter styles and what each one signals
Porches and columns
The transition from your exterior to the interior. See the columns and porch details that set the style.
- Porch column wraps. Updating porch columns to match a style
Gutters and gutter guards
The least glamorous exterior decision is the gutters, but they play an important part in keeping your home maintenance-free.
- Gutter sizes. Sizing gutters to your roof area
- Rain gutter downspout size. Downspout sizing rules
- Rain gutter calculator. Calculating gutter capacity
- Types of gutter guards pros and cons. Guard styles and what each does
- Foam gutter guards pros and cons. Foam guards, the realistic take
- How to measure for gutter guards. Measuring before you buy
Solar, structural, and other roofing
These are all bigger decisions that must be made correctly to avoid costly mistakes.
- Replacing roof with solar panels. Combining roof replacement with solar
- New roof and solar at the same time. Why does doing both together save money
- Rafters vs trusses. The framing decision under the roof
- Roof ridge vent. The ventilation strip that runs along the ridge
- Roof cost calculator. Estimating the roof replacement cost
More siding, roofing, and exterior detail guides get added here as we add additional guides to the list. The exterior of your home is one decision the whole neighborhood notices, so it’s worth getting it right.
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