Pros and Cons of Metal Siding

Metal siding often brings to mind industrial warehouses and farm buildings, but people have been cladding the exterior of their homes with metal siding for nearly a century. Durable, weather-resistant and easy to maintain, metal siding gives your home a fresh, modern feel that lasts. But it’s important to weigh the pros and cons of metal siding, which is often aluminum nowadays, before jumping in.

“As with any siding product, aluminum siding may not be right for everyone,” says Eric Cotterman, a senior product and installation manager with Cornerstone Building Brands, a maker of aluminum siding and other building materials. Below, Cotterman explains the pros and cons of metal siding so you can make the right decision for your home and family.

History of Metal Siding

The first exterior metal siding product, patented in 1903, was made from steel, and it rusted. A lot. A machinist from Indiana decided to improve the design, and in 1939, Frank Hoess was granted a patent for steel siding with interlocking flanges to keep out moisture. This much-improved design was used on new housing developments around Chicago starting in 1939.

If you’re not up on your world history, that’s the same year World War II broke out. Metal siding manufacturing soon took a backseat to more pressing needs for steel, like warships and planes. However, after the war was over, returning soldiers needed housing, and metal siding was inexpensive and easy to manufacture. Instead of steel, Hoess and others switched to aluminum, which was lighter and more weather-resistant.

War efforts vastly expanded research into various aluminum alloys, and the metal siding industry took off. Until the 1970s, aluminum siding was a popular alternative to wood, brick and stone. Vinyl siding came around in the 1960s and, in the following decades, surpassed aluminum due to its low cost and color availability.

Pros of Metal Siding

Today, metal siding’s popularity is again on the rise. Is it right for you? Here are the arguments in the “pro” camp, according to Cotterman.

Metal siding is:

• Durable. Aluminum and other metal siding last for decades. It’s impervious to pests like termites and carpenter ants, and it won’t rot or absorb moisture. Cotterman says Ply Gem aluminum siding from Cornerstone Building Brands has a 50-year warranty.
• Fire-resistant. “Aluminum has a natural oxide layer that prevents it from reacting with oxygen and igniting in fires, as well as a high melting point of 750–800 degrees Celsius (1,382–1,472 degrees Fahrenheit),” Cotterman says.
• Paintable. Customize your home’s aluminum siding with fresh paint whenever you want, something you can’t do with vinyl siding.
• Recyclable. “Metal siding is traditionally roll-formed from aluminum raw stock and available in both aluminum and steel options,” both of which are recyclable, Cotterman says. He adds that the Ply Gem brand has up to 67% recycled aluminum, which is certified by a third-party testing organization.
• Cost-effective. While aluminum is more expensive than vinyl siding, Cotterman says it’s typically cheaper than wood, brick and stone, and it lasts a long, long time.

Cons of Metal Siding

Metal siding is a great option for fire-prone areas and that 50-year warranty is nothing to sneeze at. But it’s not for everyone, Cotterman says. Here are some cons of metal siding.

• Harder to install. “While most siding options are considered easy to install versus masonry products, aluminum siding can be considered challenging in some situations due to its lack of flexibility around tight areas such as windows and doors,” Cotterman says. That will drive up your labor costs.
• Versatility. Aluminum siding can be a little basic as far as color choices and design decisions go. “Vinyl siding is traditionally offered in more styles, colors, finishes and profiles than aluminum siding,” Cotterman says.
• Not fireproof. “Aluminum siding is generally considered fire-resistant, but it can buckle in some cases under extreme heat,” Cotterman says. That’s still better than wood and vinyl, which can burn or melt, respectively.
• Scratchable and dentable. Hard impacts from tree branches, vehicles, sports equipment and even hammers during installation can dent a metal panel. This kind of damage is a pain to repair or replace.
• Poor insulator. Metal conducts heat, so it’s not a good insulator if you’re trying to retain heat in your home during winter. It does reflect heat, which can help in summer. Always install high-quality insulation with metal siding.

Is Metal Siding Right for You?

All exterior cladding has pros and cons. Wood is attractive and weathers nicely, but bugs and fires love it. Vinyl is inexpensive and easy to install, but it can warp and fade. Brick and stone last for centuries but can break the bank initially. “It mainly comes down to aesthetics,” Cotterman says. Think about what you want your home to look like, see what your affordable options are and go from there.

About the Expert

Eric Cotterman is a senior product and installation manager at Cornerstone Building Brands, where he ensures proper installation techniques are followed in accordance with industry regulations and national building codes. Cotterman has a degree in mechanical engineering from Wright State University, and has worked in the building materials industry for more than 30 years.

Sources

• City of Cumberland, Maryland. Preservation District Design Guidelines: 20th Century Building Materials, Appendix B.
• Getty Conservation Institute, Los Angeles (2014): Twentieth Century Building Materials.