Portland Metal Siding: Steel v. Aluminum Siding

In Portland, metal siding isn't the first material most homeowners think of when it comes to cladding their home. Vinyl, cement, and stone siding are the materials of choice. It didn't always used to be this way. For the longest time, aluminum siding was one of the most popular forms of residential siding because of its resistance to water and moisture and its low cost of installation. Unfortunately, it was vulnerable to hail and other impacts, and when cost-effective alternatives became available, aluminum saw a sharp downturn in its market share.

The New Metal Siding in Portland: Steel
For the longest time, steel was the antithesis of a smart siding material in Portland. Within a single season, steel siding could rust beyond the point of being a viable siding material. New baked-on coatings, however, have transformed steel into an equally moisture resistant metal as aluminum. Moreover, the unmatched strength of steel means no more concerns about impact damage. Better yet, with a seamless steel siding installation, you can eliminate the seams and joints that is a common weakness to any other form of siding.

The New Look of Steel Siding in Portland, OR
Of course, even with this newly enhanced performance, many homeowners have trouble envisioning the metallic appearance of steel for their home. These baked-on coating take care of this problem as well, transforming the look of steel into any number of highly decorative finishes. It may not be as close an imitation to wood as, say, fiber-cement siding, but you can have a colorful and vibrant look that surpasses many bland forms of vinyl siding.

Cost of Portland Metal Siding Installation
Aluminum siding was always popular for its low installation cost. Steel siding won't be quite as cheap, but it won't break the bank, either. Nearly every from of siding has undergone improvements that increase its performance, while also increasing the price of the siding. On the other hand, for long-term cost effectiveness, these improvements are a no-brainer, as they can extend the lifetime of your siding by decades. Vinyl siding, for example, now incorporates the same baked-on coatings as steel siding. The starting cost for siding installation for an average sized home is about $10,000. Steel siding will be in the same ballpark as vinyl and cement siding, and will last just as long. The question for homeowners really becomes just how much abuse you expect your siding to take, exactly what look and finish you want from your siding, and how much maintenance can you stomach over the years. As long as your steel siding is installed properly, you may never need to repair or maintain it for the lifetime of your home.

Portland Metal Siding Contractors
Portland metal siding contractors are not nearly as numerous as other more popular siding contractors. Of course, many professionals and companies may be able to install a number of different siding materials including steel. Alternately, metal-working companies may focus on a number of different metal applications, such as residential steel siding. Regardless, you need to find someone who has specific experience installing steel siding. They should be able to advise you on the relative pros, cons, and the exact cost of metal siding in Portland. ServiceMagic puts each and every contractor through a rigorous 10-step screening process and provides you with quality-controlled, online customer ratings and reviews. Don't hesitate to talk to one of our contractors about the rebirth of metal siding in the Pacific Northwest.

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