HOME SIDING COSTS

RELATED ARTICLE: Today''s siding HOME and SIDING operations, pros and consFIBER CEMENT Made COSTS from cement and wood fibersCOST: From $1.35 per HOME square foot* Very durable; SIDING little warping or buckling over time* Doesn''t break, dent, or scratch easily* New colors and stains COSTS and HOME add to "real wood" SIDING and COSTS appearance* Maintenance is easy--wash it off* Very fire resistant* Harder to work with than others* HOME Installers must drill nail holes or use screws; cutting takes longer and can be challengingCOMPOSITE Made up of compressed wood chips

"There SIDING and COSTS is the tendency to HOME look at it and categorize SIDING it as regular vinyl, but COSTS vinyl really is just a maintenance-free skin HOME and SIDING for a completely separate product," says Mark Axlerod, director COSTS of marketing for CraneBoard Solid Core siding.Competition HOME from the swelling number SIDING and COSTS of insulated sidings will benefit both the pro and the homeowner, manufacturers contend. "It''s very important to offer an extensive product line. If a contractor wants to differentiate himself, he now has another option to meet his clients'' needs," says Walt Hoyt, director of marketing/communications for CertainTeed''s siding group.