SidingHolic is an independent publication about the exterior of the American home. We focus on the two things that quietly decide how a house looks and how long it lasts: the siding on its walls and the gutters that move water away from it.
Re-siding a house is one of the largest single investments a homeowner makes — often somewhere between $10,000 and $30,000 — and most of the information available online is written to sell a product rather than to help someone choose one. We try to do the opposite.
What We Cover
- Materials — vinyl, fiber cement, engineered wood, cedar and other wood cladding, aluminum, steel, and composite, compared on installed cost, lifespan, and upkeep
- Gutters and drainage — gutter types, hangers, downspout capacity, and whether leaf guards are worth the money
- Installation — the details that separate a 15-year job from a 40-year job, and what belongs in a contractor’s written scope of work
- Maintenance — realistic repaint intervals, cleaning schedules, and the failure points worth inspecting each year
How We Research
Our guides are built from manufacturer specifications and published warranty terms, contractor pricing reported across US markets, and residential building-code requirements for wall assemblies and water management. Where we quote a cost, it is a typical installed range rather than a bid, and we say so.
We try to be explicit about trade-offs. Every material has a case where it is the wrong choice, and we would rather tell you that than sell you a product.
Who Writes Here
Articles are written and edited by Marcus Hale, who covers exterior remodeling and building products. His background and research approach are described on his author page.
Corrections
If something here is wrong, out of date, or unclear, tell us on the contact page. Corrections get priority over everything else in our inbox.