Exterior Wall Finishes
We’ve explored the best exterior painting options for your house, now, let's delve into the realm of exterior wall finishes, and some of the options that we have available to us. Since there are a plethora of finishes at your disposal, we’re only going to highlight a selection that are deemed the most popular and/or cost effective.
First in our lineup is stucco—a commonly used construction material that is applied onto surfaces wet and dries into a rough surface. It has great versatility along with functionality, finding its place on walls, ceilings, and as a decorative embellishment in architectural designs. The popularity of stucco lies within its durability and impressive longevity. However, if you live in an area that has more consistent sunlight, you’re more than likely to need to do periodic touch-ups as it will be more prone to fade.
A great alternative, which happens to be more economically friendly than stucco, is vinyl siding— Engineered plastic that offers a versatile array of styles, colors, and profiles. The flexibility to choose between vertical and horizontal orientations adds to its desire. Like stucco, vinyl siding isn’t great in constant sunlight so be particular when picking your vinyl color to help with fading. It also isn’t AS durable as stucco. Vinyl siding can be more prone to water leaks so make sure you take the correct steps when prepping your walls, so this problem is less likely to occur! Vinyl can be easy to install yourself as well, which adds to its appeal.
Our last discussed finish will be synthetic stone—an option that, while not the most budget-friendly, remains considerably more economical than real stone. Crafted from a blend of sand, cement, and aggregate, it gets molded to imitate various stone types and shapes. Its lightweight nature cancels out the need for additional footing reinforcement, yet it's important to note that, despite its concrete composition, it doesn’t match the structural integrity of genuine stone.
In the scheme of exterior finishes, each option bears its own unique charm and considerations. This allows you to embark on your own journey to tailor everything to exactly how you want your aesthetic to be.