House siding - LOTS of questions

[msmama]

Sandy did some damage to my already needing to be painted house. I'm meeting with the insurance inspector tomorrow so I have no idea what (if anything) I will get from them, but I guess this is why I have an emergency fund, right!

Anyway, I *may* be able to get away with just replacing some boards, but reside the house has been on my list of things I'd like to change since I moved in 5 years ago!!

But...I know nothing about siding. I'd like to be as green as possible (environmental, not the color) and when I google that APEX comes up as an option. Anybody have that?

This Hardiplank stuff seems somewhat popular thought not green (which I think I've read about on here before).

I do want to keep this somewhat budget, but I'm going for bang for my buck. I would rather spend more if it requires less maintenance overall. It seems to be that vinyl would be out then.

Also, how do you pick a color for your house?!?!?!? I don't think this will be my forever house. The longest I could see myself staying here is when my now 4 year old graduates from high school (so another 14 years or so). In that case, do I get what I want (farmhouse red) or something that I think will sell better (beige).

Thanks for any help. I'm at a complete loss on where to start even!!

 

[LJSquishy]

I can't help at all with what type of siding to get, but as far as color goes, if you are planning on being there for over 10 years paint it whatever color you personally like. If you move in 14 years it will be time to repaint anyway so you could choose a more neutral color at that time.

 

[kid-at-heart]

To be "green" you need to use natural products (wood) and not use man-made items such as vinyl siding, aluminum siding, or cement fiber siding. Green products will decompose in a reasonable amount of time when discarded. Kudos to you for wanting a green product.

 

[Darcy03231]

If you aren't planning on staying in your house, you should go with a neutral color. You can jazz it up by painting your door(s) and shutters a color that you like.

We sided our house two years ago and that's the advice a realtor gave us. She said white, beige, gray, tan houses all tend to sell quicker than the colors (red, blue, yellow, green, brown, etc.)

 

[kmacht]

I don't get the whole green thing. So it is "green" to use a product that makes you cut down a bunch of trees to manufacture it and then have it painted with a product that doesn't make it decompose? It seems like the hardi board cement siding would be more green. Cement is made from limestone, clay, and sand. All are natural products. When it comes time to dispose of it the stuff is just ground back into a powder and then re-used to make other types of cement, base layers for roads and driveways, or now even countertops.

Keith

 

[nilseks]

I agree with the cement board. We used a 'green' builder and we have it on our house because it's the only type of siding allowed in our subdivision (we live in a golf course community and they don't want dings in aluminum siding . Since you were affected by Sandy I would guess you may have to contend with storms/hurricanes in the future, and the cement board holds up to a lot.

By the way, glad your damage from Sandy was not a lot!