Shingle siding and all about shingles exterior

Many homeowners opt for modern style materials such as panels and corrugated steel, but some prefer the warm and welcoming appearance of traditional materials such as Shingles. While being slightly more expensive than standard lap siding, shingles can be a great way to distinguish your home from others in your neighborhood. There are many different compositions and profiles of shingle siding products including Cedar, Fibre Cement and even Vinyl.
Let us look into the most popular options available on todays market in order to help you choose the right product for your siding project. If you are looking for any additional information after reading through this, please feel free to reach out to our team of specialists and we will be happy to help you through the process.

Popular types of shingle siding in Vancouver

Cedar shingles

Shingles made from natural cedar can make any house look like a warm cottage style home. Given the demand of natural cedar, especially western red cedar, the price associated with this material is higher than most other wood species as well as Fibre Cement and vinyl. The reason for the extraordinarily high demand is the long-lasting properties as well as the beautiful signature red hue offered by this product.

Hardie shingles (fiber cement siding)

Fibre Cement Shingle panels are designed to resemble painted wood shingles once installed but offer a longer service life with less required maintenance. Featuring 16 standard colours as well as the option for custom painting coated over long lasting material combined with affordable pricing, Fibre Cement Shingles are often chosen for siding project across the country. The material that these shingles are composed of has been perfected over the years to become the high performance product it is today. By offering a resistance to fire, moisture and even bird or insect damage, Fibre cement has become a standard for many builders throughout the world.

Vinyl shingle siding

Vinyl was on of the first artificially produced materials that were approved as an alternative to traditional materials such as wood or stone. Vinyl Shingles are relatively inexpensive compared to most siding systems available today but still offer a similar appearance to fibre cement or natural wood shingles. Vinyl material is very effective at diverting rain water and protecting your home from damage caused by insects and birds which combined with very affordable material pricing is why Vinyl siding of all types has become popular in recent years. These vinyl shingle panels are available in many different colours but can also be painted after it has been installed if you are not satisfied with the original tones.
Vinyl siding does not have as long of a service life as materials like wood or fibre cement and can become brittle over time though a yearly visual inspection and occasional cleaning can prevent any unexpected repairs over the years. If you would like to know more about vinyl shingles, please feel free to contact us at Orbis Group, our experienced team would be happy to help answer any of your questions.

Wood shingle siding

Traditionally, siding materials were manufactured from different species of wood and that is no different when it comes to shingles. Today, despite there being many different types of shingles on the market, wood shingles are still in high demand, especially Western Red Cedar. Even though natural wood products do not necessarily perform as well as manufactured materials like fibre cement, they remain in high demand throughout the country and even internationally. The reason for its popularity is not only the natural resistance Western Red Cedar has to the elements but also the beautiful natural red hue that is immediately noticeable when these products are installed without stain or paint. Cedar shingles are a great way to spruce up the appearance of your home whether installed alone or in combination with other siding systems.

Shingle siding installation

As with any siding system, the first step is called the preparation phase. This begins with clearing the exterior surface of any old siding materials, protruding nails or scews and finally covering the walls in a weather barrier membrane. This membrane is designed to allow humidity to escape the interior of your home without letting any moisture in. Once this is done, moisture diverting flashing and rainscreen is installed, these items exist to prevent moisture from remaining stagnant behind your siding as well as create an air gap to allow any trapped moisture to flow freely to the bottom of the cladding system. Now that your home is waterproof, it is ready for siding products to be installed. Starting with vertical trims at outside and inside corners as well as around your windows and doors, you can begin to visualize what the final product will look like.
Last but not least is the finishing products, whether wood, vinyl or fibre cement, the projects final pieces can be installed before applying caulking to any exposed areas and performing a final inspection for the project.

Shingle siding colors

There have always been dozens of shingle colours available on the market, most being calm and neutral tones that can soften the overall appearance of any structure, whether commercial or residential.  With countless grays, beiges, and browns, it is possible to match the colour of different siding systems with ease. However, with modern projects venturing into more unique and vibrant colours, there are now many new shades of blue, green yellow and red. If you are not able to find a standard color that feels right for you, there is also the option to have your siding custom painted which means you can bring your vision to life no matter what colours you are looking for. Our siding specialists would be happy to guide you through the different shingle products and manufacturers to ensure that you are receiving the perfect product to meet both your design and budget requirements. Please feel free to contact us at Orbis Group for more information.

Shingle siding material and installation cost

Shingle material can be made from completely different materials, each requiring their own installation method and within each material type, like cedar for example, there are different grades and profiles to choose from. Choosing which composition and profile will best fit your project design and budget requirements can be a daunting task, however, our team of specialists is here to help.
Starting with the least expensive shingles, made from vinyl, you can expect to spend approximately $___ while Fibre Cement shingles can cost approximately $___. Cedar Shingles are the most expensive material wise, these typically cost around $___ right now but wood pricing is quite volatile and this can change from one week to the next. Once material has been procured, installation costs must be considered; installation pricing will also vary depending on the type of shingle that is chosen as well as the specific project size and difficulty of installation.
In most cases the installation cost will approximately $___ per square foot while more complex installations can cost upwards of $___ for the same area.

Shingle siding and panels FAQ

Is shingle siding expensive?

Fibre Cement Shingle Panels and Natural Wood Shingles are not extremely expensive but are significantly more expensive than Vinyl Shingles and other Vinyl products. You can expect to pay between $___ and $___ per square foot for Fibre Cement or Natural wood versus $___ to $___ for vinyl.

Can shingle siding be painted?

Wood, Vinyl and Fibre cement shingle material can all be painted without any issue, whether before or after the installation. It is important to note, however, that if you are looking to have your siding system painted after the installation is completed, you should do so within a couple of weeks of its installation. Once the siding has been exposed to the elements, it requires cleaning and preparation to ensure that the paint adheres to the surface correctly.

How much does shingle siding cost?

Each type of shingle and each project commands its own specific price. With so many types of shingle material available, it is difficult to narrow down a general price for these systems, however, the average price per square foot for shingle siding is between $___ and $___

How long does shingle siding last?

Shingle products can be manufactured using natural wood, fibre cement or even vinyl and each type offers its own expected service life. Vinyl Shingles are known to last between 5 and 10 years while Fibre cement products can last up to 25 years. Wood shingles can last anywhere from 5 to 25 years depending on the type of wood being used as well as the maintenance and care given to the siding system throughout its life.