If you're considering new siding but want to stay away from Fiber cement siding, there are a few categories of alternatives. Below I'll list the main types of siding you could choose and then give some details of why we have found Everlast to be a better solution than all of them.
Siding Alternative #1 : Vinyl Siding
If you know about fiber cement siding than chances are you also know about vinyl siding and have already ruled it out. If not, here are the top frustrations people have with vinyl siding.
- It doesn't look authentic, like real wood clapboard
- It's thin, brittle and breaks easily
- It fades easily and it's generally not recommended to be painted
- It's dated. The technology hasn't changed much in 30 years
Siding Alternative #2 : Wood Siding
Wood siding, usually cedar, is still installed in many regions across the United States. Although beautiful at first, wood lap siding and shingles have problems of their own.
- High maintenance, need frequent painting or staining
- Prone to rot and deterioration
- Can warp and buckle in high sunlit areas
- Prone to damage from insects, woodpeckers, and other pests
Siding Alternative #3 : Wood Based Composites
There's a third class of siding--wood based composites, or "engineered siding". These products are similar to fiber cement, but without the cement. THey're comprised of mostly sawdust, or wood chips and some type of resin or glue. They tend to be cheaper than real wood siding but have many of the same issues.
- High maintenance, still needs painting
- Prone to moisture absorption
- Prone to damage from insects, woodpeckers, and other pests
Why is Everlast a Better Solution?
Everlast is an awesome alternative to fiber cement siding and the 3 options listed above. Everlast is specifically engineered to overcome the downfalls of most siding products. How is Everlast better?:
Paint-Free / Colored Through
Unlike fiber cement which is just painted cement and sawdust, Everlast™ is colored through and won't need painting unless you desire to change the color!
No Water Absorption or Pests
Fiber Cement and other wood based siding absorbs water which leads to rot and peeling paint. Everlast™, made from over 60% stone, has no wood fibers and won't rot--Guaranteed!
Thick Interlocking Planks
Everlast™ is 543% thicker than vinyl siding which is flimsy, brittle, and cracks easily. Everlast's™ thick planks give it the appearance of real wood clapboard.
Realistic Woodgrain Texture
Made from impressions of real cedar siding, the beautifully embossed woodgrain texture is commonly mistaken for actual wood clapboard.
Author: Peter Martino
What is Engineered Siding? Usually engineered siding is defined as siding made from some type of glue or resin and scrap material, mostly wood or the bi-products of milling wood such as sawdust or wood chips. Although that’s a pretty widely accepted definition in the siding industry, most homeowners looking for an engineered siding are simply looking for something that will give them the look and feel of real wood without the maintenance of real wood. To learn more about Everlast Composite Siding, download our free comparison here.
Who Makes Engineered Siding?
Dozens of versions of engineered siding have been released by various companies and under various brand names over the past 40 years or so. You might recognize such names as Masonite siding, Georgia Pacific, Louisiana-Pacific Siding, OSB Siding, etc.
Is Engineered Siding Long-Lasting?
According to oldhouseweb.com, Engineered wood siding “proved popular with builders, but defects became commonplace, especially in the hot, humid climate of the Southeastern U.S. or the extremely wet climate of the Pacific Northwest.” Generally speaking engineered wood siding does not have a long-standing reputation as being the most reliable product.
What Are Other Alternatives?
If your goal is to find a siding product that looks like real wood but doesn’t require as much maintenance and holds up well in all environments, Everlast Composite Siding may be an excellent choice. If you live in Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Southern New Hampshire, or Northern Connecticut you may request an estimate here.
Author: Peter Martino
You’re searching for synthetic siding for a reason and it’s probably because you’re sick of painting and the maintenance that comes with wood shingles or lap siding, or at least you're sick of the idea of it.
There are pros and cons to anything synthetic, and for decades the same has been true for siding. The benefits, at least in theory, of synthetic siding are that it’s low-maintenance, doesn’t require painting, and it is durable, again—in theory. The cons, at least in perception are that synthetic siding is unattractive, untraditional, and fake-looking. For decades this was a pretty accurate assessment of your siding options as a homeowner. You could get a lower maintenance product, but in return you’d have to sacrifice the curb appeal and attractiveness of your house. For a long time no siding option existed that actually looked like real wood but didn’t carry the burden and expense of tedious maintenance.
Everlast Composite Siding was engineered to deliver all the pros of what any homeowner desires in siding, without all of the cons as stated above. The beauty and success of Everlast composite siding lies in the fact that it looks very much like real wood clapboard (lap siding), but performs much more like a synthetic product—meaning it’s durable, long-lasting, and doesn’t require painting. Not convinced? Download our free comparison guide to see more details of how Everlast matches up against other commonly used siding products. Download it here.
Author: Peter Martino
Natick, MA - One of the finest towns in all of Massachusetts, where many homeowners take pride in their home's exterior. Many homeowners are in the process of searching for the right siding contractor in Natick or one that services the local area. With many old homes in Natick; there is no wonder why many locals are ready for a home makeover.
One our personal favorite projects was done in Natick by a lovely family who were tired of painting their old cedar wood siding that became very costly over time. So this family decided that a long-term, low maintenance upgrade was needed for their home and that is when they stumbled upon Everlast Composite siding.
Immediately, the homeowners knew that Everlast was the best option for their home and decided to reside their homewith the 7-inch Seaside Gray Everlast clapboard. Great choice. From beginning to the end of the project we removed all the existing siding, wrapped the home in Everwrap moisture barrier, and finished the siding with stainless steel, ringshanked nails. As add-ons we also replaced the window and door flashing with anodized aluminum flashing, and finished the trim off in white PVC. The house speaks for itself and simply pictures do not justify how well this home transformed from an ordinary, shabby looking home to an absolute extravagant place to live.
For more information about siding contractors in Natick, visit United Home Experts.com for other exterior home improvement services.
Author: Emilio Bonilla
Every homeowner in Massachusetts comes to a place where they ask, "What is the best siding for Massachusetts?" or "What is the best siding to use on my Massachusetts home?"
We are a siding contractor in Massachusetts and have installed over 2,000,000 square feet of siding... That's right 2 MILLION square feet.
We get the questions above all the time. The list of follow-up questions below generally help homeowners narrow down their choices.
- How much painting and maintenance are you willing to deal with?
- Do you prefer a thicker more durable siding?
- Do you prefer a natural and realistic wood-grain texture?
- Is a long-term warranty important to you?
Although there is on such thing as a perfect siding product, our experience has been that Everlast is the best solution to all the questions above. We've presented Everlast to thousands of homeowners and the vast majority of them prefer the look, feel, and durability of Everlast over any other product they've seen. Ever product has some down-sides and with Everlast those are
- It is only available in clapboard, not shingles or shakes
- It has a higher initial installation cost than some products (but not others, and has a low lifetime cost)
- It is currently only available in 10 colors
Weighing out all these factors, Everlast is still a growing product of choice for many Massachusetts homeowners.
Get pricing for your home here
Palmer, MA - A beautiful town that has so many things to do within the surrounding area. One of the most sought after services in Palmer are those of a quality siding contractor.
Many homeowners in Palmer are looking for their home siding to be replaced and here is a prime example of one of the projects we have done in the local area.
These homeowners previously had old and flimsy vinyl siding that would easily tear off with a strong windstorm. They explored all siding options, including new vinyl siding and fiber cement siding, but ultimately chose Everlast Composite Siding for its incredibly low maintenance and durability.
The color chosen for this project was Spanish Moss and the size of the clapboard was 7-inches. The entire home went through a complete and thorough inspection for any potential rot and new Everwrap mositure barrier was installed. All of the trim was replaced with 6" Super Corner boards and the window frames were replaced with white PVC trim.
The end result was spectacular and the homeowners could not have been more excited for the new and revamped look of their home. These Palmer, MA residents get compliments all the time from their neighbors that loved the appeal of the home.
Author: Emilio Bonilla
Wayland, MA - A beautiful town that has so many things to do. If you're a nature person, you can walk around the Sudbury River that flows through. If your a person who likes sightseeing, you can walk down their many trails or take a walk through the Cochituate Shopping Center. One of the most sought after services in Wayland are the services of a quality siding contractor.
The home below is a local Wayland home that went under a great transformation.
The homeowners were growing weary of the rotting Masonite siding that plagued their beautiful home, but decided to take this problem by the horns. They began researching for new siding and came across Everlast Composite siding as an alternative to fiber cement siding. After meeting with one of our team members, the couple fell in love with the product and quickly moved to set up the project for this past summer.
They chose the 4.5-inch Antique Ivory clapboard and added Low-E insulation on their entire house. Everwrap was used as a moisture barrier and everything was held down with stainless steel, ringshanked nails. We also painted their window and door frames and soffits. It was a perfect finish to a transformation on a home that badly needed a siding replacement. The homeowners loved the new look of their home with Everlast Composite siding and now their home is the eye candy of their neighborhood.
If you have been following our project profile series, you'll notice that this is the second project in Danvers, MA! Its no surprise that we would add another project from Danvers; its only right seeming that it is home to many of our customers who installed Everlast Composite Siding.
Those who are looking for quality siding contractors should look no more and see first hand the marvel that Everlast Composite Siding is. This is one of our Polar White projects and the very first home that was done in the 4.5 inch version of Polar White.
These local homeowners had a gorgeous home from a distance, but were tired of the chips of peeling paint and buckling that was on their existing fiber cement siding and wanted a siding that was superior. Easy choice for the homeowners, once Everlast was presented to them.
They decided on taking the first Polar White colored Everlast in the 4.5-inch clapboard and an entire demolition of the exisiting siding was required. The new Everwrap moisture barrier was installed and the new Everlast Composite clapboard was installed over it with stainless steel, ringshanked nails. These homeowners were ecstatic was the project was completed and who could blame them? This house is beautiful!
Wood siding can be very beautiful to the 
eye, and it is durable. It takes a variety of finishes well and may come with fire-retarding treatments. However, maintaining this type of siding can be time-consuming and expensive. It needs to be treated regularly and may need to be painted every five years. Wood siding can rot when there is extensive contact with water or if the siding is not installed or maintained properly. Wood can attract insects such as termites, carpenter ants, and other pests. Once insect damage occurs, damaged siding has to be replaced, and the rest of the home has to be treated. There are some siding alternatives that may be a better choice than wood siding.
Everlast Composite Siding has a 
realistic wood grain texture even though it does not contain any wood fibers; people routinely mistake it for wood clapboard. It is an economical siding option. Everlast Composite Siding is colored through and will never need painting unless a homeowner decides to change the color of their home. Sixty percent of the content of the siding is stone. It will never rot since it does not absorb water.
Fiber cement siding is available in imprinted designs that imitate woodgrain. It is made up of cement, cellulose, and sand. It can be painted, thus giving a lot of design choices to homeowners. It will not rot or dry like wood. Fiber cement has high structural strength and does not warp or crack in high temperature areas. It is resistant to pests, unlike wood siding. Fiber cement siding is less costly than wood. It does need to be rinsed off periodically with a garden hose. Painting may be needed every ten to fifteen years after installation, unlike Everlast that doesn't ever. Fiber cement siding is more difficult to install since special tools are needed in order to cut the siding. This increases installation costs since more labor is required to install it properly.
Wood siding provides a unique
look. However, it is expensive and must be maintained on a regular basis in order for it to last for a long time. It will eventually need to be replaced. Fiber cement siding is durable, but it may be more expensive to have installed than some other materials. Everlast Composite Siding is an option that is affordable and very durable. It is one of the best wood siding alternatives available.
Homeowners who are looking for durable and cost-effective siding options often turn to one of two options: Cedar Siding or Everlast Siding. Both offer a great finished look for a home's exterior. Various siding options differ substantially in price ranges, depending on issues such as dealer, area of the country, hardware and needed finishing pieces, and total square foot of the home. While price may be a deciding factor, homeowners often look at additional considerations such as durability, upkeep, and weather and bug resistance. However, if looking at price alone, one brand appears to be a better option than the other.
Cedar Siding Cost
Most brands of siding come in standard brands and price ranges. The positives of cedar siding include that fact that the siding offers the look of wood. Pricing cedar siding is a bit more complicated and depends on a number of factors. Cedar siding is often sold according to the wood grading. The wood grading includes Clear Vertical Grain Heart, A Bevel, Clear Heart, A, B and C Grades, and advanced B and C Better Select Grades.
The things that affect pricing depend on irregularity of the grains and finished looked or clearness of the grain itself. While it is great to have many options, choosing the right grade might prove difficult for a homeowner, and pricing then becomes complicated and expensive. Another added cost of cedar siding is what is called double coursing. This simply means that double siding is used and overlapped to create more insulation for a home in colder climates. Homes in cold environments depend on proper exteriors that insulate the home and save on heating costs. Experts suggest that homes in these areas install double coursing, which means extra siding costs for a homeowner.
Everlast Siding Costs
Everlast Composite Siding is a unique siding option made of mixture of cladded or overlaid resin and granular stone coating. Everlast comes in a single brand and style with the only variant being the color choices.
The positives of Everlast include its durability and resistance to strong winds. Other benefits include its resistance to insects and its low maintenance requirements. This brand of siding also provides great insulation for cold climate homes, resulting in lower heating and utility bills.
Wood siding is resistant but often requires replacement, while Everlast can withstand almost any heat, cold, or wind damage. Single layering of siding less upkeep, longer durability, and weather resistance means less replacement costs as compared to other siding options such as cedar.
It is a good idea to contact a local dealer in ones area to get an exact price for the siding of ones choice. Pricing is sometimes complicated, as there various factors come into play. While cedar is a great choice, the slightly more expensive cost for Everlast Composite Siding might prove worth the expense in the long run.