If your exterior siding isn’t looking or performing as well as it used to, maybe it’s time for replacement. Start weighing your options by learning the pros and cons of today’s most popular siding materials.

There’s a paradox inherent to exterior siding. On the one hand, siding serves as your home’s first line of defense against the elements. On the other, the very elements it’s designed to deflect—driving rain, for example, and whipping wind—can lead to its ultimate demise. Of course, different types of siding stand the test of time differently, and while some continue performing well with a minimum of maintenance, others require regular care to last over the long term. In the end, the expected lifespan of siding largely depends on an assortment of variables, but of them all, nothing matters more than your choice of material.

Wood

A traditional favorite, wood siding remains popular with homeowners who consider its stand-out beauty well worth the relatively high price. It’s not all about aesthetics, though. Wood also boasts impressive longevity. Under the best circumstances, it can last decades, but proper maintenance calls for much more than occasional cleaning. For one thing, you must regularly inspect wood siding for evidence of rot, mold, and pests, and if you discover any, you need to act quickly to limit damage. Bear in mind also that because the material naturally expands and contracts throughout the year, homeowners with wood siding often need to redo the caulking around exterior window and door trim. Finally, wood siding must be refinished about every five years. Failure to paint, stain, or otherwise seal the material makes it vulnerable to moisture, and as any homeowner knows, moisture and wood do not mix. Besides undercutting the longevity of the siding itself, the incursion of moisture can mean extensive, expensive damage to the home itself. All that said, for those prepared to shoulder its considerable care requirements, wood siding is a lovely, lasting option for virtually any house style.

Aluminium

It’s tough to categorize aluminum, it’s by no means delicate. In fact, the metal often lasts for decades, but the same can’t be said for the enamel. After about 15 years, the baked-on enamel coating typically begins to fade, first becoming chalky and then gradually washing away in the rain. To keep aluminum siding looking new, homeowners have to repaint, although not as frequently as with wood. There’s another significant maintenance concern: Unlike other materials, aluminum can become scratched, pitted, or dented. Those surface imperfections can be repaired in many cases, but if the damage warrants replacing the affected board, you may not like the result. Even if readily available, the color of the brand-new board likely wouldn’t match the existing color, simply because the enamel fades so much. Such headaches may help to explain the waning popularity of aluminum. Despite its insulating properties and relatively low price, you rarely see it on new homes these days.

Vinyl

Vinyl siding enjoys enormous popularity, because it provides the look of traditional wood siding, just without all the hassle. It’s virtually maintenance-free, in part because it resists many of the challenges that compromise other materials. For instance, unlike wood, vinyl doesn’t rot, and unlike aluminum, it doesn’t easily scratch or dent. Of course, like any other type of siding, vinyl does get dirty, but cleaning it off couldn’t be much easier. Usually, it’s only a matter of rinsing it with a garden hose, but even for tough stains, you rarely need more than a solution of water and mild detergent. Long-lasting and low maintenance, vinyl appeals above all to those with no time or energy to put toward maintenance. But practicality isn’t the only advantage vinyl siding offers. Available in a range of colors and textures, the material delivers crisp, striking visual appeal, no matter the context, traditional or modern. In addition, vinyl siding can help make your home more tightly sealed slashing your utility bills. There’s a reason vinyl has become the most popular type of siding in America.