Protect your cabin from bad weather, and from hungry bears
Cabin life is dreamy, isn’t it? It provides beautiful vistas, immediate access to nature, and plenty of space for your next outdoor shindig. However, cabins are often located in areas with extreme weather, from hot summers to ultra-cold winters, leaving many wondering the best siding type for each scenario. Here are the best cabin siding ideas that withstand harsh weather, whether this is your primary residence or vacation home.
Vinyl is a versatile and budget-friendly siding option that can stand up to harsh weather. Vinyl siding costs around $3 to $12 per square foot, with a total project cost of $6,400 to $18,200 (depending on the type of siding and the size of the exterior). Vinyl protects the home from just about every severe weather event and is highly resistant to moisture, reducing the risk of unwanted visitors to your cabin like mold, mildew, and rot.
Many homeowners are hesitant when it comes to vinyl siding due to its previously limited color options, but the selection has dramatically increased in size over the years. Vinyl siding options go beyond the bland-feeling planks occupying many suburban homes. There’s vinyl shake siding, giving a unique beachy look, and even vinyl logs to approximate that cabin-esque wood aesthetic. Vinyl log siding costs $4 to $11 per square foot, with a total project cost of $6,000 to $16,500.
Cabins and real wood go together like peanut butter and jelly. This is one of the most popular cabin siding options out there (and for good reason). It provides the distinctive look that only wood provides and modern finish options make natural wood last longer and require less maintenance, though wood still demands more maintenance than other siding types.
Wood is a fantastic insulator, helping to regulate the temperature in any season and during any weather event. However, wood doesn’t exactly gel with moisture, so mold and mildew build up over time. That’s one of the many reasons why those modern finish options are so popular.
Wood siding costs $3 to $10 per square foot, with a total project cost of $7,000 to $23,000 for a standard-sized cabin.
Engineered wood goes by many names, including composite wood, man-made wood, and manufactured board. This material is made from a combination of wood fibers and various exterior-grade resins. This type of wood siding is a go-to for many builders as it is available in multiple designs, like shakes and lap siding, and plenty of colors and finishes.
As expected, the installation process is similar to natural wood siding, but at a lower price. Engineered wood siding costs $1 to $6 per square foot, with a total project cost of $1,000 to $15,000. It has one other benefit when compared to real wood, as composite wood requires very little maintenance. Just paint it every five years or so.
As for extreme weather, these engineered materials offer similar benefits to natural wood, with one caveat: Make sure you hire an expert to install this siding type, as poor installations lead to moisture damage, particularly in humid environments.
Concrete is not a popular siding choice due to the weight and installation hurdles that come with it. However, concrete log siding has become more common in recent years due to its natural fire-resistant properties. The official name of concrete siding is glass fiber reinforced concrete (GFRC) log siding, as the material composition differs from concrete used for other building tasks. It mimics the look of wood logs, just like engineered wood, but requires very little maintenance.
Concrete log siding is extremely durable, sturdy, and non-porous, making it an excellent insulator for both heat and cold. It also does a much better job of resisting mold and mildew than wood. So what’s the downside? This type of siding is not necessarily budget-friendly. Concrete log siding costs $12 to $28 per square foot, for a total project cost of $18,800 to $42,000.
Fiber cement siding is made from a mixture of cement, sand, and cellulose fibers, and cured via pressurized steam. This is another option that provides the lusted-after look of real wood but without the maintenance hassles. This material is incredibly durable and near-impervious to extreme weather events, all while maintaining a steady temperature inside. It’s also on the budget-friendly side compared to many siding types. Fiber cement siding costs $5 to $10 per square foot, with a total project cost of $6,500 to $22,500.
The initial installation process is labor-intensive, as incorrect installations lead to reduced insulating capacity and may void certain warranty specifications.
When you think of a cabin, you might not imagine metal siding. However, there are some serious benefits to choosing this material for your cabin’s exterior. Modern options come in a wide variety of designs and colors, so you aren’t stuck with industrial-looking metal. Choose from metal shake designs, log designs, uniquely-sized panels, planks, and more. Metal siding is also impervious to fire and is incredibly durable, requiring little maintenance. Rust is a concern if you live in a particularly humid or wet environment, but it holds up well to both heat and cold and is energy efficient.
The best option for a cabin is log-style steel. This type of metal siding costs $1 to $5 per square foot and is a great choice for those looking to mimic natural wood while retaining the benefits of metal.
