Consumer Reports Siding Buying Options

Explore 2014 Consumer Reports siding options and ratings on many of the most popular siding brands and products for fiber cement, shingles and shakes, as well as vinyl siding.

Consumer Reports Fiber Cement Siding

Fiber cement is more durable and sturdy in comparison to vinyl panels but is also often more expensive as a result. With durability comes a significant amount of weight, which requires extra care as well as effort and therefore a higher price. Fiber cement needs priming and/or painting prior to install, which will often hike up the price once again. Additional Resources | Fiber Cement Panel Cost

Nichiha Sierra Premium

Retail Cost: $160
Consumer Reports Score:76
Overall Thickness: 0.500
Our Opinion: Nichiha gets great reviews from consumers that know about their products. Installers in general are much less knowledgable about the company because its regional with a factory in Georgia. It may not be available in your area, but if it is we would recommend getting a price bid from a local company.
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HardiePlank Select Cedarmill

Retail Cost: $200
Consumer Reports Score:73
Overall Thickness: 0.313
Our Opinion: HardiePlank is an excellent product, although there are installers who just don't like fiber cement in general. Because James Hardie is the big name in fiber cement, they are usually the company that gets both lots of praise and lots of anger directed at it from unhappy consumers. Assuming good installation, Hardie fiber cement is a great way to go. Check out Hardie Board Siding Colors to see the color options available.
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CertainTeed WeatherBoards

Retail Cost: $70
Consumer Reports Score:68
Overall Thickness: 0.313
Our Opinion: CertainTeed isn't known for their fiber cement, but it is interesting to look at how much less expensive the product is in comparison to the other two. We always recommend that consumers spend a little more on the product in order to safeguard against issues down the road.
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Consumer Reports Shake And Shingles

Shakes and shingles are a great option due to their strength and protection level, which is higher than other products because of the above average thickness of the panel profile (often twice as thick). They are also much more expensive than both fiber cement and vinyl panels, but they look great and have a very long life span. Additional Resources | Shingle Siding Cost

CertainTeed Cedar Impressions

Retail Cost: $315
Consumer Reports Score:95
Overall Thickness: 0.100
Our Opinion: CertainTeed might not be a prime player in fiber cement panels, but they are a top dog when it comes to the Impressions series. The company offers a ton of different profiles, lengths and styles to choose from. The Impressions series is not cheap, but it is one of the best made vinyl shingle on the market. Check out all of the certainteed vinyl siding colors here.

Crane Portsmouth

Retail Cost: $325
Consumer Reports Score:91
Overall Thickness: 0.100
Our Opinion: Ironically, Crane is known more for their Craneboard fiber cement and not for their shingles and shake siding. The Portmouth is a strong product that is more expensive than the CertainTeed shingles, but certainly worth a look and a price bid if you can find a contractor with a good relationship and track record with Crane. The company is generally regarded as a top siding manufacturer. Read Craneboard reviews here.

Mastic Cedar Discovery

Retail Cost: $350
Consumer Reports Score:90
Overall Thickness: 0.080
Our Opinion: The Mastic Cedar Discovery is a very nice looking product and does a great job resembling real shakes and shingles. They also have a nice bold color collection that can be used in combination with softer colors on the main part of the home to really make a section pop. However, it is very expensive, the most expensive product in Consumer Reports 2014 siding brands list.

KP Perfection VSPC

Retail Cost: $240
Consumer Reports Score:83
Overall Thickness: 0.100
Our Opinion: KP is a smaller company, but the shingle has a nice thickness to it and a great price point when you compare it to the Cedar Discovery (more than $100 less) .

Consumer Reports Vinyl Siding

Heartland CedarMAX Composite

Retail Cost: $200
Consumer Reports Score: 83
Overall Thickness: 0.050
More on Heartland Siding

Royal DuraPlank

Retail Cost: $210
Consumer Reports Score: 80
Overall Thickness: 0.054
More on Royal Costs

Norandex Polar Wall Plus

Retail Cost: $205
Consumer Reports Score: 79
Overall Thickness: 0.044
More on Norandex Siding Prices

KP Norman Rockwell

Retail Cost: $165
Consumer Reports Score: 79
Overall Thickness: 0.044
More on Normal Rockwell Cladding

ABTCo TimberCrest I/S

Retail Cost: $160
Consumer Reports Score: 78
Overall Thickness: 0.046
More on ABTCo Pricing

Mastic EPS

Retail Cost: $200
Consumer Reports Score: 77
Overall Thickness: 0.044
More on Mastic Siding Prices

Heartland HeartTech

Retail Cost: $75
Consumer Reports Score: 77
Overall Thickness: 0.044
More on Heartland Colors

Crane CraneBoard 6

Retail Cost: $195
Consumer Reports Score: 74
Overall Thickness: 0.046
More on Crane Prices

Royal Woodland 16

Retail Cost: $160
Consumer Reports Score: 72
More on Royal Siding Cost
Overall Thickness: 0.046

Revere Sovereign Select

Retail Cost: $125
Consumer Reports Score: 72
Overall Thickness: 0.046
More on Revere Pricing

Mastic Trade Mark

Retail Cost: $65
Consumer Reports Score: 72
Overall Thickness: 0.040
More on Mastic Reviews

Crane Premium Pointe

Retail Cost: $100
Consumer Reports Score: 71
Overall Thickness: 0.046
More on Crane Siding Reviews

Kaycan Ocean Park (Ultra)

Retail Cost: $155
Consumer Reports Score: 71
Overall Thickness: 0.050
More on Kaycan Reviews

Napco American Splendor

Retail Cost: $135
Consumer Reports Score: 70
Overall Thickness: 0.046
More on Kaycan Costs

Alside Prodigy

Retail Cost: $160
Consumer Reports Score: 70
Overall Thickness: 0.046
More on Alside Siding Prices

Mastic Brentwood

Retail Cost: $70
Consumer Reports Score: 68
Overall Thickness: 0.040
More on Mastic Colors

CertainTeed Monogram 46

Retail Cost: $110
Consumer Reports Score: 68
Overall Thickness: 0.046
More on CertainTeed Siding Prices

CertainTeed CedarBoard

Retail Cost: $220
Consumer Reports Score: 67
Overall Thickness: 0.044
More on CertainTeed Siding Color Options

Alside Charter Oak

Retail Cost: $95
Consumer Reports Score: 66
Overall Thickness: 0.046
More on Alside Reviews

ABTCo Waterford

Retail Cost: $75
Consumer Reports Score: 65
Overall Thickness: 0.042
More on ABTCo Colors

Wolverine American Legend

Retail Cost: $80
Consumer Reports Score: 59
Overall Thickness: 0.042
More on Wolverine Siding Pricing

Georgia-Pacific Forest Ridge

Retail Cost: $90
Consumer Reports Score: 58
Overall Thickness: 0.040
More on GP Costs

Owens Corning Essentials

Retail Cost: $55
Consumer Reports Score: 55
Overall Thickness: 0.040
More on Owens Corning Siding Colors

Consumer Reports Siding Options