Enhance Your Curb Appeal With Smooth Siding

Despite a predicted decrease in spending in 2023, the home improvement industry should see continued investments in the residential sector, according to Architectural Digest. As home upgrades continue, albeit slower than during the pandemic, homeowners often look for the subtle things that differentiate their residence from other homes in the neighborhood. Enter smoothness.

A quick web search of homes + smooth brings up thousands of results for things including smooth your stucco, smooth your concrete patio, smooth your textured walls and how to get a smooth paint finish. Smooth is a thing and it’s now extended to siding.  

This post will address what’s special about smooth siding, its benefits and ways to incorporate smooth siding into (almost) any home’s exterior. 

Understanding Smooth Siding 

Smooth siding is a type of exterior cladding that provides a clean appearance. Its smoothness contrasts with rough-hewn, textured wood and wood-like exteriors. Smooth siding can be made from materials such as vinyl, fiber cement or engineered wood.

The patented manufacturing process used by RISE to produce its smooth siding compresses post-consumer and post-industrial synthetic fiber, and polymer waste, into dense and durable wood replacement products. This difference brings an element of preservation to RISE smooth siding, as RISE exterior synthetic polymer products help preserve natural resources. 

Smooth is an expensive look compared to traditional rough-grain siding and smooth surfaces, including smooth siding, are often associated with higher-end homes. Although siding, as consumers usually envision it (vinyl mostly), has been around since the 1950s, the desire for a smooth, high-end look has grown from coast to coast, particularly with a smooth siding product that is resistant to weather extremes, such as heavy precipitation.  

Benefits of Smooth Siding 

Enhanced Curb Appeal 

Smooth siding instantly elevates the visual appeal of a home, giving it a modern and sophisticated look. The sleek surface creates a clean canvas that complements various architectural styles, from traditional to contemporary.

For example, a ranch style home (the most-popular style in much of the U.S.) can be refreshed with smooth siding in modern color, bringing it out of “The Brady Bunch” era without altering the home’s profile. Or the current appeal of farmhouse style homes or cozy craftsman can be upgraded just a touch with the clean lines of smooth siding. 

Smooth siding’s sleek and elegant surface fits with almost any home style—providing a boost to perceived value and allure.  

Low Maintenance 

Smooth siding, much like its wood grain sister siding, requires minimal upkeep. Its resistance to fading, cracking and warping means homeowners spend less time, money and effort on exterior maintenance and repairs. It also means that, at any given time, a home featuring smooth siding is visually ready to be evaluated—even by home-cruising neighbors and real estate agents. 

Although smooth siding requires little upkeep, it does benefit from routine cleaning (every six months or so) with a gentle dish soap and water solution. No need to use harsh or abrasive chemical cleaners and a lot of elbow grease! For more specifics on cleaning siding, consider this guide from Family Handyman.  

Durability and Longevity 

Modern materials are designed to withstand the elements and remain resilient over time and RISE smooth siding is particularly strong in this regard. 

Modern materials are moisture-resistant, rot-free and can withstand harsh weather conditions, but the toughest opponent is water—lots of water. Homeowners who live in areas of the U.S. prone to high precipitation amounts can benefit doubly from the beauty of smooth siding and the toughness of RISE technology.

All RISE trim and siding products—including the company’s smooth siding withstand the toughest climates, from areas with salty spray or heavy precipitation. They tolerate extreme heat and severe cold and RISE supports their protection power with 15/30-year warranties. 

Styles and Finishes 

Traditional Lap Siding 

Remember that lovely ranch style home mentioned earlier? It’s the home that will benefit from traditional lap siding, featuring long, horizontal boards that overlap each other. Lap siding elongates the look of the home, which adds the idea of spaciousness and room to breathe.  

Traditional lap siding also offers a timeless look when it’s installed as full-length panels. Other types of lap siding, such as clapboard, beaded lap, shiplap and Dutch lap siding have their aesthetic qualities, but smooth siding shines in a traditional lap siding application.  

Vertical Siding 

Remember those homeowners who want their residence to be different than their neighbors’? These are the people who embrace vertical siding to add a contemporary feel to their homes. They are also the homeowners who love how vertical siding can act to emphasize a feature.

Modern homes, particularly mid-century modern homes, can benefit from the accent pop of vertical siding, and even Eastlake style homes can feel more polished with vertical smooth siding in small quantities.  

For even more options, smooth siding can be installed as full-length panels or in a board and batten style. 

Incorporating Smooth Siding into Your Home 

Full Replacement 

If a home’s siding is worn or outdated, a full replacement with smooth siding can completely transform the look of the home. Unsure if a full replacement is needed? This info from Modernize asks some pertinent questions that can help with determining if a full replacement is the right direction to go.  

As with any cladding replacement or repair, consult with a professional to assess your needs, choose the right materials and ensure proper installation. 

If the idea of smooth siding is appealing, know that (anything) smooth accentuates errors, which manifest as lumps and bumps in siding. Unless a homeowner is particularly skilled at siding application, smooth siding installation is not recommended as a DIY project.

Smooth siding is more fragile during application (not standing up to wind, water and other wild weather, though!) and professional installation may ease a homeowner’s mind. 

Accent Areas 

As mentioned earlier, smooth siding is ideal to use selectively to create focal points or highlight architectural features, particularly on farmhouse style homes, Cape Cods, cottage style homes and contemporary style homes. 

If a home is more ornate (think Eastlake style again), smooth siding can be used as an accent on gables, dormers or entranceways. 

Color Selection 

The color of smooth siding can impact a home’s curb appeal and value. Some homeowners are attracted to bold, on-trend colors, such as deep blue and green, and want to experiment with bold colors to make a statement. Others opt for neutral tones to create a timeless and versatile feel to their residence.

It’s smart to first consider the overall aesthetic of the home and surrounding neighborhood before choosing a color. Fitting in has its merits, but so does big, beautiful and bold. It’s up to the homeowner to decide.  

Remember that RISE synthetic fiber smooth siding is ready to be finished in any color to complement different home styles. 

Conclusion 

Even as home upgrades slow in volume, homeowners who want the subtle things that differentiate their residence from other homes in the neighborhood will always be in the renovation market. Right now, the differentiator—and upgraded look—comes from smooth siding. Know the options, understand the differences, but remember that RISE technology creates smooth siding that stays smooth, resists freeze / thaw damage, cracks, and rot with prolonged ground contact and helps preserve natural resources.  

FAQs about Smooth Siding