Siding is not only a protective shield for your San Bernardino home - although that is the primary purpose - it also defines the style of the home as much or more than any other feature. In fact it is the first impression that many perspective buyers will have of your home.

We all know that siding should be one of the main barriers against wind and cold. Combined with a good insulation siding is like a person putting on a wind breaker over a wool sweater. On the flip-side siding can keep the home cool during the hottest times of the San Bernardino summer. Some siding products actually act as deflectors to the sun's rays allowing only a pittance of the strong heat past it's surface. Therefore you should choose your new home siding or re-siding based on both your design and energy needs. For this choice there are many types of siding:

Wood

Solid wood siding, such as pine and cedar, has been classic style and is still very popular today. One of its advantages that you can paint or stain wood and you can change the color easily in a few years. However, wood needs to be preserved and maintained or else it will crack or rot.

Engineered wood products offer an alternative to wood but at a lower cost and upkeep. Made of wood composites engineered wood siding looks like solid wood siding and can be cut and nailed on like wood. Like solid wood his type of siding needs to be treated against rot and mildew..

Vinyl

Vinyl used to be the “poor man's siding.” It was cheap and easy to on but was susceptible to warping and fading. However, the vinyl companies have now made this product more durable than the earlier sidings and has more patterns and colors from which to choose. Maintenance is a s easy as power-washing the dirt off on a yearly basis. So with the wide variety of styles and colors and the low cost of buying and installing, vinyl will always be a good option for wrapping a home..

Fiber-Cement

For homeowners who like the look of wood siding but want a long-lasting product on their homes then cement-fiber siding is a great option. With the appearance of wood siding it provides the protection of a masonry product. This would work well in the San Bernardino summers.

It is strong, fire resistant, resists insects and will not rot, buckle or warp. As well, by its very nature it does not need to be repainted for up to 15 years. There are some products which come already painted saving the time, cost and mess when its installed. In addition, fiber cement is cut and holds nails like real wood so there are no special tools or procedures.

Masonry Products

Masonry products have made great strides in the past few years. Besides the usual brick and stucco there are faux brick products, molded-cultured stone and decorative paneling which ad a uniques design to your home. As with cement fiber masonry products are heat and vermin resistant and can deflect the sun's heat to keep your San Bernardino home cooler.

For building permits and information:

City of San Bernardino

385 North Arrowhead Avenue

San Bernardino, CA 92415-0181

Public Counter: (909) 387-8311

Fax: (909) 387-4301
Inspections: (909) 387-4244

Office hours:

Monday - Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Serving the areas of Angeles Oaks, Barton Flats, Bloomington, Chino, Devore, Fontana, Forest Falls, Lytle Creek, Mentone, Mt. Baldy, Muscoy, Ontario, Rancho Cucamonga, San Bernardino, Upland, and Yucaipa.