10 Exterior Cladding Examples to Revamp Your Home’s Look

Are you shopping around for a new property or thinking about changing your house’s current façade? What type of exterior siding or cladding would give off the look you’re going for? To help inspire you, here’s an overview of some of the top options available on the market.

What is the best exterior cladding? Here are 10 great choices of materials

1) An elegant white brick design to revamp your façade

Source : Construction JB Inc.

A white brick house never ceases to draw people in, partly due to its elegance or the magnificent contrast it creates with dark wood finishes. Consider adding metal, wood, or as depicted in the photo, a sort of grey or black roofing, that nuance being all the more appealing. It just goes to show that some classics are truly timeless!

Not surprisingly, choosing the right colour may put you off in terms of the maintenance required to keep your home's exterior looking like new. However, you can easily clean dark dust, mildew, and carbon stains with a pressure washer. You can either do it yourself or hire a reputable, affordable contractor who's familiar with this type of work.

Need help choosing your home’s exterior siding? Take a look at our article Which Material to Choose for Your Exterior Siding?

2) A black exterior finish, why not?

Source : Simpson Twins Inc.

While white is still a popular choice, black is an option that isn’t considered as often. Yet, a judicious mix of materials allows for a look as sophisticated as it is bold, as evidenced by the wood and stone in the previous image.

You can also mix and match other types of dark sidings, such as vinyl, aluminum, wood fibre, brick, etc. The variety of colours available these days is endless for just about any material.

3) A low-maintenance wood and stone or CanExel house

Source : RenoQuotes

Again, one can find a great mix of materials, but here it’s between wood and natural stone. The result is certainly reminiscent of a rustic style while embodying both warmth and friendliness. The focus here’s on a natural-coloured wood, which makes it possible to highlight the fireplace’s white, rectangular stone finish, which is also available in various colours and shapes.

Some companies, like SIDEX, now sell factory-treated natural wood siding—which keeps its beauty over time—making staining and painting your façade on a regular basis, useless.

You can also choose a CanExel exterior siding. Said material is made with wood fibres and has a lot to offer in terms of being resistant to harsh climates. It’s even more resistant than vinyl cladding, while still giving off a wood-like appearance.

Thinking about choosing wood siding for your home? Read our article Wood Siding: Is it Worth It?

4) Black sheet metal exterior cladding

Source : Metal MG inc.

Sheet metal is a material that’s appreciated for its durability as much as for the beauty of its finish. Although it’s often used as roofing, sheet metal can also be an option for an exterior façade covering. As depicted above, this material highlights any home and is adapted to modern homes just as much as to rustic abodes.

5) Various shades of red brick exterior cladding

Source : Total Home Windows and Doors Inc.

Not surprisingly, red brick is an exterior cladding of choice, with a timeless beauty that appeals to most. Selecting brick in various shades is an attractive alternative to traditional red brick and is ideal for contemporary homes, especially those with black moulding or exterior woodwork.

To learn more about the steps involved to install exterior cladding, check out our article on the subject matter: How to Install Exterior Brick Siding. 

6) Distinguished and modern corrugated iron and vinyl design

Source : Groupe Boisvert Construction Inc.

The corrugated iron shown here provides a particularly interesting effect, which contrasts with the smoother example of the vinyl siding shown in an earlier example. Aside from the material combination, here we also notice the union of two classic shades harmonizing together wonderfully. The whole thing creates a soft look, while still being aesthetically interesting.

7) Cut black stone for a refined design

Source : RenoQuotes

Cut natural black stone is an option that’s perfectly suited to modern home designs! Far from the rustic look of round natural stones that we often saw on buildings erected in the 80s, these offer a more contemporary design and remind us of how beautiful and versatile this material actually is.

8) A beautiful blue wood exterior cladding

Source : Peinture Veillette

Although we really appreciate sober exterior siding or cladding colours, one thing that jumps out here is that opting for a daring material is often a worthy choice! This superb house with blue wood cladding proves it very well. 

9) White, and more white!

Source : Aluminium sauvé inc.

Once again, white is in the spotlight. As seen here, white predominates, bringing an undeniable touch of elegance to this charming home.

10) Charming wood shingle design

Source : RenoQuotes

What about these beautiful wood shingles? We should start by emphasizing the extent to which they give this house undeniable charm. This is greatly accentuated by the white siding that surrounds the windows. The look is both simple and distinguished, but never ceases to seduce!

How to choose the perfect colour for your house’s exterior siding?

Want to revamp your façade, but aren’t sure where to begin? Here are a few basic tips that'll help you shop around more effectively and increase the resale value of your home.

1. Refer to your neighbourhood and the prevailing architectural style. Perhaps you'll find inspiration within or you'll simply want to stick to the mainstream look. On another note, your municipality may have some guidelines regarding materials and colours, so it's best to find out before you jump into the whole process.

2. Play off the differences. If your siding is dark, choose lighter tones for the other elements. On the flip side, if you like dark doors and windows, look for lighter siding.

3. To create an all-around balanced look, harmonize your doors and windows with the surrounding elements (soffits, roof edges, gutters, etc.).

4. Note that the paint colours always appear lighter in daylight than on the paint card at the store. Therefore, choose a colour that's one or two shades darker than the one you want, and take a sample home with you to test it out.

How do you paint exterior cladding?

To paint exterior cladding, begin by thoroughly cleaning the surface to remove dirt, dust, or debris—using a brush, mild detergent, or a pressure washer if needed. Scrape off any loose or peeling paint, and sand rough areas to create a smooth base. Repair any damage, and if the cladding is metal, remove any rust. Apply a suitable primer based on the cladding material, then use a brush, roller, or sprayer to apply exterior paint designed for that specific surface. Work from the top down to ensure even coverage, and apply at least two coats, allowing each one to dry fully.

FAQ

What is the difference between cladding and siding?

The difference between cladding and siding is that cladding is a general term for any exterior layer added to a building for protection, insulation, or aesthetics. It can be made from a wide range of materials such as wood, brick, metal, stone, or composites. Siding, on the other hand, is a specific type of cladding—usually referring to materials like vinyl, wood, or fibre cement—installed directly onto the exterior walls of a building.