Best Siding Choices For Colonial Homes

Colonial-style homes have endured among America’s favorite architecture designs since they first appeared in the late 1700s, about the same time as the birth of the United States.  

There's no mistaking a classic Colonial design with other styles. Clearly identified by its two-story rectangle shape, moderately pitched roof and front door built squarely in the center, Colonial-style homes are stately, symmetrical and practical.

Windows are a key design element of a typical Colonial, with a balanced number of windows positioned on either side of the front door. Traditionally, the second floor has the same number of windows, with one additional window directly above the door serving as a practical way to allow natural light to illuminate the central staircase.

Since the first Colonial homes were built in the heavily treed areas of New England, wood siding was — and continues to be — the most popular exterior choice.

As America expanded in the 1800s, so did the popularity of the Colonial home design, changing slightly to mirror the influences of its builders or geography. Homeowners in Virginia used the heavy clay and built with brick. Dutch Colonial homes are known for their double-pitched roofs. Revival Colonials played up decorative crowns and formal entries, while Spanish Colonial homes, built in the southwest, used tall ceilings and adobe exteriors for extra cooling. In Louisiana, French Colonial homes are known for their elevated foundations and deep porches.

So, what type of exterior siding should you choose when remodeling your Colonial or building a new home modeled after this style? Many homeowners look back to history to draw inspiration, choosing elegant siding to accentuate the stately windows and well-designed porches.

But practicality requires looking at the most durable finishes. If you live in an area that experiences extreme weather, like hot, humid summers followed by blustery, frigid winters - or even bad storms with hail and damaging winds - you need to consider siding that can easily face the elements. LP® SmartSide® Trim & Siding products have the look of traditional wood with the four components of protection offered by engineered wood, including withstanding impacts, freeze/thaw cycles, high humidity and even fungal decay.

LP SmartSide Trim & Siding products come primed for exceptional paint adhesion to allow you to explore color in such a way to change the personality of your home. Here are some examples:

• A classic look is white siding and black shutters with a fire-engine red front door.

• For an elegant and stately twist, review palettes of cream with blue undertones.

• For a warmer look, select earthy beiges and browns.

• If your property is heavily wooded, take a look at woodsy greens and dark browns, with a burnt orange front door.

• If you’re tired of muted or drab colors, choose a bold blue with crisp white shutters.

• Dark gray with pale gray shutters is both bold and elegant.

Homeowners aren’t the only ones willing to go bold with their Colonial-style homes. Wisconsin homebuilder, Chris Cook has a passion for high-quality homes with designs full of character and style.

Chris uses LP SmartSide products on nearly all of the homes he builds. "They're true showstoppers," says Chris. "We've done some really interesting homes that you couldn't create with fiber cement and certainly couldn't create with vinyl. LP SmartSide products made it possible."

Ready for more inspiration on LP SmartSide Trim & Siding products? Visit our Colors & Inspiration page.