Material guide
Choosing siding for Parma's weather
Lake Erie sets the terms: cold winters with thaws between, wind off the lake, snow drifted against the lower walls. How the common siding materials handle it.
The weather
What the National Weather Service recorded
For winter 2025-2026, NWS Cleveland reported 60 to 90 inches of snow across south central and southeast Cuyahoga County, a winter that was the region's coldest and snowiest since 2014-2015, with Lake Erie frozen over by late January (NWS winter summary).
Two thaws melted the snowpack completely before the cold came back, and a March windstorm produced an 85 mph gust at Burke Lakefront Airport. Siding here has to shed meltwater, survive freezing and stay on in wind.
Side by side
The common materials
| Material | In cold and thaw | In wind and impact | Upkeep |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vinyl | Doesn't rot; grows and shrinks with temperature, so it must be hung loose | Can unlock in strong wind; stiffer and easier to crack in hard cold | Washing; no paint |
| Insulated vinyl | As vinyl, with a foam layer over the framing | Foam backing stiffens panels against dents | Washing; no paint |
| Fiber cement | Holds its shape; joints and cut edges need sealing or flashing | Heavy and rigid once fastened | Repainting over the years |
| Engineered wood | Depends on its coating and sealed cut edges; keep clear of ground and roofs | Tough surface; long boards | Repainting over the years |
| Wood clapboard or shake | Moves with moisture; paint and stain take the weather | Boards can split | Regular painting or staining |
General descriptions only. Each product has its own installation instructions, and a contractor can explain how a specific product would perform on your house.
Materials
Read more about each
- Vinyl sidingLap, Dutch lap and board-and-batten profiles, installed or repaired.
- Fiber cement sidingHeavy, stiff plank and panel siding that takes paint.
- Engineered wood sidingWood-look lap and board-and-batten in long, light pieces.
- Wood clapboard and cedar shakeRepair, replacement or a change of material for old wood siding.
- Insulated siding and house wrapFoam-backed panels and the weather barrier behind them.
Still deciding?
Ask a contractor what suits your house
One call connects you with an independent siding contractor serving Parma, Parma Heights, Seven Hills, Middleburg Heights, Broadview Heights and North Royalton. Describe the house and the problem, and arrange a visit if it makes sense to you.
Cracked panels, a wall that leaks, or siding past its years? Talk it through with a local contractor.
Your call goes to an independent siding contractor that works in Parma and the neighboring cities. Repairs are as welcome as full re-siding jobs.
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