Not Just for the Outside: Interior Siding

Most houseowners are familiar with exterior house siding, which helps to create a pleasing appearance on the house's exterior as well as to provide increased insulation. But siding doesn't have to be confined to the outside of a house; it can also serve as a handsome alternative to wallpaper or paint for the inside of a house. Consider the possibilities that interior siding possesses to liven up the interior decor of your house:

• Wood panel siding can provide warmth or a rugged look for a house office, den, or library.
• Exposed brick siding can help to create a homey atmosphere in the kitchen or breakfast room.
• Stone siding can embellish the wall surrounding the fireplace in a living room or family room.
• Wood plank siding can help to brighten up a sun room.
• And the list goes on as to how interior siding can enhance the rooms within your house.

One of the most popular interior siding choices is wood or log paneling. Natural wood possesses a beauty and warmth that helps to add style to a room, and it's a great choice for a house's interior, since it doesn't require as much upkeep as wood siding that's installed on a house's exterior. Wood interior siding is available in a large variety of styles and finishes, from planks and panels to logs and shingles. Wood can be stained to enhance the natural grain of the wood or painted in any color to coordinate with the interior decorating scheme.

Another popular choice in interior siding products is brick veneer. Similar in appearance to actual bricks, brick veneer siding is made of a thin layer of brick or brick-look siding so that it's lighter in weight than actual bricks are. Brick veneer interior siding is also available in a range of different colors and styles of bricks, so its versatility can complement many styles of rooms.

Log and wood interior siding is priced by the linear foot, and the actual cost depends on the type of wood and the style of the siding. In general, you can expect to pay between forty cents and one dollar per linear foot.

Brick veneer interior siding, on the other hand, is sold by the square foot. Again, the precise cost varies according to the style of siding that you choose, but this siding usually ranges in price from six dollars to twelve dollars per square foot.