Sir Edward Coke, one of the most important common law theorists of all time, once said that, "A man's house is his castle." By this, he meant that you are entitled to the life and rights of royalty in your own home, be it a manor or a simple hovel. Now take a look at your home. Is it appealing enough for you to consider it your castle?

One of the best ways to keep your house looking good is to make sure that its exterior contributes to curb appeal. Some homeowners do this by painting and repainting their homes every so often, but this is very expensive. Most homeowners just opt to use sidings on their homes that require little to no maintenance, which means more convenience with less cost. There are, however, several things to keep in mind when you're shopping for a siding.

Your home's siding would have to play two very important roles: to protect and to project. There are a lot of siding materials that you can choose from, but you have to consider these two functions before you decide. You can't just pick out a siding type from a showroom either; you have to see whether these different types can stand up to the beating they would get in the real world.

Siding should protect your home, and one of the most common threats that it would have to stand against is moisture. If moisture invades your home, it will experience problems like mold growth, rot, and even structural deterioration. If your area receives a lot of rain, you might want to consider vinyl, aluminum, cement, or brick sidings.

After considering the best siding for your type of climate, the next factor to think about would be the material's aesthetic quality. Whatever type you choose would have to cover your entire house, so be sure that the material would complement your home's charm and contribute to its curb appeal. For example, the siding Arlington Virginia homes with a Victorian flair can use are wood shingles or stucco.

Finding quality siding that is durable and maintenance-free, complements the home, and fits your budget can be a daunting task, but it isn't impossible. Also, don't overdo it just because you can. To illustrate, the siding Fairfax Virginia homes use should be just right. Installing inexpensive stone sidings on a small home is impractical.

If you need help looking for the perfect siding Northern Virginia homeowners prefer, you might want to contact a contractor that specializes in sidings near you. For more information on different types of sidings, you can visit DIYNetwork.com or Architecture.About.com.