First and foremost, the siding on your house plays a huge role in how it looks and is received. Your siding gives newcomers their first impression of your home and has a significant impact on its curb appeal—which is especially important if you’re trying to sell. But the color, style, design, and cleanliness of your siding can also affect how you feel about it. You want to feel comfortable in your home, and you want its exterior to reflect who you are as a homeowner.

When most people think about their home’s insulation, they think about the fiberglass or blow insulation that exists in their walls. However, the quality and type of your siding will have just as big of an impact on how well your home is insulated. Thick, attentively installed siding will block the wind and protect your home from rapid temperature changes—and some types of siding can be added with extra insulation on top of that. Cracked or damaged siding can cause leaks, which interfere with your home’s temperature, heating, and cooling.

Your siding is also the best layer of protection you have to keep your home safe from different types of external damage. Good siding can hold up in even the most extreme weather conditions, such as high winds, storms, and hail, protecting the interior of your home as well. It can also protect your home against the development of mold, which can be an expensive fix, damage from random accidents and impacts into the side of your house, and the onset of insects and rodents. On top of that, some types of siding can offer resistance against fires and other types of damage.