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​Horizontal Siding vs. Vertical Siding on Metal Buildings: Which Is Best for You?

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When you’re customizing a metal building — a garage, workshop, carport, or commercial unit — you’ll eventually hit one of the most common questions in the industry:

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Horizontal siding or vertical siding — which one should you choose?

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Both are strong. Both are durable. Both use the exact same quality steel.
The difference comes down to appearance, framing requirements, and budget.

Let’s break it down so you can pick the siding style that actually fits your needs.

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⭐ THE LOOK: STYLE & CURB APPEAL

Horizontal Siding

Traditional, classic, familiar

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This option gives your metal building a clean, residential-style appearance. It blends in easily with nearby homes and adds a softer look to the structure.

Best for people who want:


✔ A traditional home-style look
✔ A budget-friendly option
✔ A building that blends into its surroundings

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Vertical Siding

Bold, upgraded, premium

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Vertical siding gives your building a more finished, modern, commercial appearance. Many customers pick it simply because it looks high-end and adds height to the structure visually.

Best for people who want:
✔ A modern or professional look
✔ A premium upgrade
✔ A building with strong curb appeal

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⭐ THE PERFORMANCE: STRUCTURAL DIFFERENCES

Here’s the key point:
The steel panels used for horizontal and vertical siding are the same quality and thickness.

The difference is in how they’re installed:

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Horizontal Siding

  • Panels run side to side

  • Requires standard framing

  • Works perfectly for most garages, carports, and smaller buildings

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Vertical Siding

  • Panels run up and down

  • Requires extra framing and support underneath

  • Adds rigidity to larger or taller buildings because of that additional framing

  • Considered a structural upgrade for wide or high units

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Again, the steel is the same — the support behind it is what changes.

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⭐ THE COST: WHAT YOU’RE PAYING FOR

Horizontal Siding

Most affordable option.
It’s included as the standard configuration on almost all metal buildings.

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Vertical Siding

An upgrade, but not because the metal is better.
The upcharge exists because:

  • Additional framing is needed

  • More labor is required

  • Installers spend more time securing the panels

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This added framing is what strengthens the building, not the panels themselves.

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⭐ THE MAINTENANCE DIFFERENCES

Neither option requires a ton of upkeep — it’s metal, after all.

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Horizontal Siding

  • May show dust and pollen a little sooner

  • Still very easy to clean

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Vertical Siding

  • Helps dirt slide off more easily due to its orientation

  • Often looks cleaner for longer for that reason alone

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⭐ CHOOSE HORIZONTAL IF YOU WANT:

  • The best price

  • A traditional look

  • A simple design

  • A structure that matches nearby homes or buildings

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⭐ CHOOSE VERTICAL IF YOU WANT:

  • A higher-end, modern appearance

  • Additional framing strength

  • A building with a more premium look

  • Taller or wider structures that benefit from extra framing support

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⭐ SO… WHICH ONE IS RIGHT FOR YOU?

If you want:

  • A classic look and the best price: go horizontal

  • A more premium look with extra framing strength: go vertical

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No matter which you choose, you’re getting the same quality steel and the same long-lasting durability.

At ARK Custom Builders, we build both styles every day and can help you compare pricing, photos, and design options for your exact building.

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