Not the siding, buddy! Not the siding again. This material is a real house killer. Under such cladding a greenhouse effect is created, which negatively affects the walls. The worst situation is for wooden (frame) houses, but I believe that walls made of sand-lime brick will also suffer. Calculate your budget and consult with specialists on all cladding options.

Repair is always important. I bought my house a long time ago. I've been through three renovations. The local climate in Sydney is not the most comfortable for buildings (or even people). I had different cladding options, including siding. The last thing I used was composite panel cladding - https://glamourdecor.com.au/services/ Consider the cost of professional work in your estimate. This way you get a professionally made facade and a guarantee of quality.