All You Wanted To Know On Wood Siding By David Faulkner At Isnare.com Ezine Articles

This article talks in great detail about all the types of wood sidings. It weighs all the pros and cons of each type, leaving it up to you to decide if you want to go in for this technique of siding.

Wood siding is the most common type of siding for a house. Wood is a perennial favorite choice for siding .Whether it is vertical siding like board and batten, or horizontal siding like clapboards, shakes, and shingles, there are a few species and grades that are commonly used for all applications.

Different types of Wood Siding

A local builder or installer knows what species are readily available in the regional market. The kinds of wood that are used for wood siding are:

Pine

Pine has long been a standard for exterior wood siding. Pine and its related softwoods—spruce and fir—can be less expensive than other species. Knot-free pine can be difficult to get in longer lengths, though, which can make a project more labor-intensive and costly. Pine holds a finish well, and is preferable when painting or staining horizontal siding. It is typically used for clapboards. Pine is not a rot-resistant wood, so it is important to keep it sealed and well maintained.

Spruce

A member of the pine family, this softwood is readily available in East Coast markets as a substitute for pine. It comes in longer lengths than pine, and has many of the same characteristics. It is typically used for board siding, especially clapboards. Again, since it is not a naturally rot-resistant wood, it is important to regularly maintain and seal the wood in order to make the wood siding last longer.

Fir

Like pine and spruce, fir is used as an economical wood siding option. It comes in long lengths, is easy to cut and install, takes a finish well, and is readily available regionally in the West. Like the other softwoods, fir is easily milled to a pattern, be it shiplap, tongue-and-groove, or board-and-batten.

Redwood

Perhaps the hallmark of rich texture and tone, redwood is a good choice for wood siding in all climates. Redwood resists shrinking, so it holds its profile and keeps its joints with little warping or cupping. Redwood has little pitch or resin, so it absorbs and retains its finish very well and requires less maintenance than some other species. Redwood is also naturally insect resistant, not just on the face but throughout the wood. Grown in the West, redwood can be difficult to obtain in other regions.

Unlimited Information on Wood Siding

A good wood siding should last for many, many years, but it must be properly maintained. Proper maintenance includes power washing, staining and sealing whenever the heat of the sun fades the finish, or moisture starts to turn to mold or mildew. Always allow wood to dry well before applying a new stain or finish. The disadvantage with wood siding is that the wood is extremely vulnerable to swells due to moisture, development of fungus, and formation of holes due to pest attacks and weakening of wood siding due to termite in the wood. Other disadvantages include its high price. This is mainly due to the increased demand and the lack of supply caused by advanced stages of deforestation. An eco-friendly approach to wood siding is vinyl siding, which is low on price, but looks very much like the real wood siding.

With all the different types, it remains practical if you’ll try to figure out first what kind of wood siding really suit best to your home needs. Be sure that whatever decision you may make, you are happy with it.

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