Siding Styles
Cedar
In addition to the various grades, cedar comes in a variety of siding styles as well. The most widely used cedar siding type is bevel siding. It is produced by re-sawing lumber at an angle to produce two pieces, each with one edge thicker than the other. The re-sawing results in one face saw textured, while the other face is smooth. Bevel siding is installed horizontally and gives an attractive shadow line, which varies with the thickness of siding selected.
Another popular choice is board-and-batten siding, a vertical design created using wide clear or knotty cedar boards spaced apart with narrower “batten” covering the joints. There is no set board or batten width as various combinations are used to create different looks suitable for large- and small-scale applications. Additionally, tongue-and-groove siding is usually manufactured in clear grades suitable for more formal, elegant appearances, especially when pieces are smooth-faced.
All-natural western red cedar products like cedar have long been revered for an aesthetic appeal and natural resistance against insect attack, decay, warping, cupping and twisting when properly installed and maintained. Better yet, cedar improves insulation of homes and buildings and serves as an excellent base for all type of paints and stains.
No substitute product has been able to fully capture the look and feel of genuine western red cedar. Fads will come and go, yet when you closely examine the options, you discover there is still much in favor of sticking with a classic such as cedar, a building material with centuries of proven performance.
Composition or Hardboard siding
Probably the most common product being installed by builders today. Composition comes on many style and can be pre-finished at the factory. Composite wood sidings are made from various combinations of wood veneers, fibers or flakes, bound together with glues, resins, and/or waxes. They come with different names, LP siding, T-11, Plywood, oriented strand board (OSB), and hardboard are basic engineered wood siding materials.
Hardiplank
Hardiplank lap siding is the most popular alternative to hardboard siding and can be found on millions of U.S. homes. It is made with Fiber-cement material and is very durable. It comes in a variety of looks and textures, all of which include PrimePlus® sealer and primer, which provide an excellent painting surface and resist fungus and mildew. Hardiplank lap siding comes with a 50-year transferable limited warranty.
Stucco
Most commonly refers to an outside plaster made with Portland cement as its base. Stucco can be formed to almost any shape and color.
Synthetic Stucco or EIFS
Exterior Insulating Finish System; exterior wall cladding system consisting primarily of polystyrene foam board with a textured acrylic finish that resembles plaster or stucco. This product has been plagued with problems mainly from improper installation