Exterior Wood Siding

The Many Faces Of Exterior Wood Siding

For the look of rustic or modern, wood can meet you right there.  Exterior wood siding is much like the over-coat that you wear to keep the weather at bay...a protective coating.  There is great flexibility in its character.  It can be stained, painted or left to weather the elements just to suit your desires.  There are certain things to consider so that the life-time will be extended and the beauty enhanced.  The surface should be either stained or painted and not merely for aesthetics.  This process will serve to eliminate damage that might occur due to the elements, such as cracking, peeling or splitting.

There are several popular types of wood that one might choose to make up the external walls.  Cedar is one of the more requested but cypress, Douglas fir, pine and redwood are often used as well.  External wood siding of cedar is highly regarded in the construction industry as being user friendly with the reputation of a long-life product, a renewable resource (green factor) and resists all of the pitfalls that other wood products are bothered with.  The usual insect infestation problems are seldom an issue with cedar.

External wood siding is often used in the beveled or clapboard style which is installed in a horizontal manner.  This is most often found in the classic design homes while the more modern styles use the vertical presentation.  Another popular siding style is that of shakes or shingles.  These can be cut from any type of wood and installed much in the same fashion as the roofing shingles.

While having real wood can present a rather expensive venture, there are some less expensive options available for one to choose from.  Plywood siding falls in this category but if damages occur, the repairs can be more extensive as this product comes in a large sheet as opposed to a mere plank of wood.  Composite external wood siding is another item that is very much like wood but has immense durability and practically maintenance-free such as is found in vinyl products.  This might be the right choice for your home if there is limited time in your busy schedule to do home repairs and up-keep.