Choosing wood as your replacement siding can do wonders to enhance the beauty and elegance of your home’s exterior. With its natural appearance and innate sturdiness, it is no wonder that it remains a favorite among many homeowners even when there are synthetic siding choices available. Caring for it might be a high-maintenance job, but for those who have the time to do it, wood siding is worth the investment.
In today’s blog, local siding installation contractor Peninsula Siding Company provides an overview of the most popular types of wood used in home siding.
Cypress Siding
Wood sourced from cypress trees has its many uses, including shutters, floors, fences, decks, and exterior siding. It is one of the most sought-after natural wood types because it contains an oil called cypressene, which acts as a protective coating. It means that there is no need to apply chemical protective treatments to maintain its natural beauty. Cypress is also considered an easily workable wood, which means installing or finishing it won’t be much of a hassle.
Covering your home’s exterior with cypress siding has its benefits. Like many types of wood siding, it has outstanding durability that allows it to withstand insect infestation and mold growth. It is also one of the prime choices for houses located along coastlines, thanks to its capability to stand up to any weather condition.
If properly cared for, cypress siding can provide long-lasting beauty and weather protection for any home. Then again, it requires high levels of maintenance to keep it in good shape. One of its downsides is that it is prone to fade and discolor over time. You will likely to paint or stain the cypress wood surface, but some of the siding sections may have an uneven appearance. To prevent it from warping, you’ll also have to apply sealant.
Cedar Siding
If you are looking for a wood siding that has dimensional stability, cedar is a great choice to consider. Available in numerous styles like beveled or traditional shingles or shakes, it is a largely popular wood siding type because of its attractive grain and texture. Because it is a low-density softwood, it has an open-cell structure, making it a light wood that is relatively easy to work with. Cedar’s composition also makes it a terrific insulator, helping your home retain comfort levels throughout the year.
Cedar, in its natural state, has antibacterial and antifungal properties, allowing you to leave it untreated without you worrying about cracking, warping, and other signs of wear and tear. Like any type of wood siding, however, it still requires high levels of maintenance to extend its life span and retain its numerous qualities. Staining the wood surface helps prevent it from swelling, cupping, and splitting over time, as well as increase its resistance to moisture damage that result in rot.
Pine Siding
Pine is the most common wood found in the North American continent, making it readily available for manufacturing wood siding products. Apart from being one of the most economical types of wood siding, it holds a finish well, which is preferable when applying paint or stain on horizontal siding. Maintenance is necessary to ensure its resistance to rot. Take note, however, that finding longer lengths of knot-free pine can be hard to get, which makes your siding replacement project a bit more pricey and labor-intensive.
Two types of pine wood are used for siding: white and yellow. White pine has a low-density composition and an even grain. It might be vulnerable to long vertical cracks called “checks,” these won’t compromise the wood’s structural integrity. Yellow pine, meanwhile, is the exact opposite of its white counterpart in terms of density and grain.
Spruce Siding
Spruce is a member of the pine tree family and is most commonly found on the East Coast. Given its similarities with pine, it is also used to manufacture wood siding. In terms of appearance, it lends a unique texture with its stunning coloring and visible knots. Also, its cellular composition gives it a natural elasticity, making it more resistant to a variety of impacts, whether it’s hailstones or rocks flying off the lawnmower.
Much like the other softwoods, spruce offers easy workability, lending well to several types of decorative siding and trim. In fact, it can be milled into different siding styles such as lap, bevel, and tongue and groove. Spruce siding is also a great siding choice if you are looking to invest in eco-friendly home improvement. According to a recent lifecycle analysis study, it was found that it produces less greenhouse gas emissions over 50 years than other siding materials.
Redwood Siding
Redwood is grown in the western part of the continent and is considered as one of the most durable and preferred woods used in siding. Known for its rich texture and red-brown tone, it is a great choice for any homeowner regardless of where they live. It has a minuscule amount of pitch or resin, allowing it to absorb and hold its finish well. Even with years of elemental exposure, redwood doesn’t shrink, which means it can resist warping and cupping.
Redwood also has a natural insect repellent that discourages ants and other insects from destroying its surface and interior. Unlike other wood siding types, it requires less maintenance. A yearly wash using a pressure washer and seal every three years are enough to retain the siding’s striking appearance.
Engineered Wood Siding
Engineered wood is a manufactured siding that combines natural wood with a synthetic component. It usually comprises wood chips or strands coated with a resin binder. These are then compressed to produce a composite material that makes it the same as or better than natural wood in terms of strength and durability.
Compared to natural wood siding products, engineered wood siding can be more durable when it comes to standing up to inclement weather. It is also treated to protect against rot and termites, as well as coated with a moisture-resistant overlay to create a grain pattern similar to that of cedar, giving it an authentic wood appearance.
For your siding needs, turn to Peninsula Siding Company. We offer a wide range of siding products, including James Hardie® fiber cement siding. Our expert installers will ensure your home is not only beautiful but well protected from the elements. Let us help you make the right siding choice that meets your home’s architectural style and other requirements.
Call (650) 249-4464 or fill out our contact form to request a free quote.