Wood siding is natural, attractive material used to cover and protect the exterior of a house.
Some siding is designed for vertical installation, in a board-and-batten style. Others, such as shingles, clapboards, or shakes are installed horizontally.
Characteristics of Wood Siding
Strength
Physically, wood is strong and stiff but, compared to a material like steel, it’s also light and flexible.
Metals, plastics, and ceramics tend to have a fairly uniform inner structure and that makes them isotropic: they behave exactly the same way in all directions.
Wood is different due to its annual-ring-and-grain structure.
You can usually bend and snap a small, dead, tree branch with your bare hands, but you’ll find it almost impossible to stretch or compress the same branch if you try pulling or pushing it in the opposite direction.
Durability
Like other natural materials, it’s subject to the natural forces of decay through a process known as rotting, in which organisms such as fungi and insects such as termites and beetles gradually nibble away the cellulose and lignin and reduce wood to dust and memories.
Wood and water
It absorbs water and swells up in damp conditions, giving out the water again when the air dries and the temperature rises.
A freshly cut piece of “green” wood typically contains a huge amount of hidden water, making it very difficult to burn as firewood without a great deal of smoking and spitting.
Some kinds of wood can soak up several times their own weight of water, which is absorbed inside the wood by the very same structures that transported water from the roots of the tree to the leaves when the tree was a living, growing plant.
Environmentally friendly
Wood was one of the first natural materials people learned to use, and it’s never lost its popularity.
These days, it’s particularly prized for being a natural and environmentally friendly product.
Wood Is Renewable
Unlike concrete or metals, wood is a building material that can be grown and regrown through natural processes and also through replanting and forestry management programs.
Select harvesting and other practices allow growth to continue while larger trees are harvested.
Wood Is More Readily Processed for Use
When compared to building materials like steel or concrete, the life cycle of wood has a lower overall impact on the environment than its counterparts and as a result, also costs significantly less to produce.
Wastewater production and environmental impact are also significantly lower in wood manufacturing processes, particularly when compared to steel.
How to Choose Wood Siding
The first step in selecting siding is to consult with your building contractor.
Local professionals will know what types of wood are best for your uses.
They will also already have vendors from whom they can order their supplies and rely on timely delivery.
Local contractors can also advise you about the availability of different types. Purchase the highest grade of wood siding possible.
Look for wood that is insect resistant, straight and flat, rot-resistant, clear of splits and checks.
Styles of Wood Siding
Drop Channel Siding
Drop channel siding is versatile in that it can be installed horizontally, diagonally, or vertically.
This type of siding is a popular choice for cabins as many cabins are paneled with boards cut with the drop channel style.
One long edge of a plank is milled down to be significantly narrower than the rest of the board. On the other long edge, a small groove is cut on the bottom of the board.
This creates an overlap that shows the sculpturing of the board without creating a ledge on which water can bead.
One of the benefits of drop channel siding is that it gives wood plenty of room to expand and contract without compromising the structure. The partial overlapping and beveled edge create an interesting shadow line.
Split Logs
The traditional log cabin look is particularly popular in woodland settings and can establish a cozy ambiance regardless of the size of the home.
Split log siding is custom made, and is usually made from a hardwood, such as a cypress, cedar, or oak.
The wood must be sawed with the natural bark still attached. This section is then attached to the prepared wall.
They appear to be solid logs. These planks must be dried before installation so that shrinkage does not cause the failure of the siding.
Board and Batten
Another historic style of covering the outside or inside of a house is with board-and-batten siding. This has been most frequently used in completing barns and other farm buildings.
The siding is installed vertically and consists of wide boards that are spaced evenly, with a batten nailed over the space.
The batten is a narrow strip of wood.
Spruce
The spruce tree is a member of the pine tree family. It is most commonly found on the East Coast. Since it has many of the same characteristics of pine, it is often used to manufacture wood siding.
Spruce siding is often available in longer lengths than normally found with pine. Since it is a softwood, it can be milled into different styles of siding.
Pine
By far the most common wood found in siding in North America is pine. White pine is used in finish projects while yellow pine is used for framing. This is because yellow pine has a hard, yellow streak alternating with white.
The yellow section is full of sap that rejects paint and stain and gums up on saw blades in milling machines.
White pine can be painted or stained, with paint being the most common application.
This is because pine does not have a distinctive grain. It may be hard to find long boards of knot-free pine. In addition, the wood from the fast-growing species of pine tends to split and check. Contractors look for higher quality pine siding that will be more durable.
Fir
A very popular option is fir. This is a true western softwood and is available as longer boards. This wood is easy to cut, with little sap or resin to clog saw blades.
This makes it a popular choice for types of siding that require more milling, such as tongue-and-groove.
Fir siding has an even grain that receives finishing well. It is more common to paint fir, although the grain looks fine when stained.
Fir is not naturally insect resistant, nor is it rot resistant. Therefore, it requires regular maintenance to make sure it is not absorbing moisture or hosting destructive insects.
It must be sealed with paint or stain to maintain its integrity.
What Maintenance is Required?
Wood siding requires regular maintenance to protect your investment. Factory finishes tend to last longer, but they can be more expensive. You may also have limited color choices.
Factory primed pieces are a good compromise as they will just need to be painted afterward.
If the wood has an attractive grain or striking texture, it is sometimes stained.
The stain should be reapplied every three years, while clear finishes will need to be updated every 2 years. The paint will usually last much longer – up to 5 years.
Moisture will create rot and/or mold, so it is important to make the siding as waterproof as possible.
There should be a moisture barrier directly beneath the siding, and special attention should be given to joints and knotholes.
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