Wood Siding

Wood house siding is one of the more popular varieties of siding available today. In the past, homeowners' choices were limited only to what their local home improvement stores had in stock, or what the installer was able to find. The advent of the Internet has made it easier than ever for shoppers to find different options and increased their choices. While it is now possible to find a wide variety of wood siding options, homeowners should be aware that there are still some very expensive choices on the market today. The prices for wood siding are based on the location and availability of the wood. That means that the closer the wood is to the owner, the less expensive it will be. Redwood, which is available primarily on the West Coast, is a relatively inexpensive option for those living in California or Oregon. The further it has to move east though, the more expensive it becomes. While there are a number of options and choices for shoppers, experts recommend that shoppers plan a budget before making a final decision, and stick to that budget.

Wood clapboard siding is the most popular choice for homeowners. This type of siding is characterized by smaller and thinner pieces of wood that lay on top of each other in a horizontal fashion. Wood clapboard siding has been used on homes and buildings for more than two hundred years in the United States, and has replaced vertical wood siding as the choice for many owners. Wood clapboard siding is available in a variety of materials depending on the area of the country where the homeowner lives. Though this is true, the most often used wood for clapboard siding is pine. Pine wood clapboard siding is often used because it holds a stain or paint far better than some of the other types of wood. The only potential problem with pine is that it requires continuous cover, meaning that it must always be used with a stain or paint finish. The other popular choice for wood clapboard siding is redwood. Redwood is known for being repellant to insects, and also stronger than some of the other wood choices. Depending on the area where the home is, this type of wood can be quite expensive. It is typically cheaper to use in the west because that is where the majority of the wood is grown. Wood clapboard siding requires less maintenance than other types of siding, and lasts far longer, as well.

Engineered wood siding is a type of siding that has the look of wood, but is not made of wood. Engineered wood siding is sometimes made of a mixture of fiber and cement. The materials are combined, then pressed into molds to create pieces that are typically 1-2 foot long and 6-12 inches wide. While the pieces are in the mold, a wood grain is pressed onto the top. Once the pieces come out of the mold, the tops will have the look of wood complete with a grain and even knots. Though the pieces are often smaller, they can also come in longer sizes that add to the realistic wood look. These pieces often look very similar to wood from far away, but upon a closer look, they appear more like plastic or vinyl than actual wood. This type of siding has a few advantages over traditional wood siding. It is often much cheaper and easier to ship because it does not have to adhere to specific temperatures or shipping requirements. It is also easier to install, and lasts longer, as well as resistant to damage from the elements.

Cedar wood siding is a popular choice for many homeowners, though it is not the typical siding as many people think of it. With cedar wood siding, there are two different ways the material can be used. The first is the style known as clapboard siding, which was discussed above. Clapboard siding is a type of horizontal wood siding where the planks are laid next to each other. As cedar is prone to having damage inside the wood, it can be difficult to find strong pieces without any damage. That makes cedar clapboard siding more expensive than other types of wood. The primary type of cedar wood siding used in the United States is something known as cedar shingles, or cedar shakes. Damaged cedar pieces are used to create these shingles, with the damaged areas removed during the milling process. These shingles can be made in a variety of sizes, though 3-4 inches by 3-4 inches is the most popular size. The cedar wood shingles are then applied to exterior walls as a type of siding. This is a popular choice because homeowners can choose the size of the area they want covered, be it all the house or only one small area. After being applied to the wall, the shingles are covered with a sealant to protect against any potential water damage. Once the wood has been sealed, it can be painted to match the rest of the home. In some cases, the wood is left untreated, and instead, painted with a bleach solution. This allows the shingles to weather at the same rate, and give the finished product a natural look.

Vertical wood siding has been used as a type of wood house siding for centuries. In the early years, this was referred to as board and batten siding, but recently became known simply as vertical wood siding. Vertical wood siding is similar to horizontal wood siding, except that it is applied in a vertical, or up and down fashion. The most popular type of wood used in vertical siding is spruce. Spruce can be found in longer pieces, which can then be cut down to create the size needed for the siding. Fir is another type of wood typically used for vertical wood siding because it is a softer type of wood. Fir can be molded easily into the shape needed for this type of wood siding. Vertical wood siding is not as popular today for exterior walls, but is a highly popular choice for interior wood siding. It can be used to decorate one small portion of a wall, usually coming up to waist high, or to cover an entire wall. It is also used to create cabinets and doors. Vertical wood siding is installed the same way as other types of wood siding, but if it is used inside a home, it does not need to have a water sealant used first.

While there are a number of different types of wood used for siding, pine is one of the more popular choices. Pine is consistently used because it is grown throughout the country, making it easy to find and readily available. The only problem with pine is that it can be difficult to find pieces that do not have any damage or knots in the wood, especially in longer sections. Depending on the size of the walls, and the length required, it may be expensive to find enough wood to cover the area. Pine cannot be used as wood siding in its natural state, but requires a type of sealant or protective covering applied to the wood. A sealant is typically applied on top of the wood siding once it is hung, and then several coats of paint are applied to the top of the sealant. This protects the wood from damage that can occur as the result of exposure to the natural elements. Rain, snow, and wind can cause significant damage to the wood siding, and the results can be seen within a few short years. Using paint in conjunction with a sealant can stop this damage from occurring. Pine wood siding also requires homeowners to reapply this sealant every few years, and to perform regular maintenance or upkeep every few months. Users should check regularly for any signs of water damage, or rotting.

Redwood siding is a type of wood siding favored by those on the West Coast. Redwood is primarily grown in the west, and is used on a number of house styles that are popular in the west. The Bungalow style, which grew to popularity in California is one of the styles that uses this type of wood siding. Redwood is known for being extremely strong and durable, which makes it an easy choice for siding. However, the further an individual gets from the west, the more expensive this choice becomes. Those that live in the southeast or east may find it far too expensive to use redwood siding. Those that do have the option of using redwood as siding have found that it is a good choice for a number of reasons. Redwood acts as a natural insect repellant, and does not have to be specially treated to protect against damage from insects such as termites. Redwood is also known for its resistance to shrinking. As wood shrinks, it can cause the siding to break or pull away from the wall, but that does not happen with redwood. Another reason to use redwood as siding is because it can easily absorb sealants, stains, and paints.

Wood siding is something that should only be completed by an individual with experience in installing wood siding. The process may seem easy, but it is actually rather complicated. A professional installer should also have access to wholesale suppliers, and have the ability to purchase the wood siding at a smaller cost. Those who attempt to do the installation themselves will only be able to purchase what the local home improvement stores have in stock, which can be quite limited. They will need to pay full price for those items, and may need to wait for the wood to arrive in the store. A professional installer has access to more supplies than the local stores, and may also be able to buy quantities and materials that cannot be found in those stores. Once a style of wood siding has been chosen and the pieces arrive, the installer can begin working. The siding is first applied to the walls, using wood glue and nails. The next step is to cover the wood siding with a sealant to protect against insects and water damage. After the sealant has dried, the installer will cover the siding with a stain or paint of the homeowner's choosing.

Cleaning wood siding is a question asked by many homeowners who have this type of exterior material on the walls of their house. There are several ways a homeowner can go about cleaning wood siding, depending on their budget and needs. The most expensive option, and arguably the best option, is to hire a professional cleaner who specializes in wood siding. This professional will have experience in cleaning wood siding, and will know exactly what needs to be done. There are certain areas of the siding, such as around windows and door frames, which need to be cleaned by hand, using special brushes to prevent water damage from occurring. The professional will also know not to use a power sprayer, which can damage the wood siding as well as tear off portions of the siding. A professional cleaner will typically base their price on the amount of work required, and the size of the house or amount of wood siding. Another option for cleaning wood siding for those on a budget is to use a specially designed wood cleaner made for the siding. The cleaner is available from most home improvement stores in the paint department. Depending on the amount of dirt and grime that has built up on their siding, some homeowners have found it easier to completely paint over the siding with a new coat of paint.