| The choice of an appropriate exterior siding material | | | | weather naturally, from original, rich red to an equally |
| for your home – whether you are buying new, or | | | | attractive silver grey, over time. Shingles, once again, |
| renovating your existing home – can not only | | | | have excellent insulating properties, and are virtually |
| dramatically improve its appearance, aesthetically, but | | | | maintenance free. |
| can also extend the life of its exterior, reduce | | | | Clapboards, or cladding, on the other hand, are |
| heating costs, and increase potential resale value. | | | | typically constructed, again, from cedar, or from |
| Exterior siding is not just a decorative, external finish, | | | | Douglas fir, spruce or pine – or maybe cypress, |
| it is an essential component of the building envelope | | | | or redwood – all of which are receptive to clear, |
| of your home, protecting it against the ravages of | | | | or pigmented, finishes. Indeed, some wood siding of |
| the weather – rainfall, for example – and | | | | this type may be supplied pre-painted, in a wide |
| insulating it against external temperatures. Siding is, | | | | range of colours. Clapboard, or bevelled siding, is |
| nevertheless, highly visible, and the material that you | | | | installed horizontally, with overlapping joints, but board |
| choose should be in keeping with the character, and | | | | and batten, or channel groove, styles are also |
| design, of your home. You should also consider the | | | | available, and these are suitable for mounting in a |
| weather conditions to which the exterior of your | | | | vertical direction. |
| home is likely to be exposed, and bear in mind that | | | | Reconstituted, or engineered, wood products, such |
| one material may better suited to certain | | | | as particle board, Medium Density Fibreboard (MDF) |
| environments than another. Almost all exterior siding | | | | and Oriented Strand Board (OSB) – which are |
| materials require maintenance, of one form or | | | | composed of wood, resins and other materials, |
| another, and while, in some cases, this may be limited | | | | pressed into the form of a board – and more |
| to periodic cleaning, painting, or staining, other | | | | traditional hardboard, or veneered plywood, are an |
| materials may be more susceptible to damage from, | | | | inexpensive alternative to “real” wood. Panels |
| for example, extreme variations in temperature. | | | | of this type are straightforward to install, and may |
| Types of Exterior Siding | | | | be engineered, or moulded, to give the appearance |
| 1. Brick & Brick Veneer | | | | of traditional clapboards, or cladding. The uniformity |
| Brick, of course, is a popular siding material, not least | | | | of the grain in these products detracts somewhat |
| because it is durable, and can withstand extreme | | | | from this effect, but the overall appearance is fairly |
| weather conditions, year after year, with only minimal | | | | natural, and certainly more natural than, say, vinyl, or |
| maintenance. Kiln fired bricks are available in a number | | | | aluminium. |
| of different styles, and colours, and do not need, | | | | 3. Vinyl |
| necessarily, to be painted. Bricks and mortar – | | | | The principal attractions of vinyl, or PVC (Polyvinyl |
| the mixture of cement, sand, lime and water used to | | | | Chloride), siding are its longevity, and maintenance |
| hold them in place – are solid, but porous, so | | | | free construction, at an affordable price. Vinyl siding is |
| properly tooled joints, and possibly a clear, water | | | | durable – less so than brick masonry, or wood |
| repellent coating, may be advisable, to protect | | | | siding, but is easier, and less expensive, to install than |
| brickwork from excessive rainfall, or extreme | | | | either – and, unlike wood, does not require |
| temperatures. Generally speaking, brickwork requires | | | | periodic repainting. Vinyl siding is available in a number |
| very little maintenance, but is susceptible, over time, | | | | of different styles, and colours, and because any |
| to a build up of atmospheric pollutants, which will | | | | colouring permeates through the entire panel – |
| eventually cause deterioration, if it is not cleaned | | | | rather than being painted on the exterior – it |
| away, periodically. New brickwork may also be | | | | does not fade, or peel. Maintenance is limited to |
| subject to white marks, caused by salt leeching out | | | | occasional washing down, with a hosepipe, and wiping |
| of the bricks. In either case, brickwork can be | | | | over with a cloth, and standard domestic cleaning |
| cleaned – either by yourself, or by a professional | | | | fluid, for the removal of more stubborn stains. Bear in |
| operator – using high pressure cleaning | | | | mind, however, that vinyl siding does need to be |
| equipment, and specialised cleaning fluid. Brick also | | | | installed correctly. Vinyl expands, and contracts, in |
| provides natural insulation for your home, against | | | | response to temperature changes, so adjacent siding |
| heat, in the summer, as well a cold, in the winter. | | | | panels should overlap, so that they can move past |
| Brick veneer, on the other hand, gives the attractive | | | | each other. In addition, vinyl siding does tend to trap |
| appearance of brickwork, but is not, in fact, a | | | | moisture behind it, so tar paper should be installed |
| structural component. Brick veneer is a single layer of | | | | between the vinyl, itself, and the existing exterior |
| bricks, which is attached, using metal ties, to the | | | | walls of your home. Some vinyl siding panels also |
| existing exterior walls – typically wooden, or | | | | have so-called “weep” holes in their bottom |
| rough masonry – of a home, with a water | | | | edges, to allow water to escape. |
| resistant material – usually “tar”, or | | | | 4. Aluminium |
| “building” paper – between the two | | | | Aluminium siding is a popular alternative to vinyl, as it, |
| surfaces. The air gap between the brick veneer and | | | | too, is fairly inexpensive, durable and easy to clean. |
| the existing exterior wall serves as natural insulation, | | | | Regular light cleaning – low pressure washing, for |
| or additional insulation can be installed in the cavity. | | | | example – is normally all that is required to keep |
| Although brick veneer does not have the lifespan of | | | | aluminium clean. Aluminium siding can be primed, and |
| “real” brickwork, it is, nevertheless, fairly | | | | painted, but the colour may fade, and some |
| durable, and, again, requires very little in the way of | | | | oxidation, or chalking, may become apparent, over |
| maintenance. | | | | time. Periodic repainting may therefore be necessary, |
| 2. Wood | | | | to “freshen” its appearance. Aluminium siding |
| Wood is a traditional siding material, understandably, in | | | | is available with insulation, and reflective foil backing, |
| countries such as the United States, and Canada, and | | | | and so can be used not only to weatherproof the |
| is becoming increasingly popular in other countries, | | | | exterior of your home, but also to increase its |
| sometimes using woods – such as Western Red | | | | energy efficiency, as a whole, and cut the cost of |
| Cedar – specially imported from North America. | | | | your heating bills. Aluminium may also be susceptible |
| Exterior wood siding typically takes one of two | | | | to dents, or dimples, caused by extreme weather |
| forms, shingles, or “shakes”, as they are | | | | conditions – hailstones, for example – so it |
| more colloquially known, and clapboards, or cladding. | | | | may be worthwhile to purchase additional, |
| Shingles are traditionally made from cedar – a | | | | replacement panels, at the outset, for use in the |
| species renowned for its resistance to weather, and | | | | event of damage. |
| decay – and can be left unpainted, so that they | | | | |