Is it Time to Install New Siding? (Wood or Fiber-Cement)
(Scroll Down for Natural Wood, Composite Wood and Fiber-Cement Siding)
Like most people, you may not typically give siding much thought, but siding, along with roofing, is one of the most important components protecting your home from the elements. Siding also plays a major factor in the overall appearance of your home, which in turn affects its value.
Is it time to replace your siding?
Despite its importance, siding is often a neglected feature on many homes. Now is the time to assess the state of your siding. Is your current siding showing signs of staining, uneven weathering, buckling or decay? If it is, you should check the interior finish in the same area for signs of damage.
Also, check if the siding has areas that are deformed or displaced. And check for damaged siding near grade level, a particularly susceptible area for water penetration, which could lead to deterioration of the sheathing and framing of your home.
Look for signs of damage or decay
If your siding is cracked, rotted, dented, corroded, pitted, looks chalky or dull, or has water stains or moss growth, it may be time for new siding. Of course, it will depend on the extent of the damage whether it's time to replace your siding or if a repair job will suffice for now. Or you may just think it's time for a change. Maybe it's time install a new type of siding altogether, or a new color to completely change the look of your home.
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Lots of choices available
If you do decide that it's time to redo your siding, you'll be pleased to know that now there are more choices than ever. You can choose between vinyl, fiber cement, natural wood (plank and plywood), wood composites, brick, stone, stucco, spray-on or metal (aluminum and steel) siding. Then there are the choices in composition, size, style and color.
Things to consider
So with all the options, what is the best choice for your home? And the answer is, there is no single right answer. There are, however, several factors to consider when deciding on the type of siding to install on your home. And those are: the climate you live in, architectural compatibility with your home, product quality, appearance, cost, maintenance requirements, and the ability to repair or replace in the event of damage.
Natural Wood Siding
Natural wood siding is among the most expensive types of siding and requires the most maintenance. But it is also among the most beautiful. If you appreciate the look, feel and smell of wood, it would be difficult to convince you to go with another type of siding. Wood had a charm all its own, which other types of siding try to emulate. As good as some of the other siding materials are, many people are willing to put up with the maintenance and its associated costs to have a wood finish.
Wood siding can last a lifetime
With proper installation and regular maintenance, many types of wood siding can last well over 50 years. However, wood is susceptible to damage from water and termites, and is not fire-resistant. Also, consider the environmental and ecological costs of using old growth wood for siding. Efforts to protect our natural resources have limited the timber harvest, which has driven up the dollar cost of many species of wood siding.
Siding is priced per “square”
Siding is usually priced by the “square,” which is 100 square feet. Solid wood siding generally costs between $150 and $250 per square, depending on the particular species of wood. The most popular types of wood used for siding are redwood, cedar and various pines. However, other species such as poplar, spruce, cypress and hemlock are also used because they are cheaper.
Wood siding is also sold according to the grade of the wood. The more expensive grades generally have fewer knots and are higher quality. They go by various names, such as “A Grade,” “Select,” “Clear,” “Clear Heart,” “Number 1,” and “B and Better.” Lower grades of wood have similar names, but with “Knotty” and “Common” added on. Whichever species or grade of wood you choose, make sure it's “kiln-dried” as opposed to “green” wood, as dried wood is more resistant to shrinkage and warping.
Paint or stain for protection
If you choose wood siding, it is strongly recommended to paint or stain it every 3 to 7 years to protect your investment. Be sure to use the highest quality paint or stain you can find. Not only will it help protect against premature aging, rot, mold and damage from weather and ultraviolet rays, it will offer longer-lasting protection compared to the cheaper stuff. And that means needing to paint less often. So don't be afraid to spend a little more on a top-quality paint or stain. It might even save you money in the long run.
This advice holds for all types of natural wood siding, whether traditional bevel cedar siding, cedar shingles, vertical cedar siding…… The type of wood siding you choose will be based on personal preference and budget considerations, but the cost of a top-quality paint or stain is a drop in the bucket compared to the cost of the siding itself.
Beware of siding made from younger trees
When choosing a type of wood siding, pay attention to exactly what type of wood you're buying, as different wood siding products vary in quality. For example, in the past few years, there has been an increase in the use of thin, tight-knot bevel siding products, such as ” x 6” tight-knot cedar. The problem is that much of this siding is made from younger trees, and tends to warp, shrink and split, and does not resist rot the way old growth cedar does.
Ensure quality installation to avoid premature deterioration
One of the benefits of wood siding is that it can be repaired, and individual sections can be replaced. But that is no substitute for a quality installation job by experienced wood siding contractors. That is because improper installation can result in siding that traps in humidity, which can lead to premature deterioration.
Composite Wood Siding
If you like the idea of natural, solid wood siding, but don't like its high price tag, the answer for you is composite wood siding. Composite wood siding is not authentic like natural wood, although it shares many of natural wood's characteristics, and costs less.
Composite wood siding - also known as engineered or re-manufactured wood siding - includes wood laminates such as plywood panels, and hardboard and oriented-strand board (OSB) sidings.
Plywood siding is much like natural wood
Plywood siding consists of several layers, or veneers, of wood bonded together with waterproof glue. It typically comes in 4' x 8', 4' x 9' and 4' x10' panels that are grooved to look like vertically-installed wood siding. And like natural wood siding, plywood siding should be stained or painted every 3 to 7 years to protect it against rot, mold, fading and weather damage.
…but costs less
With proper installation and care plywood siding will last as long as natural wood siding, at a lower price. You can expect to pay around $125 to $150 per square (100 square feet) of plywood siding, compared to $150 to $250 per square for natural wood. And since plywood is easier to install, the cost of installation will likely cost less. (Use the Cost Estimator Tool to help you estimate the cost of your siding project.)
Composite wood siding is made to resemble natural wood
Other types of composite wood siding are made from various combinations of shredded wood (for OSB), saw dust (for fiber board) and wood pulp mixtures (for hardboard) which are bound together with glues, resins and/or waxes. The mixtures are formed into boards and panels, then coated with a hard and durable resin layer. The top-coating can be smooth or textured to resemble natural wood.
Hardboard, OSB and fiber board are available in a variety of styles, including lap siding, shingles and panels, and cost around $100 to $125 per square. These types of composite wood siding are usually primed or pre-finished in a variety of base colors.
With care it has a long life
While composite wood siding is a dense, tough material, it can be unforgiving when poorly installed or with exposure to wet conditions. But with proper installation and maintenance, composite wood siding can last as long as natural wood.
Paint or stain for protection
With composite wood siding, it is recommended to paint or stain every 3 to 7 years to increase its weather resistance. Just like with natural wood siding, use the highest quality paint or stain you can find. It will provide better protection for your investment, and should require painting or staining less often, which saves you money in the long run.
Most problems are in the past
Although wood composite siding has been around for awhile, you may have heard about problems with earlier generations of the product. There have been some durability and moisture-related concerns with some types and brands of composite wood siding, which failed due to product defects, improper installation or improper maintenance. However, many of those issues have since been resolved.
If you are considering buying an engineered wood siding product, confirm with your contractor that the type you're buying will be free from defects or installation-related problems, and get clear maintenance instructions - and follow them.
Fiber Cement Siding
For the look of real wood without the high price tag and increased need for maintenance, fiber cement siding is a good choice. Of all the engineered siding products, fiber cement does the best job of imitating the look of real wood. And it is among the best performers.
Fiber cement siding is designed to be extremely durable. It is made from cement, sand and cellulose fiber which is cured with pressurized steam to increase its strength and stability. As cement is a brittle material, the fiber reinforces the concrete to prevent cracking.
Many benefits over other siding
Fiber cement has many benefits over other types of siding. It doesn't warp, twist or crack, and it's more impact-resistant than aluminum, steel or vinyl. With proper installation it can even withstand hurricane-force winds.
Fiber cement is designed to resist moisture damage, and won't, rot or delaminate. It inhibits fungus growth, mould and mildew, and is resistant to caustic or salty atmospheres. Fiber cement siding is pest-resistant - an especially important consideration if you live in termite country. It is also resistant to pests such as woodpeckers and carpenter bees, which can cause damage to natural wood siding.
50-year warranty and lower insurance premiums
Unlike natural wood, wood composites and vinyl, fiber cement siding is non-combustible - it won't melt or burn, so it won't catch fire or help spread fire. Some insurance companies are even offering lower premiums for homes with fiber cement siding. And because fiber cement is so durable, many manufacturers are offering warranties of 50 years or more.
Requires painting, but less often than wood
Among the few drawbacks of fiber cement siding, it can suffer damage due to freeze-thaw cycles if not properly sealed. Fiber cement siding needs to be painted periodically, although some manufacturers claim that their products hold paint better than natural wood, and require re-painting only every 10 to 15 years, with the use of high quality paint. This is significantly less maintenance compared to natural wood and wood composite siding, which needs to be re-painted every 3 to 7 years.
You can buy fiber-cement products either pre-primed or unprimed. For unprimed siding, use an alkaline-resistant primer. And follow manufacturer recommendations for paint, which usually call for a 100% acrylic topcoat.
Mid-range price
The cost of fiber cement siding is similar to or less than OSB and hardboard siding, and offers a lot more durability while requiring less maintenance. It is less expensive than traditional masonry or synthetic stucco, but more than the popular vinyl siding. However, price should be only one among several considerations, and cheaper is not always better.
Although it has been used for many years in other countries, fiber cement siding is relatively new in America. And due to its many benefits, it is quickly becoming one of the most popular types of siding used for both re-siding and new homes.
Use the Cost Estimator Tool to estimate the cost of your siding project.
Visit the following site for more information on cedar siding: http://www.cedar-siding.org/cedar_products/intro.htm
