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Building a Home Porches & Decks Design Dilemma

alternative for wood horizontal siding

4 years ago

Building new home. I want horizontal stained wood 1 x8 or 1x6 on the front to warm up house. Also want corners to either be mitered together or alternating raw cuts (see photos below.) I have not liked the look for the cap on the edge I have seen for some corners.

Builder does not encourage wood because I am in high humidity area and concerned wood will swell and not look good in time, esp at mitered corners, plus maintenance issues. Cement fiber board has been suggested as alternative. Problems I foresee - I have not found a stain product for cement fiber board. And, I don't like the look of the wood grain fiber board so even if I can find a stain for the cement fiber board, don't know that non-textured board will really look like wood. Any ideas?

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Comments (4)

PRO
Beth H. :
4 years ago
last modified: 4 years ago
have you looked at Hardie siding Or similar cement board companies?

this one is Allura USA:

Is this the look your DONT like?

what you could also do is pair the siding w/real cedar planks on a porch ceiling, posts, accents pieces, etc

Western Red Cedar siding, particularly cedar shake, is the common choice for houses in damp climates. Unlike some other woods, Western Red Cedar has a natural gift of being water-resistant. The aromatic scent of cedar is due to the oils within this wood. These oils and tannins present give Western Red Cedar an edge over other wood species. Not to mention, it also makes it unappealing to insects, fungus and decay.

A home clad in Western Red Cedar is truly stunning, however, if you're considering cedar, be forewarned that you will need to take maintenance very seriously. Western Red Cedar siding must be properly finished with surface treatments to properly protect it from moisture. You, or a professional you hire, will need to reapply the surface treatment and reseal every few years. This varies from about 3 to 5 years, but in a wet climate, expect it to be much closer to 3.

It's all too easy to neglect caring for a cedar shake home. Forgetting to have your home resealed for just a year or so can cause serious damage that will result in expensive repairs.

If you don't want the flaws of vinyl, the faux wood look of fiber cement, or the care needs of cedar, modified wood just might be the perfect siding for your home. This material is the perfect balance between natural beauty and engineered performance.

Modified wood siding is a real wood product that has been enhanced with a safe, bio-based liquid and drying process, resulting in super tough planking with the density and resilience of tropical hardwood. Modified wood is capable of being used in any type of outdoor construction, but it looks particularly stunning as home cladding.

There are two huge advantages of modified wood: it's exceptionally water-resistant and it requires very little maintenance. The density of these boards makes them almost waterproof in design and perform very well in wet climates. Better yet, modified wood requires no surface treatments and only occasional cleaning when it gets dirty.

Making the Best Choice

When it comes to water-resistance for coastal regions and areas that experience heavy rainfall, you can't beat modified wood. Each material has its own pros and cons, but if you love a real wood exterior, modified wood is hands-down the best choice for you.
Oliviag
4 years ago
I woul look at Hardies Aspyre collection, if I were you. Paint, not stain.
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I know this is kind of a Philistine thing to say, but the vinyl "cedar" shakes and siding have been getting better and better recently. But it would look somewhat like painted cedar, not stained. Very popular in my climate which is death to most siding except vinyl and true uncoated cedar shake. Here's a house with 6" certainteed "cedar" (vinyl) clapboard just for example. Hardieplank lap siding might be another low maintenance alternative.
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Thanks for all responses. Glad to hear this should work as long as installed correctly (which I suppose is always the case). Also, the longest length I'll have is 20' (and only one board at that). Since 20' boards are available, I should be able to do this without any butt joints (except at the ends, of course). Btw, here are posts that had me worried. The second one especially seemed to have knowledgeable people questioning the use of exterior T&G. But I suspect improper installation may be the real issue (T&G appears to be less forgiving of that). Any comments on these are welcomed. Thanks! http://ths.gardenweb.com/discussions/2336663/tongue-and-groove-for-exterior-siding http://www.woodweb.com/knowledge_base/Buckling_TongueandGroove_Siding.html
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Ribbon coursing has been used since the Arts & Crafts movement but it's usually for shingles and alternates one small and one large. The siding usually wraps the corners (no corner boards) so the ribbon is continuous which is very elegant. I suspect it would be difficult but not impossible with flat (untappered) lap siding if the coursing was not too small but alternating 1 wide and 2 medium planks looks random and not immediately intentional. This is an idea that might not work well with a tight budget. A fiber cement siding that can wrap the corners is the Hardie Artisan collection. SmartSide
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PRO
Mark Bischak, Architect
4 years ago
Look into siding by Boral or Truexterior.

https://truexterior.com/
PRO
HALLETT & Co.
4 years ago
Your photos look like ipe to me, which is exceedingly expensive but almost bulletproof. Installed as a rain wall with ventilation and gaps between the boards it will last ‘forever’.

No synthetic product approaches it, especially in areas you can get close to.

Some of the synthetic decking products are convincing and probably half the cost of ipe.

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