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The Old House Exterior Remodeling

Siding questions - Cedar vs Hardie board vs?

2 years ago

last modified: 2 years ago

Hi there! We've recently purchased a 1924 house in Portland, with vinyl siding that we hate. It looks like plastic, the flashing and finish work is slapdash (the photos are from the listing), and all the soffits have been boxed in with aluminum. We'd love to replace it and had a siding company come by and they are recommending Hardie board, but I know cedar is traditional and can be long lasting if properly maintained. Should we try to go with Cedar? Pros and cons?

We have removed the aluminum storms, are trying to restore the original windows that still exist, replace the crappy metal porch supports, and in general return her to the style and quality that our neighboring craftsman homes demonstrate. We just want to do right by this house and make decisions that we will feel good about in the long run, and would appreciate your advice!

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PRO

StarCraft Custom Builders

2 years ago

last modified: 2 years ago

I would not put Hardie board on a doghouse, but that's just my opinion. Others like it. Our experience is that its features are exaggerated. It does not live up to its hype. And it is expensive to buy and even more expensive to install.

Clear cedar siding is hard to find and VERY EXPENSIVE. The replacement wood is paulownia (pronounced just like it is spelled Paul-low-mia), a close grain hardwood from New Zealand. Like traditional cedar is is rot-resistant and resists cupping and warping - the features that made cedar popular as siding. No lumber yard carries it, but you can usually order it. There are no special requirements for its installation, it install just like cedar.

Be sure to order narrow siding with not more than a 3' reveal. The wide siding now on the house is inappropriate for the period.

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Comments (7)

PRO
Legacy Roofing Northwest
2 years ago
The damp climate in Portland will make cedar a high-maintenance, low-lifespan option. Cedar is also risky for fire, rodents, and insects unless it is treated periodically. If you like the look of cedar explore durable HardieShingle® Siding or the gorgeous, somewhat spendy DaVinci siding. https://www.davinciroofscapes.com/products/hand-split-shake-siding/
User
2 years ago
Congratulations, good that you're restoring! I would recommend viewing the options in person first. I did go with hardie board, I think the smooth is a better looking choice.
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Kim H
2 years ago
Congratulation on your new house! We are also in Portland and have a house built in the mid-1940's that had cedar shingles. Through the years they had not been taken care of and had been painted several times. The paint was constantly peeling and the previous owners just painted over the peeling paint. Ugh! Because of the age of the shingles and the fact that there was lead paint in some of the layers we ended up replacing it with Hardie Board and are so happy that we did. The Hardie Board requires so much less maintenance than the cedar did.
User
2 years ago
Additional information, the original portions of my house are brick, the hardie is on an addition.
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Legacy Roofing Northwest Wow! The DaVinci product is GORGEOUS!!! Now to get a price and talk my husband into spending that much! Lol.
urchinsushi
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Lg smartside, everlast composite siding, if you like cedar shingles , certainteed cedar impressions (probably easiest to come by) - your home is charming!

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