Siding

Siding serves a very important role in home building simply for the fact that it does not only serve a decorative purpose but it protects the sheathing from the wear and tear of extreme climates. Siding may be made of wood, metal, plastic, or composite materials. It may be attached directly to the building structure (studs in the case of wood construction), or to an intermediate layer of horizontal planks called sheathing.

Something that is not talked about too often is the house wrap. This is an essential part of siding. It is the base of the covering. It is this layer onto which the siding material is attached too. House wrap defines all synthetic replacement materials for sheathing tar paper. These materials are all lighter in weight. House wrap functions as a weather-resistant barrier, preventing rain from getting into the wall assembly while allowing water vapor to pass to the exterior. If moisture from either direction is allowed to build up within stud or cavity walls, mold and rot can set in and fiberglass or cellulose insulation will lose its R-value due to heat-conducting moisture.

Vinyl siding is plastic exterior cladding for a house, used for decoration and weatherproofing, as an alternative to traditional wood siding or other materials such as aluminum or fiber cement siding. Vinyl siding is long lasting, durable, inexpensive and easy to maintain. Vinyl comes in a variety of grains, thickness and colors making it a practical choice for many homeowners. Vinyl siding can stand up to most weather conditions without worry of severe damage. In addition, vinyl siding can withstand years of sunlight without fading. Vinyl siding is easy to maintain. There is no need to ever paint the siding and it never fades from the elements. The average life expectancy is 60 years.

Insulated siding is vinyl siding that includes rigid foam insulation, fused behind the exterior surface of the wall, for the purpose of reducing energy consumption, increasing the insulation value of the wall system and improving the stability and appearance of the siding. One purported benefit of insulated siding is its ability to prevent energy transfer, which helps maintain the interior temperature of a home. Homeowners also report insulated siding serves as a noise barrier to external sound. Insulated siding is known for its greater impact resistance in comparison with traditional vinyl siding and for its ability to withstand high winds. The rigid foam-backed siding creates straighter sight lines, and prevents denting and bending, for a more wood-like appearance. Described by developers as “green building” with reported energy savings of up to 20%, insulated siding may be used by homeowners to make homes more environmentally friendly. Insulated siding products are typically Energy Star qualified, engineered in compliance with environmental standards set by the U.S. Department of Energy and the United States Environmental Protection Agency. According to manufacturers, insulated siding is manufactured to last for 50 years or more.

Fiber cement (hardie board) is a composite material made of sand, cement and cellulose fibers. In appearance fiber cement cladding most often consists of overlapping horizontal boards, imitating wooden cladding, clapboard and imitation shingles. Fiber cement cladding is not only used as an exterior cladding, it can also be utilized as a substitute for timber fascias and barge boards in high fire areas. The external cladding products require very little maintenance once installed and painted. Fiber cement products have excellent impact resistance and are a non combustible material. For homeowners that want the look of wood but don’t want the hassles and costs associated with it, fiber-cement siding may be a satisfactory alternative. Fiber-cement siding is more durable than wood – it is termite-resistant, water-resistant, non-combustible, and warranted to last 50 years.

 

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