Wood, Fibercement & Vinyl Siding
Over the years, the Residential construction industry has seen drastic improvements to siding products. From natural wood, to aluminum siding, to vinyl and composite siding, technology has enabled the industry to produce products which look great and require less maintenance. Hancock Building Associates has installed a wide array of siding materials on all types of houses. Residential siding can be primarily grouped into (3) three main categories: Vinyl, Fiber Cement and Wood. Some examples and descriptions of each are as follows:
Previous Job - Vinyl
Previous Job - Cedar Impressions
Vinyl Siding:
The majority of new residential homes today have vinyl siding. The traditional, horizontal "clapboard" style (seen right) is still the most common. With aluminum coverage and vinyl soffits, people gravitate to it because it has almost no maintenance and has a lifetime warranty from most manufacturers. The drawback with vinyl has always been its aesthetics because it does not have the exact look of wood siding. Manufacturers like CertainTeed, however, have come a long way in that regard. Products like Monogram 46 L are now offered in longer lengths, which reduce the number of seams. Additionally, the new PVC products can be used in place of Aluminum coverage for a more realistic appearance.
Make sure your vinyl siding estimates come from a Vinyl Siding Institute Certified Company (VSI), to ensure all manufacturer warranties. Hancock has won several national awards from VSI and CertainTeed for our artistic expertise with Vinyl.
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Cedar Impressions:
This polymer product has revolutionized the "shingle" style product industry. These shingles are manufactured with a true-to-life cedar shingle texture molded directly from natural wood shingles. It provides the look of wood shingles, but does not require the up-keep common to actual wood shingles. Combined with PVC trim and you have the look of wood, with NO PAINTING….EVER
Hardi-Plank and CertainTeed Fiber Cement Siding offers a low-maintenance product which achieves the appearance of an authentic (higher maintenance) wood product, but with no rot. The Fiber Cement market has grown substantially because it provides an attractive alternative to products which require painting and maintenance every five years. The biggest disadvantage with the product is the increased up-front costs, and specialized installation. These products require special tools to cut and install. Also, they must be installed by a factory trained company to ensure the manufacturer's warranties.
Finishes:
With genuine-looking grains and textures, these products can be factory Pre-Finished, Primed (Ready-To-Paint) or Stained Finished.
(Pre-Finished)
(Primed - Ready to Paint)
(Stained)
Style:
In addition to a variety of colors and finishes, Fiber Cement is also offered through a variety of shapes and styles. The following styles, which are the most common are Lap, Shingle Side, Vertical V-Groove and Round/Octagonal shapes.
Shingle Side
Lap (Clapboard)
Vertical V-Groove
Octagonal
Previous Job - Red Cedar
Clapboard (Primed)
Previous Job - Red Cedar
Clapboard (Clear)
The best exterior wood siding products are made from Cedar. Cedar is naturally resilient to weather, pests and decay. Cedar has two (2) varieties, Red and White. For exterior applications, Red is the most common. In its natural state, the color range of cedar siding is from honey-brown to deep cinnamon-red. As cedar ages it transforms naturally into a natural silvery gray. Additionally, Cedar siding can be ordered clear or pre-primed, if you prefer to stain or paint.
Styles of Wood Cedar Siding can be primarily grouped into two (2) categories (Horizontal Clapboard Panel and Shakes / Shingles). Examples of each are as follows:
Clapboard Styles:
Beveled wood siding tapers from thick to thin, which gives it a layered look. You must allow for an expansion gaps that let the wood expand and contract
Channel wood siding is a type of lap siding that leaves a "channel" or indent in the wood. It can be installed horizontally or vertically and has a very rustic appeal. With the channel, the boards become tightly interconnected underneath allowing for effective weather and water-resistance as well as shrinkage and expansion.
Tongue & Groove wood siding is similar in appearance to that of Channel siding. This style of installation is probably one of the most commonly used throughout the country.
Shingle Style:
Previous Job (Red Cedar Shakes)
Previous Job (Red Cedar Shakes)
Shingle style siding is one of the most visually aesthetic and common types of wood siding. Its distinct appearance is commonly associated with Colonial / New England costal properties. Shingles can be oriented to achieve any design you choose. Combined with several individual profile shapes, stains and colors, it has gained wide support throughout the residential community.
Hancock has worked on houses built in the 1600's with hand-made cedar clapboards and framing from old ships. Nothing looks as good as the real thing, however the cost and maintenance associated with these products continue to increase.
We only install # 1 cedar products to ALL our jobs. For those who want the real thing, we have the craftsman to do it.