Types of Wood Siding

Your home deserves a bit of personality, rather than looking like the same, picture-postcard property that’s on the front cover of Architectural Digest.

Every area of the home should have a personality that reflects the homeowner's tastes and that includes the wooden siding. Yes, the exterior of the home is just as important as the interior. After all, the first thing guests see when it comes to your home is its exterior.

Boosting curb appeal is a great way to make the home feel welcoming and inviting. With so many wooden siding types to choose from though, how do you find the one for you? Well, stop right there because this guide will help make that decision-making process a lot easier.

Let’s look at some of the wonderful wooden siding types that are available for homeowners who may be looking to build or upgrade their homes this year.

The benefits of wooden siding

Before diving into the types of wooden siding, what makes it so beneficial to a home?

It’s eco-friendly

For those who are particularly conscious when it comes to being eco-efficient in this day and age, wooden siding has some great eco-benefits. It’s one of the most eco-conscious materials available that homeowners can get their hands on.

Wood is renewable and is biodegradable. That way, if it ends up in a landfill, it’s not going to decay the same way man-made materials would.

It’s energy-efficient

To keep homes warm, it’s important to invest in insulation. One of the main benefits of wooden siding is that its energy efficient. Wood itself is an energy-efficient material that helps to keep the warmth in the home.

Anyone that lives in a particularly colder climate will benefit from wooden siding installed.

Easy to paint

Wooden siding has its benefits but probably one of the coolest is that it can be easily painted. Just think of the endless possibilities that you have when it comes to painting the outside of the home. There’s nothing better than being able to paint a property that suits the home’s character or in a color that reflects your personality as a household.

Quick to repair

With wooden siding, it’s easy enough to repair, which for the average household can be helpful when DIY skills are basic. For small holes, it simply needs wood putty to fill them.

7 types of wooden siding for the home

With the benefits of wooden siding fresh in your mind, let’s now look at some of the best types of wooden siding. There are many options available, which makes sense because there are many tree types out there that are utilized when it comes to building or updating a home.

Here are several types of wood siding that are worth considering for a property.

1. Wood Fiber Cement Siding

With wood fiber cement siding, it’s a little more durable than most because it’s mixed with a man-made product - cement. Not only that but it’s also mixed with sand and water. The real word used is in the form of cellulose fibers and as a result, the fibers are mixed with the rest of the materials to mimic the texture of real wood.

It’s a great way to give an appearance of real wood but to have something that’s a lot sturdier and more durable. You get the best of both worlds with this one.

Pros

• Strong and durable.
• Fire-resistant qualities.
• Less likely to get damaged by pests.

Cons

• Doesn’t quite have the natural wood look.
• Can be prone to cracking in harsh weather conditions.

2. Pine Siding

Pine is one of the lighter-colored softwoods that comes in a honey-brown. It’s easily available, making it one that can be bought by many homeowners across the country.

With its light appearance, it can shift to a slightly darker color when it gets wet, which makes it interesting for those who want a wood siding that can seemingly shape-shift, or should that be color-shift?

Not only that but when it comes to painting the siding, it can do well with staining if you’d prefer to keep the natural coloration of the wood.

Pros

• Budget-friendly for those who need to cut costs.
• Great for staining but can also be painted.

Cons

• Shorter in length.
• Isn’t naturally resistant to decay and pest damage.

3. Redwood Siding

Redwood is one of those wooden materials that are beautifully deep and rich in color. It’s a material that is most commonly available in the west of the US. A great feature of this wooden siding type is that it will change color as it ages. This is something that can be great for those who want an exterior that ages with the interior.

Redwood, the clue is in the name, will remain red at first and then will eventually darken. Over time, this dark red wood will turn grey in color.

Pros:

• Doesn’t shrink or crack.
• Resists pest damage.

Cons:

• Not easy to get a hold of outside of the western US.
• It’s often a more expensive option.

4. Fir Siding

Fir is another softwood, like pine. The price for this wood is reasonably affordable and can often benefit those who are trying to stay on a budget when adding wooden siding to their home.

The Fir is a wood that has a consistency within its color and also has a very fine, delicate graining. It’s quite a generic color but can be adaptable with staining where it’s required.

Pros:

• Great wood for staining.
• Easy to cut to size and comes in longer lengths.

Cons:

• Can be prone to warping.
• Has to be coated completely.

5. Engineered Wood Siding

For those that are looking to incorporate other materials like the wood fiber cement option, engineered wood siding is a good option.

It’s made up of wood fibers that are coated in resins, waxes, and other materials to make it more durable. It’s also helpful for those who are looking for an eco-friendly option as it makes use of recycled materials to create it.

The wood is pressed under heat to help create the texture of real wood.

Pros:

• Uses recycled materials.
• Affordable and budget-friendly.
• A lighter option to fiber cement.

Cons:

• Doesn’t look as natural to real wood.
• Some of the binding agents can contain carcinogens.
• Has to be painted to look good.

6. Spruce

Spruce is a similar softwood to pine and fir. They’re comparable when it comes to pricing too. For those who are looking for another budget-friendly option, Spruce is a great choice.

The light color and texture make it great for those properties who want to create a brighter and clean feel to the property.

It’s a wooden material that’s easier to find on the East Coast of the US, which may be problematic for some.

Pros:

• Comes in a longer length.
• Ideal for staining and stains well.

Cons:

• Does require additional maintenance.
• Likely to be subjected to pests easily.

7. Cedar Siding

Cedar is a versatile and impressive wood for siding. It’s one that can be left to weather on its own, or it can be tweaked to the appearance you desire with either staining or painting.

It can sit around the middle ground when it comes to cost and if left unstained, it can change from light honey brown to a silver-grey color.

Pros:

• Good for weathering on its own.
• Looks beautiful stained or painted.
• Sustainable.

Cons:

• Can require additional maintenance.

What styles of wooden siding are available?

With the wooden types, there are a number of styles that are available to choose from. The style of the wooden siding can really help create the finished look of the material on the side of the home.

It’s worth considering which one will look and work the best for the type of home and environment the home is in. Here are some of the styles to choose from.

Shake siding

Shake siding are wedge-like shingles that are similar to that of roof shingles. They’re lapped and put on top over bottom. With shake siding, it gives a rustic look to the home that would do very well with older homes and those that have more dated features to it.

Shingle siding

With shingle siding, the shingles themselves are thinner. They also lay flatter to the house than shake siding, which gives them a smoother finish.

Split Log Siding

With split log siding, it creates an effect of a real log cabin. Who wouldn’t want that for their home? It looks as though there are logs stacked up against the wall.

Shiplap Siding

A weather-proof seal is created with shiplap siding and is done by laying a top board over a lower board. It’s great for helping keep out the rain, sleet, and snow. It’s a great one for creating a timeless look that’s affordable and provides long-lasting value.

There are some fantastic wooden siding options, which make a homeowner’s life a little more difficult in deciding which one is the best for them. However, they all perform and look differently, so do your research and explore which one can achieve the look and feel desired.