A popular exterior home product is cedar siding in Ohio and throughout the United States. Here are some insights on cedar siding if you are contemplating it for your home.
Cedar Siding
Cedar siding has been in existence since 1800 and is an exterior home siding option made from cedar trees. Whether a historical or contemporary home, cedar siding has proven a good choice for a large amount of home owners.
Types of Cedar Siding
There are a variety of types and qualities of cedar siding, depending on the type of cedar the siding is cut from. Types of cedar siding available include bevel, board-and-batten, tongue-and-groove, lap, trim, and shingle. Shake and shingle cedar siding are most popular due to their stability and resistance to swelling. These can come in a variety of thicknesses and widths and then need to be either stained or painted to prevent moisture, damage, and decay. It is recommended to stain types of cedar siding to reveal the grain richness and character of the wood.
Advantages of Cedar Siding
Cedar siding is capable of withstanding the elements the best out of the available wood sidings. Most homeowners interested in cedar siding find environmental advantages to it since it is a more natural product made from trees rather than manufactured. This also makes most cedar sidings renewable, reclaimable, and biodegradable.
Another advantage of cedar siding is its low-density wood makeup. The lightness of the cedar wood, makes the siding easy to use for construction purposes and a natural insulator. Thanks to the density of the cedar, less heat escapes the home during the winter months and cool air in the summer months. The cedar wood also gives the exterior siding more stability and durability throughout the year.
The warm wood of cedar siding gives a natural style to a home, allowing it to blend well within its surrounding environment and warm aesthetics that can’t be found in vinyl or fiber cement siding. Cedar siding lends itself to homeowners offer a wider variety of exterior design options.
Other advantages of cedar siding include:
- Easy installation and repair
- Competitively priced compared to fiber cement and premium vinyl siding options
- Resistant to swelling, cupping, and cracking when properly maintained
Disadvantages of Cedar Siding
Most of the disadvantages of cedar siding come from the fact that it is made of wood. It must be routinely stained and sealed to protect it from moisture, rot, mold, and warping. This can get costly for some homeowners. If uncared for, cedar siding can become susceptible to insects; not an issue when using other siding options such as vinyl or fiber cement.
Cedar siding also has a low fire resistance, obviously. There are options to chemically treat the siding for higher fire resistance, but this lowers the environmental friendliness of cedar siding. Other disadvantages to the wood makeup of cedar siding include being more susceptible to insects such as termites or woodpeckers.
Cedar Siding Maintenance
There are a few factors that affect the maintenance of cedar siding, such as environment and the quality of the stain or paint used on the siding. Some homeowners prefer to not stain or paint their cedar siding at all. This will leave the siding to be weathered naturally and eventually turn to a natural gray. This does not affect the siding at all, just the color. If the cedar siding has been stained or painted though, the finish will require regular maintenance to keep the look. Mildew may also have to require removal and cleaning depending on the climate you live in.
Maintenance schedules of cedar siding may include:
- Power washing every two to four years
- Staining or painting where needed every three to five years
- Chalking if paint appears to be falling off
- Peeling, flaking or blistering
Regular cedar siding maintenance is what keeps the natural beauty of the cedar wood. If you feel as a homeowner these tasks are too daunting, then look for vinyl or fiber cement wood alternatives.
Cedar Siding in Ohio
EMA Construction is an expert cedar siding contractor in Ohio. If you have questions or would like an estimate for work with cedar siding in Cincinnati, West Chester, Liberty Township, Fairfield, Springdale, Mason, Hamilton, or the Indian Hill areas, contact us today.