Paneling and Siding Catalog - Beronio Lumber

PANELING AND SIDING

Founded in 1911 by Antone V. Beronio, Beronio Lumber has supplied fine 

wood products to architects and builders for over ninety years. From its 

original yard on Powell and Beach Streets on San Francisco’s bustling 

waterfront, Beronio sold lumber, millwork and mouldings to the 

contractors busy rebuilding the city after the devastating earthquake and 

fire of 1906. It was these proud craftsmen who created the rich 

architectural heritage for which San Francisco is famous today. 

From the beginning, Beronio Lumber has offered high quality wood 

paneling and siding. Over the years we’ve amassed a wide assortment of 

patterns and profiles. This catalog includes snapshots of some of the 

many patterns and profiles presently in inventory. While we’ve tried our 

best to show representative pieces, it’s impossible for just one piece to 

convey the full range and depth of the natural characteristics found in a 

particular wood species or lumber grade. Naturally, it’s best to come and 

see for yourself which species and grade best meet your needs. 

Can’t find something in this catalog that meets your needs? No 

problem. We look forward to working with you to produce a custom 

pattern or profile. 

All patterns are subject to change without notice. Please check with 

Beronio Lumber before making final choices.

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PANELING AND WAINSCOTING 

Wood paneling enhances any décor. Whether it’s smooth, textured, 

patterned, stained, tinted, waxed or natural, real wood has a unique look 

and radiates a warmth unmatched by other interior finishes. With so many 

options to choose from, how do you decide? We recommend Rob Thallon’s 

Graphic Guide to Interior Details published by The Taunton Press as a good 

introduction to millwork in general and to paneling in particular. Or, you 

might try the Western Wood Products Association’s idea booklet Real 

Wood Interiors—A Design Workbook. A great source for specific 

installation details is the book and companion video Trim Carpentry 

Techniques by Craig Savage, also from The Taunton Press. These books 

and more are available at our Marin Street store. 

Naturally, most wainscot patterns serve equally well when used as wall or 

ceiling paneling.

J3 1 x 4 

Douglas Fir 

C/Btr VG Clear TG 

3/4” Thick 

3-1/8” Face 

J4-C 3/8 x 4 

Cherry Bead 

5/16” Thick 

3-1/8” Face 


J3-C 1 x 4 

Alaskan Yellow 

C Solid TG VG 

3/4” Thick 

3-1/8” Face 

J4-C 3/8 x 4 

Cherry 

V Reversible TG 

5/16” Thick 

3-1/8” Face 

5

6 

J4-G 3/8 x 4 

Genuine Mahogany 

Bead 

5/16” Thick 

3-1/8” Face 

J4-M 3/8 x 4 

Maple TG 

Bead Side 

5/16” Thick 

3-1/8” Face 


J4-G 3/8 x 4 

Genuine Mahogany 


5/16” Thick 

3-1/8” Face 

J4-M 3/8 x 4 

Maple 


5/16” Thick 

3-1/8” Face

J4-R 3/8 x 4 

Red Oak 

Flat Sawn Bead 

5/16” Thick 

3-1/8” Face 

J5 1 x 4 

Douglas Fir 

C Solid VG TG 

Double Bead Back 

9/16” Thick 

3-1/8” Face 


J4-R 3/8 x 4 

Red Oak 


5/16” Thick 

3-1/8” Face 

J5 1 x 4 

Douglas Fir 

Single Bead Face 

9/16” Thick 

3-1/8” Face 

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8 

J5J 1 x 4 

House White 

TG Bead 

9/16” Thick 

3-1/8” Face 

J6C 1 x 4 

Red Cedar Clear Heart 

VG TG Beaded 

5/8” Thick 

3-1/8” Face 


J5J 1 x 4 

House White 

TG V-Side 

9/16” Thick 

3-1/8” Face 

J6C 1 x 4 

Red Cedar Clear 

Heart TG V-Side 

5/8” Thick 

3-1/8” Face

J6J 1 x 4 

FJ Pine 

TG Bead 

5/8” Thick 

3-1/4” Face 


J6K 1 x 4 

Pine/Spruce Appearance 

Knotty TG Beaded 

11/16” Thick 

3-1/8” Face 

J6J 1 x 4 

FJ Pine 

TG Bead V-Side 

5/8” Thick 

3-1/4” Face 

J6K 1 x 4 

Pine/Spruce 

TG Bead V-Side 

11/16” Thick 

3-1/8” Face 

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10 

J15-DF 1/2 x 4 

Douglas Fir 

B VG Resawn TG 

1/2” Thick 

3-1/4” Face 

J16V 1/2 x 6 

Douglas Fir VG 

Smooth T&G 

1/2” Thick 

5-3/16” Face 


J15-DF 1/2 x 4 

Douglas Fir 

B VG V/Smooth SE TG 

1/2” Thick 

3-1/4” Face 

J20 1 x 8 

Alpine Knotty 

Country Beaded TG 

11/16” Thick 

6-3/4” Face

J21 1 x 6 

Alpine Knotty 

Beaded TG 

11/16” Thick 

5” Face 

J23J 7/16 x 4 

Pine FJ Primed 

Bead-Wall TG 

13/32” Thick 

3” Face 


J21 1 x 6 

Pine V-Side 

11/16” Thick 

5” Face 

J24 1 x 6 

Douglas Fir B (10% C) 

VG Clear Square 

Edge TG 

3/4” Thick 

5-1/4” Face 

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J25 1 x 6 

Douglas Fir B (10% C) 

VG Clear “Eased 

Edge” TG 

Special Order 

3/4” Thick 

5-1/4” Face 

J29-J 3/4 x 6 

House White 

V-Side 

23/32” Thick 

5-1/8” Face 


J29-J 3/4 x 6 

House White 

Beaded TG 

23/32” Thick 

5-1/8” Face 

J46 W 1 x 6 

Red Cedar 

VG TG “Channel Reveal” 

Special Run 

11/16” Thick 

4-7/8” Face


J46 DF 1 x 6 

Douglas Fir 

C VG TG “Channel Reveal” 

Special Run 

11/16” Thick 

4-7/8” Face 

J48 4 x 8 

Victorian Beaded Plywood 

Unfinished 

3/16” Thick 

48” Wide Panel 

1-9/16” Pattern Repeat 

J47 4 x 8 

Arauco Clear Beaded Plywood 

2” OC Smooth Plybead 

5/16” Thick 


2” Pattern Repeat 

J53 2 x 6 

SPF Select Deck Knotty 

TG V 

1-7/16” Thick 

5” Face 

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J54 4 x 8 

MDF Preprimed 

Harbor Bead 

3" OC (1/4") 

1/4” Thick 


3” Pattern Repeat 

J2-12 1 x 12 

#1 Knotty Pine 

Colonial Bead TG 

Special Order 

11/16” Thick 

10-5/8” Face 


J55 4 x 8 

MDF Preprimed Nantucket 

Bead 

1-1/2" OC (1/4") 

1/4” Thick 


1-1/2” Pattern Repeat 

J57 1/2 x 6 

AZEK PVC Beaded TG 

(18' Only) 

1/2” Thick 

5-1/8” Face

1/2” Thick 

5-1/8” Face 


J57 1/2 x 6 

AZEK PVC Beaded TG 

(18' Only) V-Side 

J63 1 x 3 

Douglas Fir C VG 

“Screenwall” 

3/4” Thick 

2-1/2” Face 

(Not including gap) 

J58 2 x 6 

Douglas Fir Select Struct “V” 

Face / “SE” Back 

1-7/16” Thick 

5” Face 

J63C 1 x 3 

Red Cedar Clear 

VG “Windscreen” 

11/16” Thick 

2-1/2” Face 


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J74C 1 x 4 

Red Cedar 

Clear VG “Windscreen” 

11/16” Thick 

3-1/2” Face 


J74K 1 x 4 

SPF Appearance 


3/4” Thick 

3-1/2” Face 



J74DF 1 x 4 

Douglas Fir C VG 


3/4” Thick 

3-1/2” Face 


W504 1 x 6 

Windsor One 

Beaded Wainscot 

(SPBC6) 

23/32” Thick 

5-1/8” Face


W504 1 x 6 

Windsor One 

Beaded Wainscot V-Side 

(SPBC6) 

23/32” Thick 

5-1/8” Face 

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Wood has been used as siding for centuries. It provides weather protection 

and insulation in a wide range of siding types and patterns affording 

unlimited design possibilities. When properly installed and maintained, 

wood siding will provide decades and decades of service. The ancient temples 

of Japan, the 12th century stave churches of Norway, and the colonial 

houses of New England attest to the longevity of a well designed and 

properly constructed wood building. 

For best performance, it’s important to select a siding type and pattern that 

is suited to your local climate. In addition to appearance, several things 

must be considered when determining the wood species, the lumber 

grade and the siding pattern that’s best for your project. Will the building 

be subject to driving rain or to hot, dry winds? How wide are the roof 

overhangs? Will the siding be installed horizontally or vertically? What kind 

of finish will be applied to the siding? 

While choosing the right siding may sound complex, a lot of it is just 

common sense. Wood has been the siding of choice in the United States for 

over 300 years, so there are countless examples to be seen. Take a walk 

around you own neighborhood. What siding types and patterns have 

traditionally been used? Do they complement the buildings’ design? How 

are they holding up? The beautiful painted Victorian houses that grace the 

Bay Area attest to the natural longevity of painted siding of redwood and 

western red cedar. 

SIDING 

Even if your design calls for something apart from the commonplace or 

traditional, there are a few things to always keep in mind when selecting 

wood siding. Narrower patterns shrink and swell in width less than wider 

ones and thus are less likely to cup and split as the ambient environment 

cycles between wet and dry. Thicker patterns have less tendency to cup or 

split than thinner ones. Vertical grain siding is roughly twice as 

dimensionally stable as flat grain siding, so it holds paint better and longer, 

and is much less likely to cup, split or exhibit raised grain. Clear grades of 

siding always outperform knotty grades. Bevel, Dolly Varden, and Channel 

Rustic siding patterns allow for more dimensional change without adversely 

affecting siding appearance than do drop and tongue & groove patterns. 

Most wood siding is installed horizontally. Vertically installed siding is a 

special case that often warrants the use of higher grade siding and more 

careful installation. All other things being equal, siding patterns that are 

narrower, thicker and made from clear, vertical grain lumber always 

perform best. 

The performance of even the best grades of wood siding can be undermined 

by improper installation and poor maintenance. Fortunately, there are 

several excellent guides that spell out how wood siding should be installed 

and maintained to ensure best performance. We keep on hand for distribution 

to customers copies of the Western Wood Products Association’s Natural 

Wood Siding Selection, Installation & Finishing and the California Redwood 

Association’s Siding Patterns and Applications. The Canadian Wood

Council’s Wood Reference Handbook is without equal as a general guide to 

the use of wood in building construction. We stock and recommend The 

Builder’s Guide to Mixed Climates by Joseph Lstiburek. 

Poor performance of siding is most often caused by building design flaws, 

improper installation, and inadequate maintenance. Compared to the 

traditional “energy wasters,” today’s energy-efficient houses present a 

particular challenge to the performance of wood siding. The main 

difference is that the walls of older houses are leaky, warm and forgiving 

of getting wet, while those of new houses are tight, cold and unforgiving. 

The result is that wood siding on new houses that gets wet stays wet 

longer and often accumulates enough moisture to cause problems such as 

extractive staining*, mildew and peeling paint. 

These and other moisture-caused problems in wood siding can be avoided 

by installing siding according to the rain screen principle. Traditionally, 

wood siding is installed directly over sheathing and housewrap, with no 

gap between the two. With the rain screen principle, siding is installed on 

furring strips or over a 3-dimensional plastic mesh to create an air space 

between siding and sheathing and housewrap. The air space allows water 

vapor to escape from the rear of the siding as well as from its face. "Rain 

screen" siding dries quickly after getting wet, so it doesn’t stay wet long 

enough for problems to arise. Furring strips, which are about 1/4 inch thick, 

are located over framing members. The air space is screened at the top 

SIDING 

and bottom to keep out insects. Used in the wetter regions of Europe with 

great success for more than 30 years, rain screen siding is gaining 

acceptance in North America. Installation details can be found in ‘Rain- 

Screen Walls: a Better Way to Install Siding’ in the February/March 2001 

issue of The Taunton Press’ Fine Homebuilding Magazine. 

*Western red cedar, redwood, and Alaskan yellow cedar are rich in natural organic compounds 

called extractives. These compounds impart to these woods their color, aroma and decay 

resistance. Sometimes, when these woods get wet, the extractives migrate to the surface and 

cause discoloration. These spots are natural, unavoidable, and tend to lessen in intensity over 

time. 

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K31 1 x 8 

Redwood Select Heart 

Smooth Face 

11/16” Thick 

7” Face 

K33 1 x 6 


Sawtex Face 

11/16” Thick 

5” Face 

NATURAL LUMBER SIDING AND SOFFIT 

K31 1 x 8 


Sawtex Face 

11/16” Thick 

7” Face 

K33 1 x 6 


TG Smooth Face V-Side 

11/16” Thick 

5” Face

K42V 1 x 6 

Western Red Cedar Clear 

Heart (10% B) Vertical Grain 

Sawtex Face TG 

3/4” Thick 

5-1/4” Face 


K40V 5/8 x 4 



Sawtex Face TG 

5/8” Thick 

3-1/2” Face 

K40V 5/8 x 4 


Heart (10% B) S TG Smooth V 

Face 

5/8” Thick 

3-1/2” Face 

K42V 1 x 6 



Smooth V Face 

3/4” Thick 

5-1/4” Face 

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K50V 3/4 x 6 


VG Sawtex Bevel 

11/16” Thick 

5” Face 

1/2” Thick 

3-1/4” Face 


K55V 1/2 x 4 

Redwood Clear Heart 

VG Resawn SE Smooth V TG 

Special Order 

K55V 1/2 x 4 


VG Resawn SE TG 

Special Order 

7/16” Thick 

3-1/4” Face 

K58V 1 x 6 


VG R/S TG (11/16” Net) 

Resawn 

Special Order 

11/16” Thick 

5-1/8” Face


K58V 1 x 6 


VG R/S TG (11/16” Net) 

Smooth 

Special Order 

11/16” Thick 

5-1/8” Face 

K59 1 x 6 

Western Red Cedar 

Tight Knot TG Smooth Side 

11/16” Thick 

5-1/8” Face 

K59 1 x 6 

Western Red Cedar 

Tight Knot TG Resawn Side 

11/16” Thick 

5-1/8” Face 

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PRIMED HOUSE RED SIDINGS 

The patterns featured here are those most commonly used in the Bay 

Area over the past 150 years. Found on everything from elegant 

Victorians to the sidewalls of refined buildings of the 1920’s and 30’s in 

such areas as Piedmont, Pacific Heights, and St. Francis Woods, they 

provide the ideal means of cladding a building in harmony with the 

neighborhood’s existing architectural style. 

The bulk of the details are stocked in premium quality fingerjointed 

western red cedar or redwood. The sidings contain a large percentage of 

vertical grain stock for maximum dimensional stability and better overall 

performance. Unless otherwise noted, each board is finished on all 

sides with two coats of a premium stain-blocking primer that improves 

topcoat performance. The combination of predominantly vertical grain and 

the two coats of primer greatly minimizes the chance of grain raising and 

extractive staining.


K1-8J 1 x 8 

House Reds 

VG FJ-EG Primed “Cove” 

11/16” Thick 

7” Exposed Face 

K4-6J 1 x 6 

House Reds 

VG FJ-EG Primed “V” 

11/16” Thick 

5” Face 

K1-10J 1 x 10 

House Reds 

VG FJ-EG Primed “Cove” 

11/16” Thick 


K4-8J 1 x 8 

House Reds 


11/16” Thick 


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K4-10J 1 x 10 

House Reds 


11/16” Thick 


K5-10J 1 x 10 

House Reds 

VG FJ-EG Primed “Channel” 

11/16” Thick 



K5-8J 1 x 8 

House Reds 

Primed Siding Channel Rustic 

11/16” Thick 


K6J 1 x 10 

House Reds 

VG FJ-EG Primed 

“Triple Lap” 

11/16” Thick 

9” Exposed Face

7/8” Thick 



K9-SJ 7/8 x 8 

House Reds 

FJ/EG VG (10% FG Dev) 

Smooth Bevel 

K14C 1/2 x 6 

House Reds 

FJ VG “Clapboard” Bevel 

1/2” Thick 

4-1/2” Exposed Face 

K10-SJ 7/8 x 10 

House Reds 

FJ/EG VG (10% FG Dev) 

Smooth Bevel 

7/8” Thick 


K45J 1 x 4 

House Reds FJ/EG VG 

“Belgium Shiplap” SE 

Acrylic Primed 

11/16” Thick 


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CEDAR SHINGLES 

Wood shingles have a special warmth and elegance and a classic architectural 

look that speaks of quality, taste, and timelessness. No other cladding 

offers nature’s own formula for unrivaled, weather-defying protection and 

insulation that ensures that your investment will last and last. We stock 

Stave Lake #1 Blue Certi-Label shingles in both Western Red Cedar and 

Alaskan Yellow Cedar. All of our shingles are 100% heartwood, 100% clear, 

and 100% vertical grain. Beronio is proud to be an associate member of the 

Cedar Shake & Shingle Bureau and supports the bureau’s dedication to 

rigorous quality control and technical support. Shingle selection, installation, 

finishing details, and other information is available at www.cedarbureau.org. 

We inventory a wide array of shingles. The most popular is the standard, 

unseasoned KS 10 16” (Five-X) sidewall shingle, which has an A-grade face 

and butt. 16” Five-X shingles are 2/5 of an inch thick at the butt and are 

typically installed with 5” of wood exposed to weather. Where tight-fitting, 

parallel joints between shingles are desired, our KS 14 Rebutted and 

Rejointed shingles are an ideal choice. All sides and ends of R&R shingles 

are machine trimmed to have parallel edges that meet at 90 degrees. The 

faces have been sanded smooth, providing an ideal surface for finishing. 

Five-X R&R’s are available in both Red Cedar and Alaskan Yellow Cedar for 

those who prefer a lighter colored shingle. We also stock 18” perfections 

for those jobs where a larger scale is preferred. 

We stock Fanci-Butt red cedar shingles in all of the popular designs. 

Whether you’re looking for Fishscale, Round, Diagonal, Arrow, Diamond, 

Half-Cove, Hexagonal, Octagonal, or Square, we have the profile in stock 

that makes your project unique. 

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KSP 1 Shakertown 

Shingle Panel 

8-1/4” x 96” Panel 


KS 10D Bundle Dipped 

Special Order 


KS 10 

16” Red Cedar 

Unseasoned “A” Butt 

KS 13 

16” KD Red Cedar 

Stave Lake, Fire Treated 

Special Order


KS 14 

16” Red Cedar KD 

Rebutt/Rejointed Face Sanded 

KS 99 R&R also available 

as 18” Perfections 

Rebutt/Rejointed 

Sanded 

FSC Certified 

Special Order 

Look for 

FSC-marked products 

KS 16 

16” KD Red Cedar 

1 Coat Cabot 

Bleach/Weather Stain 

Special Order 

Note: Shown aged 6 months 

Southern Exposure 

KS 18D Red Cedar 

Rebutt/Rejointed Sanded 

Factory Sealed with 

Cabot Clear Oil 

Special Order 

KS 30 

16” Alaskan Yellow Cedar 

VG R&R's 

Special Order 

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PLYWOOD SIDING 

Versatile, economical, and relatively easy to install, plywood siding has been 

used for decades. We proudly stock K-Ply’s Western Red Cedar plywood 

siding and Roseburg Forest Products’ Breckenridge plywood siding. 

K-Ply panels feature a naturally durable western red cedar face and back. 

Our stock grade is 303:18S which allows up to 18 small solid knots and/or 

knot holes that have been filled with a cedar-toned filler. Panels with clear 

faces are available on a special order basis. Beronio Lumber also carries K- 

Ply’s unique Panel 4 which features a face composed of 4-inch-wide clear red 

cedar strips. Panel 4 offers the look of 1 x 4 T&G lumber siding with the 

installation ease of plywood. 

Breckenridge is Roseburg Forest Products’ premium grade plywood siding. 

Produced from selected face veneers with specific grain characteristics, it 

stands apart from typical Douglas Fir plywood siding. The carefully selected 

faces create a dimensionally stable panel that has no major visual distinction 

between sapwood and heartwood, resulting in a more uniform grain that 

enhances the appearance and longevity of applied finishes. For best performance, 

Roseburg recommends that the siding be finished with a solid color acrylic 

coating. Among all of the wood-base sidings, plywood siding is the most 

maintenance-intensive.

PLYWOOD SIDING 

KPB 

19/32” Breckenridge Hardwood Plain 

Face SL 

KPB-3 

11/32” 

KPC-3 

11/32” Red Cedar Select Knotty Grade 

Plain SL 

KPC-5 


Plain SL 

KPB-8 

19/32” Breckenridge Hardwood 8” 

Groove SL 

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KPC8-5 


8” Groove

HARDIPLANK 

Hardiplank is a new lap siding product that combines the durability 

of fiber-cement with the look of wood. Manufactured from Portland 

cement, sand and wood fiber, the siding is durable, economical, 

and comes factory-primed. Hardiplank will not rot, is immune to 

permanent water damage, is not attacked by insects, holds paint 

extremely well, carries a Class A fire rating and is backed by a 

50-year limited transferable warranty when installed in accordance 

with the manufacturer’s instructions. While no synthetic siding is 

an exact match for traditional wood siding, James Hardie’s textured 

products harmonize with traditional architecture. 

Sold in panels, James Hardie’s Shingleside combines the look of 

an authentic wood shingle with the ease of panel installation. 

Shingleside is backed by a limited 30-year warranty. Unfortunately, 

factory-priming is not yet available for Shingleside. 

Information on the entire line of James Hardie siding products, 

as well as installation and finishing instructions can be found at 

www.jameshardie.com. 

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KH-9 

9-1/4” Hardiplank Smooth 

Preprimed Smooth Lap 

5/16” Thick 


KH-8CR 

8” Hardiplank Primed Colonial 

Rough Sawn 

5/16” Thick 


PRIMED FIBER - CEMENT SIDINGS 

KH-8C 

8” Hardiplank Factory Primed 

Colonial Lap 

5/16” Thick 


KH-8 

8-1/4” Hardiplank Smooth 

Preprimed Smooth Lap 

5/16” Thick 

7” Exposed Face

PRIMED FIBER - CEMENT SIDINGS 

KG-1 GAF Weatherside 

Fiber Cement Shingle 

12” x 24” 


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Selecting the right finish for your wood siding is critical to maintaining 

its appearance and performance over time. For information beyond 

what is presented in this primer on finish types, we recommend The 

Forest Products Society's Finishes for Exterior Wood as an excellent 

overall guide. 

Paints, solid-color stains, clear coatings, water repellents, and 

semitransparent stains are applied to wood siding to enhance its 

appearance and to protect it from the elements. These and other finishes 

are classified as either film-forming or penetrating. Both types can be 

either water-borne (also known as latex) or oil-base. Upon drying, filmforming 

finishes—primers, paints, solid-color stains, and clear 

coatings—coalesce into a thin continuous sheet that sits on top of the 

wood. Of all coating types, film-forming finishes provide the greatest 

protection to wood by virtue of the physical barrier they pose to the 

elements. Penetrating finishes, on the other hand, do not form surface 

films, but rather are absorbed into the wood. Water repellents and 

semitransparent stains fall into this category. Effective in controlling 

surface checking, penetrating finishes do not stop wood from weathering. 

The type of finish, the properties of the wood to which it is applied, local 

climate, and directional exposure influence the performance and 

longevity of coatings applied to exterior wood products. All other things 

being equal, paints last longest, followed closely by solid-color stains, 

with semitransparent stains, water repellents, and clear coatings all 

about an equally distant third. All other things being equal, finishes last 

longest on vertical grained surfaces of low density softwoods whose 

moisture content stays below about 16 percent. All other things being 

FINISHES FOR WOOD SIDING 

equal, coatings last longest on a building’s northern exposure and on 

those parts of a building that are sheltered from rain. 

Finishes can be applied to new wood siding in a factory or on site. 

Because of its many advantages, factory-finishing of siding is fast 

becoming the norm. Here, all sides of every piece of siding—face, back, 

edges, and ends—are machine-coated with a primer and, if desired, with 

one or more topcoats. Because the siding arrives at the jobsite already 

backprimed and topcoated, field finishing costs are reduced or eliminated, 

and the siding has instant protection from the elements. Site-cut edges 

and ends, of course, must be re-primed before siding is installed. 

Likewise, the back, edges, and ends of new bare wood siding that will be 

finished in the field should be primed before siding is installed. The face 

should be primed within two weeks of the siding being installed, 

otherwise it will have to be lightly sanded to remove contaminants and to 

reactivate the wood for good adhesion. Such surface preparation is, of 

course, not possible with roughsawn siding. Best adhesion is achieved on 

both smooth and rough siding when finishes are worked into surface 

irregularities by brushing. Finishes applied on-site by spraying or rolling 

should be back-brushed for this reason. 

FILM-FORMING FINISHES 

PRIMERS—Applied to bare wood in advance of paints and solid-color 

stains, a primer creates a smooth base for the topcoat to adhere to, and 

serves as a chemical barrier between the wood and the topcoat. Best 

performance is obtained with a primer that contains a fungicide to stop 

mildew and a stain-blocker that prevents water-soluble extractives in 

wood from discoloring topcoats.

PAINTS—Paints are opaque coatings that, in addition to their decorative 

function, protect wood by blocking the sun’s ultraviolet rays, repelling 

liquid water, retarding the absorption of water vapor, and preventing 

erosion. For each wet coat applied, a dry film 2 or 3 mils thick (1 mil 

equals 0.001 inches) is left behind. Oil-base paints generally have lower 

permeability to water vapor and are less flexible over time than waterborne 

paints. As a consequence, oil-base paints are more susceptible to 

cracking and peeling occasioned by swelling and shrinking of the 

underlying wood. Performance and longevity of paints can be enhanced 

by treating bare wood with a “paintable” water repellent prior to priming. 

Paint’s best performance is obtained when two topcoats of 100 percent 

acrylic latex paint with fungicide are applied over a primer containing 

fungicide and stain-blocker. Depending on local climate and severity of 

exposure, such a system should give 7 to 10 years of good 

performance before refinishing is needed. 

SOLID-COLOR STAINS—Solid-color stains are essentially thin paints, with 

a one-coat dry film thickness of about 1 mil. The thinness of the film 

permits both liquid water and water vapor to pass more easily into and out 

of the wood. Though some solid-color stains can be applied directly to 

bare wood, most benefit from being applied over a compatible primer 

containing fungicide and stain-blocker. Application of a “paintable” water 

repellent prior to priming further improves performance and longevity. As 

with paints, best performance is achieved with a three-coat system of 

primer containing fungicide and stain-blocker and two top coats of 100 

percent acrylic latex solid-color stain with fungicide. Depending on the 

environment, this system should give 3 to 7 years of satisfactory service 

before maintenance is required. 

CLEAR COATINGS—Essentially paints without pigment, varnishes, 

urethanes, and other clear coatings require frequent maintenance. The 

sun’s ultraviolet rays pass through these transparent finishes and slowly 

degrade the wood. In usually two years or less, even the toughest clear 

finishes often crack and peel. Additives that block or absorb ultraviolet light 

slightly lengthen the service life of clear coatings. Best performance is 

obtained by applying a “paintable” water repellent to the bare wood, 

followed by three or more coats of finish. 

PENETRATING FINISHES 

WATER REPELLENTS—Used on exterior wood that is otherwise 

unfinished, water repellents retard absorption of liquid water by wood, 

causing dew, rain, and snow melt to bead on the surface where it can 

harmlessly evaporate. Effective in limiting warping, surface checking, and 

end splitting, these penetrating finishes do not prevent wood from turning 

gray. Most water repellents are oil-based; some contain a fungicide to 

discourage mildew. Applied liberally by brushing or spraying, water 

repellents are readily absorbed into smooth and rough wood. Because 

water repellents applied to otherwise unfinished wood remain effective for 

only 1 or 2 years, they must be reapplied regularly. So-called “paintable” 

water repellents are applied directly to bare wood before the primer to 

enhance the performance and longevity of paints and solid-color stains by 

reducing extractive staining, and blistering and peeling. 

SEMITRANSPARENT STAINS—An excellent choice for roughsawn or 

weathered wood, semitransparent stains impart color to wood without 

hiding its natural texture. If used on new smooth wood, only a single coat 

of semitransparent stain should be applied initially. Otherwise, a film may 

form; surfaces may appear glossy and later begin to flake because of 

smooth wood’s inability to absorb the second coat. Additional coats can 

be applied once smooth surfaces have become more absorptive after 

weathering for 1 or 2 years. Semitransparent stains provide to wood only 

slightly more protection from the elements than water repellents. 

Reapplication is usually necessary every 3 to 4 years. 

39

SIDING: INSTALLATION DETAILS 

A rainscreen installation uses furring strips, or breather mesh, to maintain 

an air space behind the siding. The air gap provides improved drainage, 

better drying, reduces the chance of rot, increases the service life of the 

coating system, and is generally much easier on the siding by allowing it 

to “breathe.” The technique was first developed in the wet climates of 

Northern Europe and Canada in an effort to help accomodate siding 

problems caused by modern “air-tight” construction. The results have 

been dramatic. Now, the “rainscreen” system is beginning to gain 

acceptance in North America. We do not have the training to design entire 

systems. The panels depicted here are presented to show how the 

system works in principle, and are not intended as specific designs. The 

Building Science Corporation (www.buildingscience.com) contains a 

wealth of information regarding “rainscreen” design and is a great source 

for more specific details. 

40 Shingle Board Showing 

“Home Slicker” 

Edge Profile of Above Panel Construction 

Rainscreen with siding and 3/8” ply furring 

strips

NOTES

2525 MARIN STREET 

SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94124 

TEL: 415-824-4300 

FAX: 415-824-3706 

WWW.BERONIO.COM

Paneling and Siding Catalog - Beronio Lumber

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