Paneling and Siding Catalog - Beronio Lumber

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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