Replies

1. 
   DanH | May 01, 2010 04:14pm | #1

   I'm afraid it's such a broad topic that it's hard to give much advice.

   First off, even with just "stucco" there are 4-5 variations, from the traditional cementatious types to various coatings that typically go over styrofoam.

   After that you have your wood-style sidings:  Wood (of course), hardboard, fiber-cement, steel, aluminum, vinyl, and several new composites.  And these can come in various styles, from your traditonal horizontal lap siding to Dutch lap and ship lap to several vertical variations.

   And of course there are shingles -- wood (several species), asphalt (though rarely seen anymore), asbestos (though obviously not used anymore), fiber-cement, some composites, and metal.

   Sheet siding in plywood, hardboard, and fiber-cement is still used (and strangely popular) in some parts of the country.  These are generally designed for vertical installation to simulate vertical board siding.

   Then there are "industrial" sidings -- vertical steel in corrugated and standing-seam styles, panels with various joining systems.

   And of course there's poured concrete, concrete block, stone, brick, and several other masonry finishes.

   Do you have something more specific in mind?

1. 
   ki | May 01, 2010 05:58pm | #2

   warranty

   in canada, and probably in the states too, we have many choices of engineered wood siding using the same technology as the paralam beams, pressing the wood toothpicks together and making wood. the factory applied finish is warrantied for 30 years, (when installed to their specifications of course)   ive used it on two jobs so far and it works great,  one is 10 years old and still looks the same as when it was applied

1. 
   DanH | May 01, 2010 08:31pm | #3

   I've only seen "engineered

   I've only seen "engineered wood" siding (that wasn't basically hardboard) a handful of times.  Certainly it's an option, but probably not widely available.

1. 
   MarkH | May 01, 2010 09:13pm | #4

   LP Smartside is pretty popular now.

1. 
   DanH | May 01, 2010 09:40pm | #5

   I've not gotten a feel for what that is.  From the descriptions they provide it seems like they're dancing around the fact that it's essentially hardboard (not that there's anything wrong with that).

2. 
   MarkH | May 01, 2010 10:15pm | #6

   The backing is zinc borate treated OSB, I don't know what the surface is made of for sure.  It is unappetizing to termites and fungi  and moisture.

3. 
   rdesigns | May 03, 2010 10:17am | #8

   I'm in the process of re-sidng now. Removing all old siding, soffit and fascia, and replacing with Smartside. Obviously, I'm sold on it. Hope that's true 20 years from now.

   I like the fact that LP makes a full line of trim, fascia, soffit, lap siding, sheet goods, etc. to complete the job.

2. 
   rjw | May 03, 2010 11:17am | #9

   >>I'm afraid it's such a

   >>I'm afraid it's such a broad topic that it's hard to give much advice.

   Well, at least he left interior siding out of the discussion {G}

2. 
   popawheelie | May 02, 2010 11:38pm | #7

   One of the reasons for the popularity of stucco is it's fire resistance.

   Do you live in a fire prone area? If you are then stick with siding that is more fire resistant.

   Also, termites are are an issue in sothern lattitudes.

   No termites to speak of up north.