Some time in the future I’m going to put siding on my house. As part of my research I did the rounds of the local suppliers.
The choices seem to be Hardi-plank or vinyl siding. There are several variations of widths and styles in both materials but without exception all of the styles stocked, sure you can order it if your willing to pay a hefty premium, are in fake wood grain.
Nothing says fake wood to me like noticeable wood grain. In my experience real wood, discounting siding exposed to blowing sand or weathering, does not show much, if any grain. The first few coats of paint, almost without exception, completely obscure any visible grain.
My question is this: Why? Why are such blatant fakes accepted as desirable. Why don’t suppliers carry the ungrained versions that more closely real wood? Why would textured siding that gathers dust, makes painting and cleaning more difficult and promotes scum growth be considered a plus? I looked into ordering the smooth versions that I prefer but the cost would be almost double the in-stock grained abortions.
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Opinions make the world go round!
It seems to me that wood graining is more the standard out west while smooth surfaced is the commonality here in new England. I'll bet it has some sort of historical roots.
Aside - Most people don't realize they'll be using twice as much paint to do a rough texture as a smooth one until they pay for it.
Excellence is its own reward!
Rough out here is all about there is. Smooth is rare. Log is predominate.
Wouldn't know about the painting, haven't the cohonies to get near the stuff.
I've got some opinions about it all. Opinions only - could be wrong in some of it.
Rough stucco is chosen in some hot climates because the small textures create shade on itself and the increased surface area can radiate heat back off again. May be partly true for wood too. Also, for unpainted, the rough edges become a sacrificial layer to let weather off.
More thoughts but wife is calling for help.
Excellence is its own reward!
In SoCal, the temperature rises to easily in the 100's during the summer. All (or most) lumber yards don't recommend using smooth finished lumber for exterior applications. Paint tends to peal too quickly. Rough saw finish tends to keep the paint on the wood ALOT longer. Probably why we see the rough finish texture out here. Rough finish T-111 has always been popular out here Personally, I like a little texture in the hardy siding
4Lorn1,
Don't know if this is true or not, but I was told that the wood grain in the siding is easier to roll/stamp out than smooth. Maybe it has something to do with the rigidity of the finished product, etc.....similar to corrugated cardboard, I guess.
Jim
I suppose that if it is rolled out like the feed rollers on a large planer work, that the textured rolers would get a pretty good grip!.
Excellence is its own reward!
I suspect that the rollers can only do so much texture, at speed.
And ya, it would be nice if the texture was a little less noticeable. Smooth is too smooth, and the texture is too phoney.
Well, for a happy medium, you could always try vinyl...
;).
Excellence is its own reward!
Instead of vg cedar, d select, and redwood decks?
Ya, sounds like a plan.
I've got fake wood grained Hardie on my place. 5" exposure. It's supposed to look like an old farm house, so I think it looks okay., but I can see how it could look too heavy on other styles.
But...Hardie also makes a smooth version, so does ChemPlank (I am not recommending ChemPlank), and I'm sure everybodyelse does, too. EliphIno!
I asked my main supplier this same question recently. He claimed that the smooth variety shows inconsistencies in the wall much more readily and that the fake wood grain is therefore much more popular i.e. looks better over time.
Seems like it coulda been a BS response since he didn't stock the smooth.
He also claimed that Hardi plank can now be got prefinished - no painting. Says it's much better that way. That also sounded questionable to me.
Smooth hardboard siding is readily available here, although I think it's best used for curved concrete forms and not for siding.
Any jackass can kick down a barn, but it takes a carpenter to build one.
I think our Local Lowes sells a lot of pre finished Cypess pattern (a light pattern) Hardie Plank.
Good stuff
8 1/4 wide x 12 ft long about $5 a piece.
No rot split warp paint popping paint cracking etc etc
rough hewn wood will dissipate water faster then smooth planed wood. As for the fake thing, i cant help ya there. Maybe its because igorance is bliss?
Did you have a blonde moment?
Rough wood will take more stain, etc, but will not shed water like smooth.
I have a piece of Maxiplank leftover that I inspected for you all and I am happy to report that only one side has the wood grain; the other side is smooth. Otherwise, I suppose you could sand it smooth.
(Use a belt sander, not your sanding block)