Sustainable Steel Siding
Architect Emily Mottram discusses making smart choices in materials and design with Vicwest's line of Bellara steel siding on this high-performance home.
Sponsored by Vicwest
We’re here at a recently completed high-performance home. “High performance” is so much more than building envelope and air-sealing details. High performance also includes the longevity, sustainability, and resiliency of our homes. That leads us to making smart building-material choices, such as the Vicwest Bellara steel siding used on this home. For designers, it’s really important to have multiple different siding options. So let’s talk a little bit about why we chose to use Vicwest steel siding on this house.
On this build, we have both vertical and horizontal siding. Our vertical panels are Vicwest’s Brindle Barnboard, which has a proprietary wood-grain look that is captured directly from the lumber mill and digitally composited through the coating process. It creates a realism that is unique to this product and isn’t available with other products on the market. The horizontal siding has a graphite matte painted finish which creates a muted effect so that the glare and sheen from the sun is dampened.
When making smart material choices, there are a lot of things to think about, one of which is sustainability. This siding is 40% to 70% recycled content, and Vicwest facilities have hit net-zero carbon emissions.
I also really like the hidden fasteners involved in the installation process. It’s great to have a siding that doesn’t show the fasteners or any attachment to the building. I also love the color-matched trim that can match to the matte finish or the Barnboard for seamless transitions between all different styles on the building. And the best part about it is that it is low maintenance. It will be 40 years before I have to touch it up or do anything with the siding, and then I can take it off the building and recycle it if it’s at the end of its life.
When it comes to working with Bellara, you can use standard carpentry tools such as a miter saw or a circular saw. The only difference is you will need metal blades and metal snips and shears to do some of the other finer detail work.
When it comes to drainage details, the Bellara system connections have figured it out for you. On this house, the Bellara siding was installed directly over ZIP System sheathing, and because of the profile of the metal siding, there’s a natural air space behind the entire assembly. The panels lock together, creating expansion gaps and edges at the seams. This makes it a well-ventilated assembly.
For more about steel siding choices, log on to vicwest.com.
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Emily -Costs please, esp %/% up charge relative to Hardie plank Psf. Without cost information, this is just another ad.
This feels off. I listen to her podcasts ... I just don't believe that Emily Mottram, in her heart of hearts, is down with this cladding option.
I think you’ve simply got to bracket any presentation one this with general discussion of costs with an audience like FHB. Otherwise it’s just an ad ….just tell me how does it compare with say fiber cement I’m confident Emily herself asked that questions why not share with your audience ….