Clapboard Siding - Long Lasting And Worry Free
Through the years home design and architecture and design have changed and evolved. Materials
that have been used on the exterior of homes often were originally necessitated by available resources
per region. Brick, stone, stucco, wood -- just a few of the many product used for decorating and
protecting the outside of homes and buildings. One particular siding that has stood the test of
time is clapboard siding.
In some areas or regions this was and still is known by other names such as lap siding, bevel siding
or weather-board siding. The style is essentially one where boards are installed horizontally
on the exterior walls, with one board overlapping the one below it. The name clapboard siding
reputedly comes from the Dutch word “klappen,” which means split. In the United States, this type
of siding was extremely prevalent in the northeastern colonies and later, after gaining independence
from England. Today, you can find this style imitated by manufacturers of siding in a host of
different materials -- vinyl, aluminum, fiber cement, etc.
Though many of the synthetic materials from which clapboard siding is now produced offer the promise
of weather resistance and hassle free maintenance, the original wood siding is still not only available,
but widespread as well. Cedar is the current real wood product of choice for this class of siding.
This kind of wood is extremely resistant to the effects of weather and termites alike. By
keeping on top of sealing and painting, your authentic clapboard siding should give you worry free performance
for years to come.
If you decide that you want the guarantees that are offered by many of the imitation siding products,
you can rest assured that there are many quality choices that give you the look and feel of real wood
in many cases. Many of the newer construction companies are building entire tracts with this kind
of siding, but made of fiber cement. Made from molds of real wood, the finished product gives
authenticity a run for its money. Best of all, in many cases fiber cement, depending on the manufacture,
comes with lifetime warranties.
You can also look to aluminum and vinyl to give you their own clapboard siding products.
With the sophisticated use of textures and paint, both of these materials have improved by leaps and
bounds as far as legitimate wood imitation is concerned. Get the look and feel of this traditional
siding, but without the maintenance responsibilities of real wood. A yearly cleaning is about
all you need to keep your home looking great year after year.
Your choice may be a matter of taste, budget, ease of care, or all three. But whatever you criteria
is, you can be sure that you can give your home the authentic clapboard siding look that you desire.
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