Exterior Walls—Siding (Cladding) can be made of several materials, each with its own advantages and disadvantages.
Wood, in the form of cedar shingles, shakes and clapboard, was the popular choice for siding a house for hundreds of years. It was readily available, fairly affordable and attractive. Old growth forests, however, have either been depleted or are being depleted at a rapid pace, and as a result wood siding is no longer as readily available as it used to be. Nevertheless, wood siding is still being used on houses, but now for a green house the wood should be certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC). This approval indicates that the wood siding came from a forest that was managed and harvested with sustainable methods. Actually, all the lumber used for framing a green house should be FSC-certified, not just the siding.
Another popular Exterior Walls—Siding (Cladding) for green homes is fiber-cement siding, made from a mixture of cement, sand, cellulose fibers and other components. This type of siding is very popular because unlike wood, it is fire-resistant, will not rot, warp, delaminate and is termite-resistant. In addition, it is warranted to last for 50 years and it ca be textured to resemble wood lap siding, shingles and vertical siding.
Vinyl siding is also among the popular types of wall cladding and it is commonly used across the country due of its low cost and low maintenance, however it not so popular in the green building industry. Because of environmental concerns in the processing, manufacturing and disposal of vinyl siding, there is controversy concerning its use. Dioxin, an environmental toxin, is a by-product of the manufacturing process. Moreover, if a fire occurs, burnt vinyl siding can release toxic fumes into the atmosphere.
There are many types of wall cladding, but their main purpose is the same: protect your home from the harshness of the environment. Exterior walls cladding are built to withstand strong winds, moisture buildup and harmful ultraviolet radiation from the sun, heavy rains etc.
Installing exterior wall cladding is easy, and most construction firms generally handle them at little or no cost at all. Installing it on your whole house will take a few days to complete and it will protect your home for many years to come.
Types of Exterior Walls—Siding (Cladding)
There are a number of durable materials and types of external wall cladding designed to protect the exterior of your building from any sort of environmental factors and harmful elements. Unless your house is in the dry desert, this cladding should be chosen to be water-resistant. Popular exterior wall cladding materials include:
- wood – shingles, hardboard, plywood, OSB, plank siding, club siding, shakes, panels
- masonry – stone, brick, simulated stone concrete blocks, concrete panels, poured concrete
- cement – fiber and vinyl siding
- aluminum composite cladding – steel and other metal products siding
- synthetic stucco over concrete blocks and wood framing
- asphalt or granite shingles
- clay and slate tiles
Each exterior wall cladding material has its own particular characteristics, advantages and disadvantages, associated with the durability, appearance installation and cost differentials. Before settling for one material or another, make sure to do a thorough research and choose the best wall cladding systems and materials, according to budget.