My 86-year-old cedar shingle siding (is that even possible?) is starting to reveal that it’s mostly held together by paint, so I’m looking to learn all about home siding. I’ve found a few threads on here discussing a few specific types of siding, but in order to make a well-informed decision, I’d like to find someplace where I can read about all the different types, including their pros and cons, from a relatively unbiased source. When searching on the internet, I tend to get sites like “everything you needed to know about siding, sponsored by DynoSide, the siding that’s better than all these other types and here’s proof.” My goal is to get siding that is both durable and nice, in order to maintain the classic look of the house, and I’m detail-oriented, so crappy vinyl that visibly bows and has big unsightly seams just won’t do.
I need to know about official terminology, as well, so I don’t sound like an idiot when I talk to local siding companies. I like the look of siding that’s horizontal boards overlapped with 6-8 inches of exposure on each, but I don’t really know the official name for that (as opposed to shingles, vertical boards, etc). As another example, I like when the corners are just two mitered pieces of siding that come together in a precisely sealed sawtooth-shaped corner, as opposed to running a piece of trim down the corner, but I don’t know what that’s called either.
So, anyone want to give me the straight dope, or point me to a site that can?
A bunch of different options exist. Vinyl siding comes in a multitude of flavors from cheap ($40/100SF) to dead ringer for painted cedar shakes ($300/100SF). Cement board siding is another possibility, with smooth and woodgrained profiles. A few companies still make aluminum, though it’s popularity isn’t as great as it once was. Common profiles are double 4", double 5", dutch lap, straight, dog ear, and scalloped shake. A textbook from my library, “The Complete Siding Handbook” by James Brumbaugh, published by Audel is fairly extensive.
The detail you’re describing would be called ordinary clapboard. The dimension showing from lip to where it’s covered by the next upper course being the “reveal” or “show”. The old style “single 8” aluminum siding had an 8" reveal when installed. Mitering a corner is a stinker, because there’s no ability for the material to expand and contract. Outside corner posts have a pocket behind the show face where the siding is tucked and motion can take place. Mitre a corner, caulk it, paint it, and it will look nice until it has been subject to several cycles of sub-freezing to 100 degrees F, after which the joint will separate, particularly if it is finished with a dark color stain or paint. Vinyl isn’t able to be mitred.
Accessories are typically OCPs or outside corner posts, ISCs or inside corners, starter course-applied to the lower extreme for securing the first full siding course, J-channel-used around windows and doors, F-channel-used where soffiting abuts siding, and under-sill trim, which is a tight, flat profile to finish the top course of siding and the run under windows. It’s harder to install and takes more time, but I prefer the look and always provide it.
One final note-painted siding of that age has to be addressed as hazardous waste unless you can prove otherwise. Target housing refers to any property built prior to 1978, as painted building materials may contain lead. Removal, handling, and disposal of your existing siding must be done in compliance with EPA regulations. To learn more, call 1.800.424.LEAD or visit http://www.epa.gov/lead/ Good luck.
I would have guessed this, but I see lots of old houses in my neighborhood with mitered corners that look nice and tight. I just think it looks much better. Is it the type of requirement that’s just asking for trouble, or is it just a matter of finding someone who will do it well? If the latter, how can I tell who will do it well (presumably they can point me at references I can go look at, but what would I look for?)? Also, will this type of thing cost more because it’s harder to get right?