Replies

1. 
   Apollo S|Mar 29, 2016 12:48am|#1

   Found old blueprints and I guess I was wrong. Those were pine shiplap boards they used. Albeit thin ones. That explains cupping in some areas.

   I do wonder what is the best balance for budget siding that is fit for being coated with clear. Cedar shiplap and T&G seems to be in the mid to upper (depending if you are getting heartwood). Wonder what else can hold up to MA weather and still retain nice color with proper coating.

2. GBA Editor
   Martin Holladay|Mar 29, 2016 04:27am|#2

   Apollo,
   It is impractical to expect wood siding to have a clear finish and no color changes. If you really want that, your siding will need annual maintenance that you will quickly tire of. Either you will get tired of doing it, or you will get tired of paying for it.

   To reduce the stress of annual maintenance -- attempts to re-apply some type of clear finish before color changes occur -- consider siding that looks good without any finish. In Massachusetts, that would be white cedar shingles, a very common type of siding on Cape Cod, Nantucket, and Martha's Vineyard. White cedar shingles do not need to be coated with any type of finish. Of course, there will be color variations from the bottom course to the top course as the shingles weather -- but it's a good, honest Massachusetts look.

3. 
   Apollo S|Mar 29, 2016 08:18am|#3

   I know there will be certain degree of color change over time. Slight graying is fine too. But what you are saying is that in MA, unless I go for shingles, which I really don't like (too old school), wood isn't the right choice.
   Hmmm... That leaves me with my 2nd choice of Hardy (or whatever competing brand is) smooth panels. I do wonder how DIYable it is. Was thinking if I go that look, I would do face stainless screws and in between the panel's use some kind of Z channel.

4. 
   Stephen Sheehy|Mar 29, 2016 08:29am|#4

   Apollo: there's nothing wrong with painted wood siding, but as Martin mentioned, a clear finish on wood is difficult to maintain.

5. GBA Editor
   Martin Holladay|Mar 29, 2016 09:18am|#5

   Apollo,
   Stephen is right. If you don't like the look of unfinished wood (for example, unfinished cedar shingles or unfinished board-and-batten siding), you want paint. Paint has more solids than stain or clear varnish.

   If the wood siding is installed over a ventilated rainscreen gap, the paint job on your wood siding can easily last 10 years. Without the rainscreen gap, it might only last 6 years -- especially if the painter doesn't do a thorough prep job.

   The more you look into the maintenance issues surrounding painted wood siding, the better unpainted wood siding looks. But painted siding sure beats siding with a stain or a varnish.