When it comes to the outside look of your home or curb appeal, the first thing people notice is the condition that the exterior is in. Home buyers often look for specific colors and styles surrounding the exterior of the home. The exterior is the first impression people get when they see a house and it sets the mood for the inside. If the outside is in bad condition or has a dated look to it, people are less likely to make their way inside. Most homes are built with a wood siding exterior; the shade and profile of your siding are very important when it comes to designing the exterior of your home. Luckily there are plenty of options when it comes to the colors, profiles, and species of wood siding.
Wood Siding Species
When it comes down to picking the ideal species of wood, there are a couple of things to consider. The first thing is the climate where you live; some wood siding works well in specific environments, as opposed to others when something like cedar will work in almost any climate. Another thing to think about is what species will look the best with your home design-build, décor, and the other homes around yours. Each species of wood siding has its own attributes when it comes to color and the vibe that it gives off. It helps add movement and variety in the design, but can often be tricky to fully determine how the end result will look. The most common species of wood sidings are Beetle Kill/Blue Stain, Pine SPF, Cedar, Aspen, and Exotic Hardwood.
Siding Profiles
Now step two to choosing what type of wood siding is the best for your home is the profile. Besides the shade of your siding, this is one of the most important components because it sets the full look of your home. Each profile is one of a kind and has its characteristics that make it different from the others. The available profiles are Distinctive Channel, Classic Bevel, Shiplap, Tongue and Groove, and Log Lap. Below are some pictures that show the unique difference between them all…
Now that you have been able to see the differences between the different profiles physically, it is probably much easier to determine which one would look the best on the exterior of your home.
The Best Of Them All
Of course, the design of your wood siding is important, but all of the things that go on behind the scenes such as installation, upkeep, and the initial functionality of the wood siding is also a big deal. Wood siding is easy to install with very little upkeep; installation is as simple as fitting the boards in a pattern that creates a flow you love and securing them in place. When it comes to maintenance there is little to none. Make sure your boards are installed and sealed correctly and all that would be needed is an occasional board replacement, which is super simple since each piece of wood siding is installed individually.
One thing that makes wood siding a fun material to work with is that you can mix and match species or profiles to add some uniqueness to your home. Of course, this isn’t for everyone, but it would give your home a different look to it that is not commonly found, creating more interest for potential home buyers.
Last but not least, wood siding is a completely green product. Since wood siding is made of wood and not composite materials, it is 100% biodegradable, which means there is no harm to the environment when elements aren’t used or are eventually replaced.
Wood siding is versatile and functional when it comes to the exterior of your home. Wood siding doesn’t have to be used just on the surface of your home. It can be used as the exterior on a shed, a playhouse for the kids, a detached garage, or even on the inside of your home as an accent piece on the wall, an island in your kitchen, or even as a backsplash with the right sealant. No matter the style, feel, or overall vibe in your home, wood siding can fit in anywhere.
