Wood Siding
From New England colonials to San Francisco Victorians, wood is the quintessential American siding. In fact, vinyl and aluminum siding try to replicate wood.
The most durable woods for siding are redwood, cedar and cypress. Sealers and stains protect unpainted wood from water and ultraviolet light, but must be renewed more often than paint.
Choose between wood boards or panels:
Board siding is usually milled with overlapping edges to shed rain. Horizontal patterns are traditional, while vertical or diagonal boards look best on contemporary homes.
Panel siding is generally the cheapest type of wood siding. Plywood or hardboard panels come 4 ft. wide and 8, 9 or 10 ft. tall. Choices include Douglas fir, southern pine, redwood and cedar. Usually the panels have grooves to simulate board siding.