Exterior siding products

Whether you're in the market for siding for a new house or for an older house, you'll find countless possibilities that are suitable to all tastes and budgets, not to mention an impressive array of colours. No matter the siding you select, you'll likely choose it for its aesthetic qualities, but mostly for its ability to provide adequate protection for the house's envelope against bad weather.

Before you start with your work, you'll want to submit your project to the municipality concerned, as many municipalities enforce very strict by-laws and regulations dealing with exterior siding, for reasons of heritage or architectural harmony.
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Vinyl siding
Aluminum siding
Wood siding
Natural wood or rough lumber
Treated wood
Hardboard wood or wood fibre
Fibre cement
A word on installation
Masonry
Baked clay brick
Concrete brick
Mortarless brick
Reconstituted brick and stone
Natural stone
Acrylic coatings

Vinyl siding

Vinyl accounts for no less than 80% of the current flexible siding market, probably because of its low cost. In addition, it features good resistance to shock and scratching and is available in a wide variety of colours. It's also easy to install. But be careful! You must follow installation instructions to the letter in order to avoid buckling, because vinyl expands and contracts with the weather. You should also make sure the material you buy is of adequate quality. Thickness - which can vary between 0.038 in. and 0.050 in. - is an important factor. Vinyl's weakness, as you may have guessed, is coping with temperature changes. But if it's well installed, you shouldn't have any problems.

Aluminum siding

Aluminum offers an even greater variety of colours than vinyl. On the other hand, it's less shock-resistant which is why it's often used from the second floor up, rather than at ground-floor level. Also, it's less sensitive to temperature changes than vinyl and more durable. Its finish will remain intact longer than a vinyl finish. Aluminum siding is washable and can be repainted. And it's easier to install as there are fewer precautions to take.

Wood siding

It's impossible to talk about wood without talking about the charm it brings to everything it's associated with. No wonder it's a material everyone tries to recreate to somehow give it properties that will prolong its life and reduce its need for maintenance.

Before installing wood siding, be sure to check local construction standards because, in some cases, fire prevention regulations forbid its use.

That said, wood is an affordable material and it's possible to minimize its maintenance.

Natural wood or rough lumber

Those who love wood should opt for natural wood or rough lumber. Its rough surface absorbs stain well and can last as long as fifteen years before restaining is required. That's three times as good as treated wood with a smooth surface.

Treated wood

Wood's lifespan can be improved if it's treated against rot. Treated wood becomes more weather-resistant. It's available in a wide choice of colours. When installing it, be sure to use galvanized or stainless steel nails to avoid those unsightly rusty nails heads that tend to appear after a few years.

Hardboard wood or wood fibre

This siding is made of wood fibres - bound together under heat and pressure, to which are added resin and wax. It's appearance is remarkably close to that of real wood, even if it's only fibre. Pressed wood siding is better than natural wood at coping with weather. We recommend you buy siding that has been factory-stained for optimal protection against weather. In summary, pressed wood or wood fibre sidings are affordable and will please those who love wood but don't want to spend too much time on maintenance.

Fibre cement

Even though this siding doesn't contain wood, we have classified it in the wood category because it's a remarkable imitation. Fibre cement siding is made of cement, sand, cellulose fibres, additives and water. Some manufacturers insist on reminding buyers that their product contains no asbestos. You can stain the product yourself or buy it factory-stained. It's versatile and features a number of finishes in smooth or rough surfaces. You can also buy fibre cement shingles for outside use.

The product's great advantage is unquestionably its resistance to weather, insects and mildew. It's also fire-resistant and requires little maintenance. And it's very affordable.

A word on installation

Overlapping assembly (1/2 in.) allows for expansion and contraction of the material and provides a large contact surface.

Install horizontal boards in such a way as to produce a drip effect to avoid water infiltration. Use joint strips or batten over vertical board joints to make them watertight.
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