Cedar Siding
Cedar is an extremely popular construction material—and with very good reason. It is well-regarded for its durability, strength, incredible aesthetic appeal. It lends itself well to a wide variety of construction projects—strong enough for structural builds and beautiful enough for interior and exterior aesthetics. Cedar oil, a compound in the wood, allows it to be termite and pest resistant, making the wood last a remarkably long time. Cedar’s famous scent is well-regarded around the world, and its straight grain lends itself well to inside ad outside walls.
The most common shape for cedar to be produced in is beveled boards. These boards lend themselves well to layering techniques, something of an iconic arrangement for the material. Cedar is quite simple to maintain, though it cannot be considered easy upkeep. The tasks are straightforward, but they require a significant amount of time and elbow grease. The wood requires staining and painting at regular intervals—typically every five to ten years depending on weather damage. If ease of maintenance is one of your top concerns, you may want to consider vinyl or fiber cement siding as an alternative option.
Benefits of Cedar Siding
Earth-Friendly Production Practices
Cedar is often considered to be a “green” product—a great option for those looking to care for the Earth as they build or remodel their home. Being an organic material, cedar requires little in terms of factory energy and produces few byproducts. Other materials that are created from artificial ingredients—including steel, fiber cement, and vinyl—require a lengthier and more involved production process. These synthetic materials consume energy at an alarming rate and often produce harmful waste chemicals. Cedar, on the other hand, is fully natural and takes up little energy. In the United States, lumber constitutes over 40% of all construction materials but takes up only roughly 4% of the manufacturing energy. These remarkable numbers are bolstered further by the limited amount of greenhouse gases its manufacturing produces, its full recyclability, and its ability to be regrown and replaced in the forest.
Cedar Oil Preservative
One of cedar’s most remarkable traits is its production of cedar oil, an organic preservative. This preservative wards off rot, decay, and a large number of pests, including termites. This organic resistance is quite an advantage to homeowners as it eliminates the need for additional, artificial preservatives that can be harmful to human health.
Impressive Durability
Cedar is a durable organic material. It seemed to resist just about everything that tries to come against it—impact, rot, decay, and termites, for starters. Cedar also stands up well to a variety of weather conditions, persevering through the very hot and the very cold. Thanks to these traits, cedar is highly effective as a construction and siding material.
World-Renowned Appearance and Scent
Artists and builders alike have been in awe of cedar’s aesthetic qualities for centuries. The wood offers a beautiful straight grain, rich golden hue, and delightful, piney smell that make it quite a popular product. Additionally, the wood is quite adaptable to different styles, taking well to a number of oils, paints, stains, and adhesives.
Exceptionally Workability
While cedar is an incredibly strong wood, it is also quite easily workable. Offering middling levels of weight and flexibility, the panels are ideal canvases for woodworking, beautiful stains, and intricate, sculptural works. Cedar is most commonly manufactured in long, beveled boards that can be cut to fit any space.
Cedar Siding Installation
A simple hammer and nails are technically the only materials needed to install cedar siding, though it’s quite difficult to get all of the details right. As one of the more expensive exterior materials, cedar siding is an investment worth protecting. Siding experts advise that home and business owners hire a fully licensed professional contractor for their initial installation.
Here at McAllen Siding, we have an entire team of well-reputed, fully licensed contractors at the ready.
Give us a ring for a free estimate on your home or building: (956) 269-9969
Or E-mail: info@McAllenSiding.com