You could say that wood siding<\/a> is the grandpa of architecture \u2014 full of knots, easily bent out of shape and been around for a while. Very similar in its applications to other cladding materials such as metal and veneer, wood siding is most commonly harnessed as a rainscreen, meaning that it works to\u00a0keep moisture out of the building while protecting the rest of the wall package from damage.<\/span><\/p>\n What really distinguishes wood siding from other cladding options, like metal or brick, is that wood was once a living thing. That means it does not hold up in quite the same way that inorganic materials might. Wood siding will age after just a season or two, to say nothing of years or decades. But that is not necessarily a bad thing.<\/span><\/p>\n Cedar boards take on an elegant gray patina, and reclaimed barn siding is prized for its nicks and scratches. Furthermore, treatments, stains and paints can help keep wood in shape for many years. Just like all of us, what wood siding needs most in order to ensure graceful aging, is a little TLC.<\/span><\/p>\n Search for Wood Siding Manufacturers<\/a><\/p>\n Moonlight Cabin<\/a> by Jackson Clements Burrows<\/a><\/em><\/p><\/div>\n A big pro of conventional wood siding is that almost any builder knows how to install it and can talk you through the pros and cons of this common building-product. That said, it never hurts to build your knowledge as you seek the perfect cladding for your project \u2014 read up on the basics and discover everything you need to know for specification below.<\/span><\/p>\n Wood Type: <\/b>One of the most common species of wood in architectural applications is cedar due to its natural resistance to rot and decay. Other species include spruce, pine, fir and engineered woods. Before choosing the species of wood that you will use for your project, glance over How to Select The Right Species of Wood For Your External Cladding<\/a>. In addition, the Western Wood Products Association<\/a> (WWPA<\/span>) has great information about the structural performance and characteristics of wood species.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Romsdal Folk Museum<\/a> by Reiulf Ramstad Architects<\/a><\/em><\/p><\/div>\n Wood Grade: <\/b>Since wood siding is generally only rated on its appearance, building codes do not govern grading. While most suppliers follow grading systems from agencies like the\u00a0<\/span>WWPA<\/span><\/a>, they are largely on their own to select their wood grades. It is always best practice to examine and compare the samples before purchase. Common terms and designations include:<\/span><\/p>\n Ogden Center for Fundamental Physics at Durham University<\/a> by Studio Libeskind<\/a><\/em><\/p><\/div>\n Orientation:<\/b> The main question to ask is: Should I use horizontal or vertical boards? Choosing the orientation of wood siding is more than an aesthetic choice; it has an impact on cost and upkeep. Vertical siding can be easier to maintain and clean, but it can be more expensive to install because firring strips need to be added behind the boards before they are nailed in. Vertical boards also generally take longer to install, making for higher labor costs. Horizontal siding is initially cheaper, but it can be harder to clean and maintain because water can seep upward in between the boards, causing rot and mold growth.<\/span><\/p>\n You can also do a range of other orientations at any angle, but these will generally be considered out-of-the-ordinary by builders and will probably require special detailing attention.<\/span><\/p>\n Style: <\/b>Wood siding is available in boards and shingles, both of which come in a variety of shapes and configurations.<\/span><\/p>\n Standard wood board installation diagrams; image via DIY Network<\/a><\/em><\/p><\/div>\n Left: Family house in Dobris<\/a> by Mimosa Architects<\/a> is covered in larch shakes; right: The shingle-clad Youth-Club Extension by Bernd Zimmermann Architekten<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n Rabot Tourist Cabin<\/a> by Jarmund\/Vigsn\u00e6s Architects<\/a><\/em><\/p><\/div>\n Color and Finish: <\/b>Finishes impart colors and can have a greater impact on the life span of the product than the wood species alone. Depending on which species is selected, many different finishes are possible; manufacturers can assist you in choosing.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Keep in mind that lighter woods such as redwoods and cedars hold onto paint better than other woods because of the timing with which they grow. Lighter wood generally results from early springtime growth and darker wood from later summer growth. Paint has a hard time holding onto darker wood, so painted woods that have a very visible grain will age poorly, as compared to woods that don\u2019t have a very strong grain like, you guessed it, redwoods and cedars. These species expand and contract less with the change of seasons and fluctuations in temperature, so they are less prone to warping and shedding any layers of paint on them.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Shou Sugi Ban House<\/a> by Schwartz and Architecture<\/a><\/em><\/p><\/div>\n Shou Sugi Ban: <\/b>One of the most popular trends in wood siding is <\/span>shou sugi ban<\/a> \u2014\u00a0<\/span>the traditional Japanese technique of charring wood to make it more durable. It gives the wood a charming burnt texture, black color and surprising durability. More information on this and an interview with manufacturer\u00a0<\/span>Delta Millworks<\/a>\u00a0can be found in Mastering the Architectural Art of Traditional Japanese Charred Timber<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n V\u00e5ler Church<\/a> by sivilarkitekt espen surnevik as<\/a><\/em><\/p><\/div>\n Durability: <\/b>Basic wood siding may need to be refinished every couple of years because rain and bugs can destroy it. More sophisticated treated timber products like Accoya<\/a> and Kebony<\/a> can, hypothetically, last much longer, even decades. Accoya is impregnated with acetyl alcohol, which resists rot and water damage. Certain species of wood, like redwoods and cedars, are also more naturally durable and have chemicals in them that are unappetizing to termites and other pests.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Moisture Content:<\/b> Wood should be installed close to its equilibrium moisture content for the local climate. More information on this can be found here<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n LA HERONNIERE<\/a> by Alain Carle Architecte<\/a><\/em><\/p><\/div>\n Surface Treatment: <\/b>Many types of surface treatments exist. For example, thermal treatments<\/a> use\u00a0<\/span>high temperatures and steam to help naturally protect the wood from decay, surface splitting and warping. This method works by reducing the moisture content of the wood. Other common treatments are primers (Alkyd-oil or water-based), mold inhibitors, kiln dried and preconditioned.\u00a0<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n Acoustic Insulation: <\/b>Wood siding generally provides limited sound insulation between the external and internal environments. However, specify whether you have acoustic insulation requirements. Suppliers often calculate whole-of-wall ratings, factoring in the weighted sound reduction index or the Sound Transmission Class (STC) of the insulating infill-wall products.<\/span><\/p>\n Split View Mountain Lodge<\/a> by Reiulf Ramstad Architects<\/a><\/em><\/p><\/div>\n Thermal Insulation: <\/b>Wood siding systems often contribute little to overall wall insulation values, so it\u2019s likely necessary to attach a sheathing board to the external face of the infill walls for weather and thermal resistance. However, if your building has a minimum U-value and you need the siding to help reach it, highlight this to the manufacturer.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Environmental: <\/b>Life-cycle assessment<\/a> (LCA) considers the total environmental impact of a material over its lifespan. When choosing wood siding, you may wish to apply life cycle thinking to address the material\u2019s environmental impact. Think about the overall emissions during manufacturing, transportation and installation, the maintenance requirements over time and the potential for recycling.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Kids Pod<\/a> by Mihaly Slocombe<\/a><\/em><\/p><\/div>\n 8 Dynamic Wood Fa\u00e7ades Built with Kinetic Cladding<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Whether looking to take advantage of wind patterns or bring daylight into a space, contemporary projects have begun exploring the potential of kinetic and operable fa\u00e7ades. Modern wood-clad fa\u00e7ades are no exception, where building envelopes are programmed to enhance interior conditions through haptic connections and integrated systems. In this collection, explore 8 stunning wood fa\u00e7ades that were thoughtfully designed to encourage exchange and accommodate varied levels of privacy.\u00a0Check out the full story here.<\/a><\/p>\n Kilden<\/a> by ALA Architects<\/a><\/em><\/p><\/div>\n Limber Timber: 6 Curvaceous Wood-Clad Fa\u00e7ades<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n There are no straight lines in nature. Trees, with their rounded trunks and supple branches, are no exception. The naturally sinuous qualities of wood are often lost as trees are milled into flat boards, to be used as cladding on rigidly rectilinear buildings. This collection, features projects that take a different approach. These fa\u00e7ades bend, twist and undulate to show us that architecture can be clad in wood without being so wooden. Check out the full story here.<\/a><\/p>\n \u00d8vre Forsland og Bj\u00f8rnstokk Hydraulic Power Stations<\/a> by Stein Hamre Arkitektkontor<\/a><\/em><\/p><\/div>\n How to Detail Weather Resistant Wood Siding<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Not only does wood move, swell and shrink in accordance with the natural environment, but it is also eager to suck up and absorb moisture, especially at its field cuts. Therefore, from preliminary design to final execution, it is absolutely critical to remember that the context and exterior conditions of your building mean everything. The most successful architectural usages of wood siding will be those that can properly control and manipulate the moisture that it will inevitably encounter during its lifespan. This article will help you understand how to do so.\u00a0Check out the full story here.<\/a><\/p>\n House in Oxfordshire<\/a> by Peter Feeny Architects<\/a> is entirely clad in oak<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n How to Select the Right Species of Wood For Your External Cladding<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n When applied as external cladding, the service lives of various species of timber can range anywhere from 15 to 60 years. That\u2019s a massive, gaping window of time where colors can fluctuate, cracks can occur and extreme weathering can take place. And so, while cost and aesthetic style will always be driving factors in your material selection, make sure to read through this article, which will help you understand how a wood species\u2019 performance factors will level up to your design needs. Check out the full story here.<\/a><\/p>\n Image via Delta Millworks<\/a>\u00a0 \u00a0<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n Mastering the Architectural Art of Traditional Japanese Charred Timber<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n The art of\u00a0shou\u00a0sugi ban is simple to understand in theory but difficult to carry out. It is a counterintuitive method of preserving and protecting wood by charring it with fire, which leaves a dense carbonized layer of bituminous black that\u2019s virtually fireproof. Sleeve House<\/a> by\u00a0actual \/ office<\/a>, is a recently completed 2,500-square-foot building constructed in collaboration with one of America\u2019s pioneering wood manufacturers,\u00a0Delta\u00a0Millworks<\/a>, and an unmatched example of this age old practice. Check out the full story here.<\/a><\/p>\n Search for Wood Siding Manufacturers<\/a><\/p>\n Architects: Want to have your project featured? Showcase your work by uploading projects to Architizer<\/a>\u00a0and sign up for our\u00a0inspirational newsletters<\/a>.<\/em><\/p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Layer up your knowledge on warm, textured wood siding.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":16,"featured_media":86142,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"architizer_featured_type":"insert","architizer_featured_image":"","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[9433,9411],"tags":[],"architizer_project":[],"architizer_brand":[],"architizer_firm":[],"architizer_product":[],"class_list":["post-33318","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-product-guide","category-product-guides"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n![\"wood](\"https:\/\/blog.architizer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/1479433306710Moonlight_Cabin_by_Jackson_Clements_Burrows_6907_SMALL.jpg\")
Materials<\/h2>\n
![\"wood](\"https:\/\/blog.architizer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/1487261171856Romsdalsmuseet_11S\u00f8ren_Harder_Nielsen.jpg\")
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Aesthetics<\/b><\/h2>\n
![\"wood](\"https:\/\/blog.architizer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/1505918979075SidingDiagram_copy_copy.jpg\")
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![\"wood](\"https:\/\/blog.architizer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/8f981a38a43de3c16149d11cdb6ba9d3-copy-1024x552.jpg\")
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![\"wood](\"https:\/\/blog.architizer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/1442999623700Jan_Inge_Larsen-jpg_6.jpg\")
![\"wood](\"https:\/\/blog.architizer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/1498256567093Schwartz-Overlook-0601.jpg\")
![\"wood](\"https:\/\/blog.architizer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/1461784546893V\u00e5ler_church_01_architect_Espen_Surnevik_photo_Rasmus_Norlander.jpg\")
Performance<\/b><\/h2>\n
![\"wood](\"https:\/\/blog.architizer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/144830992139305-LAHERONNIERE_photos03BR.jpg\")
![\"wood](\"https:\/\/blog.architizer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/1394530910904RRA_Havsdalen-33S\u00f8ren_Harder_Nielsen.jpg\")
Case Studies<\/h2>\n
![\"wood](\"https:\/\/blog.architizer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/0014-01-mixed-shutters1.jpg\")
![\"wood](\"https:\/\/blog.architizer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/e2d26eae-1.jpg\")
![\"wood](\"https:\/\/blog.architizer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/1506373720239kebonyscotspinehelgelandkrafthighrescbjornleirvik13_0_1.jpg\")
![\"wood](\"https:\/\/blog.architizer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/1506524171382peter_feeney.jpg\")
![\"wood](\"https:\/\/blog.architizer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/1506450175017see.jpg\")
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