Weighing The Pros And Cons Of Cedar Wood Sidings
White cedar wood siding has always been a popular choice among homeowners. It is found in every part of the world, embracing both vintage and contemporary homes. Though cedar wood offers numerous advantages, a lot of homeowners have their share of doubts. Therefore, to clear the smokescreen and help homeowners make an informed decision, this post discusses the pros and cons of cedar wood siding. Take a look.
Pros
Eco-Friendly
Cedar wood siding is repurposable and can be easily reused for other purposes. However, you need to ensure that the siding you buy is certified by an authorized Forest Association for residential usage. In addition, given the fact that wood is biodegradable, cedar wood sidings represent one of the most eco-friendly siding options.
Energy-Efficient
Whether you are re-siding your home or adding new insulated siding, choosing the right insulation product has a significant impact on your property’s energy bills. As wood is a natural insulator, it not only reduces noise transmission through walls, but also cuts the cost of heating and cooling up to 40 percent.
Variety Of Styles
White cedar siding, available in a wide range of patterns and textures, can be installed in a number of patterns, such as horizontal, vertical, and diagonal. In addition, wood sidings can be painted or stained in a variety of colors, and it is up to you how you want to give a unique appeal to the home’s exterior.
Easy To Install And Replace
One of the practical advantages of cedar wood siding is easy installation that saves both time and money. The damaged parts of cedar wood siding can be easily replaced without having to replace the entire siding, which is another characteristic that makes them better than synthetic sidings.
Exceptional Durability
Cedar wood siding are highly durable as they are resistant to splitting, swelling, and bending, even under radical changes in temperatures. In addition, regular maintenance, including painting and staining can also add many more years to their lifespan.
Cons
Need For Staining
One common downside with all types of wood siding is the need to repaint/restain. You need to follow a regular painting, varnishing, or staining wood siding regime to prevent cracks and decay. Decaying, however, is not a common problem in cedar siding, as the wood contains a natural insect repellent – though it is still advisable to treat the sidings with insecticides to extend their lifespan.
Vulnerability To Water Damage
Water damage is another common drawback of wood sidings. Failure to regularly maintain wood siding may result in water seepage, causing damage to the home’s structure. To prevent water damage, it is advisable to apply a waterproof coating or oil-based primer on all surfaces and edges of the wood. Oil based primers penetrate deep inside the wood protecting it from water damage.
The Bottom Line
Though it is true that wood sidings require regular maintenance, the bottom line is that the benefits they offer make the efforts worthwhile. If you too are planning to redo or install your home’s sidings, you cannot go wrong with cedar wood. In addition, to give complete peace of mind, we, at Jancon Exteriors, offer a 50-year warranty against wood decay, along with a 15-year warranty on two coats of solid stain. Should you wish to learn more about white cedar siding, feel free to call us at (508) 520-3935.