Advantages and Disadvantages of Cedar Siding

Cedar siding is a beautiful way to finish the exterior of your home. The natural warmth and character of cedar siding compliments many styles of architecture. Before choosing cedar siding, however, make sure you understand the benefits and challenges of cedar siding installation.

Cedar Siding: The Natural Advantage
Cedar siding has a number of advantages over other siding choices. Some of the advantages include:

• Durability. Cedar has long been recognized as a durable building material. Native Americans in the Pacific Northwest have used cedar to build dwelling for centuries. In modern use, original cedar siding is still in place on homes built over 100 years ago.
• Natural Beauty. Nothing provides the warmth, character and beauty of natural wood. Cedar siding features a distinctive wood grain pattern and a natural color range that extends from pale yellow to deep brown.
• Environmentally friendly. Modern sustainable forestry techniques make cedar a perfect renewable resource for homebuilding. Cedar siding will outlast most other exterior siding materials. And when it's reached the end of its useful life, cedar siding is 100% biodegradable.

Other Cedar Siding Considerations
Cedar siding is not without its challenges, however. There are several things to know that may color your choice of cedar:

• Maintenance. In order to protect cedar siding and promote its beauty, cedar must be sealed, stained or painted on a regular basis. Depending on environmental factors, re-surfacing cedar siding may need to take place as often as every 3 to 5 years.
• Fire considerations. Some insurance companies may charge increased premiums for exterior wood siding due to the increased risk of fire damage.
• The Elements. As a natural building material, cedar siding is subject to degradation due to exposure to extremes of weather and the environment. Warping, cracking and fading are all possible if cedar siding is not properly installed and maintained.