Horizontal Siding Types
Siding products are built to run two ways: vertically and horizontally. Horizontal siding is usually called lap siding because the clapboards overlap each other as they work their way up an exterior wall to protect against wind and rain penetration. Horizontal lap siding is one of, if not the most, popular siding styles in existence.
Common horizontal siding materials include wood, fiber cement, and vinyl.
Wood lap siding is the traditional choice, typically made of pine, redwood, or cedar. The wooden boards or "clapboards" run in horizontal rows or "courses." Some horizontal wood siding may also be "shiplap" style. In shiplapping opposite ends of the board (top and bottom in horizontal applications) have a step-shaped mortise, or rabbet, on opposite sides. That rabbet then matches the rabbet on the next clapboard as the two overlap -- with the upper course essentially resting on the lower -- to form a tight seal against weather.
Wood lap siding is very versatile and can be painted to just about any color specification. Wood does, however, require more maintenance than its counterparts, usually required refinishing every five years or so.
Fiber Cement horizontal siding (also a composite siding) is extremely popular because it is cheaper and more durable then wood siding. Not only that, fiber cement siding mimics wood siding quite well and, once painted, it is very difficult to tell the difference from even a short distance. Many fiber cement products are rated to last up to 50 years, they need not be primed, and are porous enough to hold paint very well. Fiber cement is also less susceptible to fluctuations in size due to weather and it will not warp, buckle, or crack. Fiber cement siding may mimic rows of wood shingles or simply wood clapboards.
If fiber cement or concrete siding has one downside, it shows during installation. On one hand the siding can go up very quickly, without much regard for gaps. On the other hand, the clapboards (typically 12 feet long) are heavy and will bend and break if not carried properly. Also, special saw blades should be used for cutting fiber cement siding and respirators should be worn as well -- the silica dust emitted during cutting is commonly considered harmful. Installation is best left to a professional crew who can install the siding fast and effectively.
Vinyl siding again mimics wood siding but offers very low maintenance and ease of installation. Many say that installing vinyl siding is easy enough for any homeowner, but it is more difficult than one might think and many considerations must be made. Horizontal vinyl siding comes in roughly 12" clapboards that have steps built into them every 3-5 inches to give the illusion of wood lap siding. They have a nailing flange that should be nailed loosely and is covered by the subsequent course of siding (the bottom of one vinyl clapboard "snaps" into a groove just below the flange of the other). Vinyl siding is susceptible to movements from temperature fluctuations, that is why it should be nailed well but loose enough to allow for flexibility. Vinyl siding has a large color palette, although all will be brighter, reflective shades because vinyl products degrade fast if they absorb too much heat, which limits vinyl siding applications to more temperate regions of the country.
Insulated vinyl siding is growing in popularity as a more efficient siding option. The back side of each siding "board" is filled with rigid foam insulation that brings the product flush to the exterior of the house when installed. This can reduce energy use up to 20 percent. Not surprisingly, insulated siding products are usually Energy Star qualified. The foam also provides added durability by creating a more solid, weather-resistant piece of siding.
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