Are you thinking about having genuine wood siding put on your home here in the Minneapolis area?
Wood is one of those traditional siding options that many homeowners in our area still consider. Yes, there was a time that most of the homes in the Twin Cities that had siding on them were done in wood plank or clapboard.
For many years it was the only siding available, until aluminum and later vinyl siding came on the market. Now there are many more products to choose from, but we find that there are homeowners who still lean towards real wood. We don’t recommend it, and even though we are a licensed Minneapolis area siding contractor, we don’t even install genuine wood siding.
So why do people still use it? There are some valid reasons. Not only is it easy to customize, but it is also easy to install, comes with energy efficient benefits. Plus many people love the traditional, natural feel real wood gives.
While genuine wood siding is versatile, there are also some problems that can come from having wood siding on your home. So if you’re considering having wood siding installed on your home, we’d like you to be able to make an informed decision. Here are things you should keep in mind.
Wood Siding Has Durability Issues: It is a beautiful siding option to go with, but it is also not as durable as you might think. Wood breaks down, especially with wear and tear from the outside elements and from time. Because of this, it is not one of the strongest materials to put on the outside of the home. Not only that, but it is porous, so water can easily penetrate it and ruin it.
Minnesota weather can be extremely hard on wood on a home’s exterior. Heavy rains, ice and snow, and summer heat and humidity can lead to deterioration, warping, and other problems. So much could happen to the integrity and durability of this siding product, which is one of the reasons we try to steer our prospective customers away from it.
If You’ve Got Wood Siding, Expect a Lot of Upkeep
If you want siding that doesn’t require much to keep it kept up on, then wood is not the answer. You have to repaint and/or stain and seal the wood every 4 to 5 years to make sure that water and pests do not get into it. Moisture can cause wood siding to get a little ‘fuzzy’ as the fibers expand, so periodic sanding is also required to keep it looking good. Warping and cracking from rain and temperature fluctuations are also to be expected, so you’ll need to replace sections periodically. Wood siding may be beautiful, but it comes with a lot of maintenance to keep it looking good and working well.
Love the look of wood but hate the idea of all the work that comes along with it? Either engineered wood siding such as LP Smartside® or James Hardie fiber cement siding designed to look like real wood siding might be an ideal choice if you want something beautiful but without the high maintenance. We’d be happy to meet with you in your home to discuss your options. Why not call us today for a free, no obligation quote?
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Window Outfitters is a premier Window Replacement, doors, siding contractor and installer. As Contractor in the St Paul, Minneapolis, (Twin Cities) Minnesota (MN) metro, we proudly serve, but are not limited to, the following areas: Minneapolis Energy Efficient Vinyl Windows, Replacement Window Contractors Minnesota, Burnsville, Apple Valley, Lakeville, Savage, Bloomington, Edina, Richfield, Eagan, St Paul, Hastings, Minnetonka, Plymouth, Maple Grove, Eden Prairie, Farmington MN, Chaska, Shakopee, Chanhassen, Victoria, Mendota Heights Anderson Windows Minneapolis, Marvin Windows Minneapolis.
