dcsimg
Go vertical with new vinyl siding

Go vertical with new vinyl siding

Tract homes built in the 1970s and 1980s were almost exclusively clad with T-111 siding panels. Decades of weather have most likely degraded the integrity of many of those panels, and advancements in new vinyl siding and engineered cladding materials offer superior protection from the elements than older vertical cladding panels.

New vinyl siding or fiber cement siding can both be excellent replacements for worn, damaged vertical siding panels. Vertical vinyl and cement board siding comes in many different styles. Board and batten is probably the most common design, but there are plenty of other options available to homeowners who want the traditional, clean look of vertical cladding.

Vertical cladding styles

Board and batten siding, favored by early settlers of America, is a look familiar throughout the East, as well as on barns across the country. It features vertical boards with regularly spaced trim accents that cover seams -- the batten. Vinyl siding manufacturer CertainTeed offers board and batten in 12-foot, 6-inch or 10-foot lengths. The boards are 6 1/2 inches while the battens are 1 1/2 inches wide, which creates an 8-inch-wide panel. Panels typically are finished with a rough cedar or similar wood-grain pattern for greater authenticity, but you can order smooth-faced vertical cladding as well. CertainTeed's vertical cladding line comes in .048-inch premium thickness for superior rigidity and durability.

If you prefer fiber cement siding, James Hardie Building products makes vertical cladding from cement board, and combined with the company's fiber cement trim pieces homeowners can have a board and batten look as well. Fiber cement panels are extremely heavy and should be left for professional contractors to install, however. The pre-screened and certified siding professionals found through this site can help you with your installation needs.

Vertical cladding uses

Vertical cladding can be installed across a whole home, or on gable-end rafters as an eye-catching accent. Vertical panels and trim accents come in a variety of color choices, and since the color runs throughout the entire panel you don't have to worry about painting or damage from scarring. Popular color choices include colonial white, beige, cream, tan, and varying shades of gray. Consult with one of our licensed, bonded and insured* contractors in your area to settle on a style and color scheme that's best for your neighborhood.

*See terms and conditions at: http://www.streetcertified.com/about/Terms.jsp

Featured Articles

advertisement.gif