Once upon a Roof...

While it protects the walls, the exterior wall siding lends style, beauty, and a unique touch to your home. The following are a few basic guidelines to follow when choosing a siding.

New products and techniques now make it possible to maintain and protect the original lining of your house. Generally, this is the most economical, simplest, and aesthetically sound solution.

Old-style sidings:

Asbestos shingles Cedar shingles Brick

Imitation stone Rabbet board Clapboard

Hints

• Once a year, inspect the condition of the siding and make the necessary repairs to avoid further damage.
• Insects, moisture, and mushrooms may be the cause of deterioration of the material. Eliminate the cause of the problem before proceeding to repair.
• Installing gutters will keep water away from the walls.

If the original siding needs to be replaced, choose an identical material or a reproduction of the original.

A few old-style siding models are still available:

Wood shingles     Clapboard    Rabbet board

Hints

• Use galvanised nails to avoid rust stains on the siding.
• The original boards can be reproduced at a sawmill in your area. You could save money by drying the wood yourself and applying the paint or stain.
• To help you choose a siding that closely matches the original, look for houses in the same style as your own that are still lined with the original material.

Choose your new siding with care to make sure it matches your house style. Select a material that is best adapted to the forms, texture, and dimensions of the traditional siding you want to reproduce.

Other materials like pre-stained wood, vinyl, hardboard, or asbestos-cement siding kits are available on the market. They are adequate alternatives.

Hints

• Measure for basic framing around the doors and windows, minimum 3½-4 inches (9-10 cm). These architectural elements will further highlight the new horizontal siding.
• The new siding should be installed on the same plane as the original, that is to say horizontal in most cases. Diagonal installation of the siding is not recommended because it is not representative of traditional methods.
• Pastels and bright colours are not recommended as they soon go out of fashion.
• Dark colours should also be avoided if the house is located in an open space, as the siding will be exposed to the sun and the colour will fade rapidly.

Lifespan

• 60 years or more when properly cared for.

Advantages

• Highly resistant to rot
• Well adapted to our harsh, humid climate
• Resistant to shocks
• Extremely durable, up to 100 years when properly installed and cared for.
• Easy to repair
• Looks great and ages well
• Insulating material
• Easy to care for with today's high-performance products
• Made from a renewable, low-pollution natural resource

Disadvantage

• Takes longer to install

Lifespan

Up to 40 years, depending on manufacturer

Advantages

• Easy to install, horizontal only
• Looks like the traditional boards
• Inexpensive product, on the short term

Disadvantages

• Colours fade rapidly when exposed to sunlight
• Sensitive to high winds
• Can dilate with extreme temperature changes
• Can become brittle in cold weather
• Hard to remove accumulated dirt
• Made from a non-renewable resource