House sidings are important to consider for their durability, low maintenance, and better visual appeal. When replacing old siding or installing new siding on a new house, you need to consider the material. Siding contractors may suggest you any of these materials like vinyl, brick, stone, stone veneer, fiber cement, wood, or engineered wood. If you want to know about engineered wood siding, then give this guide a read.

What Is Engineered Wood Siding?

Engineered wood siding is wood but better in every sense of the word. Think of getting wooden siding but without most of the drawbacks that come with wood.

Engineered wood siding is made by gluing and reinforcing shaved and thin pieces of wood with adhesive binders with pressurized heating. This gives the siding that added strength you can’t even dream of in traditional wooden siding. After heating and binding, a wax coat is applied which helps in keeping the engineered wood safe from mold and moisture.

Engineered wood siding is an amazing choice for people who want something that is really strong, but is still wood because the look of wood is unmatched.

However, keep in mind that there is an even better cousin of engineered wood siding that is known as composite siding. It costs more than engineered wood, but is more durable and long lasting.

Pros Of Engineered Wood Siding

When it comes to engineered wood siding, you want to know what makes it the best choice for your house. This is what makes people buy it in the first place. So, here is everything you need to know about engineered wood siding that makes it an absolute must-buy.

Durable

Engineered wood siding is more durable than hardwood siding. You might be surprised but even though engineered wood siding is wood, it’s treated to be stronger and more durable than the actual thing.

If you know anything about wood, you would know that it is impossible to keep it from damage when it is wet and rainy outside. Well, with engineered wood siding, you don’t need to worry about the wet weather or pests.

It is something that engineered wood siding is treated to endure amazingly well. So, you can install the siding and then call it a day because this type of wood isn’t going to get damaged in the long run.

Looks Great

There is just something about wood siding that just pulls people in with its looks. It’s an amazing material that increases the curb appeal and an absolute treat for the eyes. Engineered wood siding is the complete package when it comes to beauty with harder-than-steel strength.

You will be surprised that even though this material is beautiful to look at, it is just as great when it comes to longevity. So, if you want to get a material that will make your house’s exterior look beautiful, then this is what you need.

Sustainable

Wood siding is amazing but it’s not very popular among environmentalists. They don’t think that protecting your house by compromising the environment and cutting down trees is a remarkable feat.

Well, if that concerns you, then engineered wood siding will sweep that worry away in no time. Even though it looks like solid wood, engineered wood siding is a man-made material and it is not going to put the environment in jeopardy.

Also, if you think that engineered wood siding is not going to be super sustainable in the long run, well then you’ll just have to see it for yourself because a material that is durable and does not need a lot of maintenance, will stay put for longer.

Easier To Maintain Than Wood

Speaking of maintenance, engineered wood siding is also amazing when it comes to keeping it up and taking care of it. You don’t need to tint or paint it like wood. That is just amazing. You also don’t need to polish it or wax it from time to time. You only need to take care of surface-level cleaning and that’s pretty much it. Maintaining engineered wood siding is a breeze.

Rot Resistant

Engineered wood siding doesn’t get infested with termites or any other critter. It also does well when it is up against water and doesn’t get damaged which is just amazing if you think about it.

Comparatively, wood is far more vulnerable to water damage and it can rot easily. But this is not the case with engineered wood siding. So, whether it’s raining outside or the sun is blazing, you can rest assured that engineered wood siding will stand tall, do its job, and leave you worry-free.

Cons Of Engineered Wood Siding

While engineered wood siding is great, it’s not perfect by any means and it does have some flaws. So, here are some downsides of engineered wood siding.

Expensive

Engineered wood siding, even though it is an amazing material, can be a bit expensive. Even though it is not nearly as expensive as actual wood siding or composite siding, it is still a bar or two more than the materials most people would consider reasonable such as vinyl.

So, even though it’s not crazy expensive, engineered wood siding can be a bit on the higher side of the price spectrum when it comes to affordability. You do need a budget to get it. However, if you compare the qualities and longevity, then it is well worth the investment.

Professional Installation Required

This might be the case with most sidings, but engineered wood siding must be installed by a professional. If you want the installation to be perfect and not run into any problems, then this is the safest bet to go for. You will thank yourself for getting the siding professionally installed.

Regardless, a lot of people don’t like the expense part of professional installation and that is something that can bother a lot of people. So, if you think that you can’t afford professional installation, then maybe you can look at other options, but if you spend your money on this, you won’t need to replace it for the next 20-30 years.

3 Quick Steps For Installing Engineered Wood Siding

When it comes to installing engineered wood siding, here are the basic steps that follow:

Remove The Existing Siding

First of all, you need to get the existing siding removed. This is done by wrenching the siding planks out and then seeing if there’s anything else that needs to be looked at, like rot or the foundation falling apart of installation.

Install The Starter Strip

The starter strip is installed. This is probably the most important step when it comes to engineered wood siding installation. The strips should be placed vertically rather than horizontally. This will add to the integrity of the exterior.

Install The Engineer Wood Siding

After the starter strip, the engineered wood siding is installed by nailing it to the foundation. This makes for a perfect fit and the starter strip will ensure that no moisture gets trapped and causes problems in the future.

Conclusion

This guide will tell you exactly what there is to engineered wood siding. You should consider both the pros and cons of the materials to make the right decision. Moreover, consult siding companies Port Jefferson for material suggestions based on your needs and siding installation.