What this covers
Wood siding is cedar, redwood, cypress or pine milled into clapboards, shingles, shiplap or board-and-batten. It is the traditional cladding, repairable one board at a time, and it takes stain or paint. A careful installer back-primes or seals every board, including the cut ends, hangs it over house wrap and often a rain screen that lets the back dry, nails each course with stainless or hot-dipped fasteners so they do not stain the wood, and finishes it promptly. Wood needs its finish renewed over the years, and the installer explains that schedule before you choose it.
When to call
- A historic or craftsman home where the character of real wood matters.
- Boards that are cupped, split or rotted past patching.
- A section of wall damaged by water or a fallen limb that must be matched to the rest.
What to expect
- ChooseSpecies, profile and finish are chosen, often to match existing siding on the house.
- PrepareOld siding is removed, sheathing repaired, wrap and rain screen installed, and boards back-primed.
- InstallCourses are laid out to land evenly at windows, cut ends sealed, and boards nailed with corrosion-resistant fasteners.
- FinishStain or paint goes on, and you check the walls with the installer.
Get a certified company
Look up a certified company by ZIP code. Every company's license, insurance and trades are verified before it is listed, and placement is never paid.
Questions people ask
Why back-prime the boards?
Sealing the hidden face and the ends slows moisture moving through the wood, which is what makes paint peel and boards cup. It is done before the boards go up, because afterward it cannot be.
What is a rain screen?
A thin gap, made with furring strips or a mesh, between the siding and the wall. It lets water drain and air dry the back of the boards.
How often does wood siding need a new finish?
Stains are usually renewed every few years and paint less often, depending on sun exposure. The installer can tell you what the finish chosen needs.
Related: Siding repair · Engineered wood siding · Exterior painting · All siding, windows and doors
This page describes what the service involves. The company you hire sets the scope, the schedule and the price, and your contract is with that company. We verify credentials and collect reviews from real jobs. We do not guarantee any company's workmanship. Safety steps are general guidance. When in doubt, leave the home and call 911.