Although wood is among the world’s oldest building materials, it doesn’t have to look antiquated when used on today’s home exteriors. When many people think of wood siding, they remember their parents or grandparents laboriously painting peeling boards every summer without fail. This chore was not a lot of fun and ultimately caused a high percentage of modern homeowners to choose vinyl instead of wood when the time came for them to design their own houses.
Wood siding, however, has been enjoying a surge in popularity again over the past several years. Many younger homeowners who are just now beginning to remodel their residences have fallen in love with the look of raw wood siding and are using it in a variety of ways to create genuinely unique spaces. As you continue reading this guide, you’ll learn more about how a wood exterior could appeal to your own sense of style.
Wood siding can help homes blend in – If you’re someone who thoroughly enjoys nature and lives in a region, such as Asheville, NC, where sustainability is a big deal, you might want your house to more-or-less blend into the landscape surrounding your property. Wood siding is ideal for this if you reside in a forested area. If your home is far from neighbors, consider installing large picture windows to break-up the wood and give you unobstructed views of the beautiful natural scenery.
Wood siding can be used with other materials – When left raw, wood siding is among the most neutral of all construction materials. Due to this, it’s easy to combine it with other exterior coverings for a one-of-a-kind aesthetic. Some people, for instance, opt to use fiber cement panels in conjunction with polished wood siding boards. Others combine stone with wood for a truly rustic look. Talk to your contractor or architect to get ideas about what will work best with the shape and location of your home.
Wood slats can be quite functional – Some homeowners who love ultramodern style choose to use wood to create exterior architectural features that are also extremely functional. Large screens crafted from wooden slats, for instance, can serve as blinds over large, full-wall windows, while still adding visual interest to the outside of a home.
Wood siding is perfect for coastal homes – Few things say “coastal” like driftwood and weathered boardwalks. Whether you actually have a house on the North Carolina or South Carolina coastline (or you just wish you did!), wood siding is a great choice if you’re going for a beachy vibe. Consider doing a whitewash or a greywash on your siding boards, then letting them weather normally. The result will be perfectly aged siding that has the same casual, lived-in style that beach life does.
If you’re ready to take the plunge into wood siding or ready to repair your existing, give the Hatch Homes office a call today. We’ll be happy to schedule a preliminary appointment for you to talk about your upcoming project with one of our skilled team members. We love what we do, and we look forward to helping you make your house into your dream home.