Picture Dictionary of Building Siding Types InspectAPedia® -
Photo guide to identification of building siding materials
Identification photos & drawings of other building features
Age and eras of use of different building siding materials
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This article discusses how to recognize residential building siding materials and building exterior cladding systems.
Readers should see the additional photo and drawing guides to building architectural styles in the links listed at page left see ARCHITECTURE & BUILDING COMPONENT ID for illustrations of building architectural types, roof shape, architectural features.
At Field Guides to North American House Architecture we list (and you can buy at Amazon) books we have found particularly helpful in identifying architectural styles, including: as this more extensive list of architectural styles: Folk Houses, Native American Houses (U.S.), Pre-Railroad houses, National Architectural Styles (U.S.), Colonial Houses (1600-1820),
Postmedieval English, Dutch Colonial, French Colonial, Spanish Colonial, Georgian, Adam, Early Classical Revival, Romantic Houses (1820-1880),
Greek Revival style architecture, Gothic Revival style architecture, Italianate style architecture, Exotic Revivals style architecture, Octagon houses, Victorian style architecture Houses (1860-1900), Second Empire style architecture, Stick style architecture,
Queen Anne style architecture, Shingle style architecture, Richardsonian Romanesque style architecture, Folk Victorian style architecture, Eclectic Houses (1880-1940), Anglo-American style architecture, English style architecture, and French Period Houses,
Colonial Revival style architecture, Neoclassical style architecture, Tudor style architecture, Chateauesque style architecture, Beaux Arts style architecture, French Eclectic style architecture, Mediterranean Period Houses style architecture, Italian Renaissance style architecture,
Mission style architecture, Spanish Eclectic style architecture, Monterey style architecture, Pueblo Revival style architecture, Modern Houses including Prairie style architecture, Craftsman style architecture, Modernistic style architecture, International style architecture, and
American Houses Since 1940: Modern style architecture & Neoeclectic style architecture as well as unusual houses such as Mongolian Cloud (photo, Kuehn) houses and Underground Houses (photo, Roy).
Siding, Sheathing on Building Exteriors: Photo Guide
Above left to right: hardboard siding, cement asbestos single siding. Also see the building siding identification photos at the topics listed below.
Here is our list of building siding materials articles.
SIDING, ALUMINUM - (photo of aluminum siding, 1960's, showing siding installed over peeling painted clapboard, siding backer board details). Aluminum & steel building siding - popular in the U.S. 1940's - 1970's. Because of the large amounts of energy used to produce aluminum siding and increasing raw materials costs, aluminum siding declined in popularity in the U.S. in the 1970's.
Aluminum siding, produced from aluminum coil stock and painted in a wide variety of colors, provided a durable exterior building cladding that resisted rust and rot. See SIDING, ALUMINUM for details. Watch out: some versions of aluminum siding included a paint coating that weathered, chalked, and even washed off entirely, leaving a bare aluminum surface. With careful surface preparation and selection of a paint recommended by its manufacturer for aluminum siding, it is possible to re-paint weathered aluminum siding - of course we then have converted a "no maintenance" material into one that will require occasional repainting.
SIDING STEEL - Steel building siding was sold based on advantages similar to aluminumsiding (see Aluminum siding) but with disadvantages of heavier weight, more difficult to install (harder to cut and trim), and vulnerable torust. Steel siding was never as popular in NorthAmerica as aluminum nor its later replacement - vinyl. See SIDING STEEL
Stucco siding on building exteriors: Horsehair mixed with plaster or cement for building exterior wall covering, also see SIDING EIFS STUCCO. and STUCCO OVER FOAM INSULATION - choices of insulation and support for stucco over foam insulation over masonry walls
VAPOR BARRIERS - Vapor barriers: history of use of housewrap and vapor barriers; vapor barrier types: see VAPOR BARRIERS
SIDING VINYL - Vinyl siding: see SIDING VINYL. PVC based vinyl siding was introduced in the U.S. in the 1950's and 60's, began to overtake aluminum siding for bulding exterior wall coverings in the 1970's and by the 1980's was the dominant exterior siding material on residential structures in the U.S. for both new construction and for remodeling. The cost of covering a building exterior with vinyl siding was competitive with a properly executed exterior paint job, and the result more durable. SIDING VINYL - Vinyl Siding, includes review & comments about moisture & vapor barriers. Vinyl siding is popular in part because it is lightweight and easy to work with, easy to cut, trim, and install. Watch out: early vinyl siding suffered from weathering, cracking, impact damage, and buckling from heating. While modern vinyl siding products are very durable, impact and dent and weather resistant, the material will still buckle if it is not properly installed (nailed too tightly to the building).
Also see
Cement board is a non-structural building sheathing material which in its contemporary form is made from Portland cement covered with a reinforced fiberglass mesh fabric. Cement board is used as a tile backer or a backer board for stucco applications on buildings. Current producers include Custom Building Products (WonderBoard™) and US Gypsum (Durock™).
Panels made of a mixture of cement and wood fibers are produced for building siding by James Hardi (Hardi-panel and Cemplank™), and CertainTeed (Weatherboard™).
(History & dates in process, contributions invited - CONTACT us)
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Additional technical contributors & reference sources for this article are listed below.
Use links just below or at the left of each page to navigate this document or to view other topics at this website. Green links show where you are in our document or website.
The Home Reference Book - the Encyclopedia of Homes, Carson Dunlop & Associates, Toronto, Ontario, 2010, $69.00 U.S., is available from Carson Dunlop. The Home Reference Book is a bound volume of more than 450 illustrated pages that assist home inspectors and home owners in the inspection and detection of problems on buildings. The text is intended as a reference guide to help building owners operate and maintain their home effectively. InspectAPedia.com ® author/editor Daniel Friedman is a contributing author. Field inspection worksheets are included at the back of the volume.
Certainteed Weatherboard fiber cement siding and trim products - see certainteed.com/ or see certainteed.com/resources/sidingandtrimspecsheet.pdf
Vassar College Architecture, Main Building, James Renwick, Jr., architect, William Harloe, builder, Second Empire style, http://vcencyclopedia.vassar.edu/buildings-grounds/buildings/main-building/
Vassar College, Maryann Bruno, Elizabeth A. Daniels, Arcadia 2001 ISBN 0-7385-0454-8
Main to Mudd, and More, Elizabeth A. Daniels Poughkeepsie, NY, 1996.
Historical Sketch of Vassar College, Benson Lossing, New York, 1876.
Field Guides to North American House Architecture
A Field Guide to American Houses, Virginia & Lee McAlester (1984) ISBN-10: 0394739698 ISBN-13: 978-0394739694 includes a pictorial key and glossary to these architectural styles: Folk Houses, Native American Houses (U.S.), Pre-Railroad houses, National Architectural Styles (U.S.), Colonial Houses (1600-1820),
Postmedieval English, Dutch Colonial, French Colonial, Spanish Colonial, Georgian, Adam, Early Classical Revival, Romantic Houses (1820-1880),
Greek Revival style architecture, Gothic Revival style architecture, Italianate style architecture, Exotic Revivals style architecture, Octagon houses, Victorian style architecture Houses (1860-1900), Second Empire style architecture, Stick style architecture,
Queen Anne style architecture, Shingle style architecture, Richardsonian Romanesque style architecture, Folk Victorian style architecture, Eclectic Houses (1880-1940), Anglo-American style architecture, English style architecture, and French Period Houses,
Colonial Revival style architecture, Neoclassical style architecture, Tudor style architecture, Chateauesque style architecture, Beaux Arts style architecture, French Eclectic style architecture, Mediterranean Period Houses style architecture, Italian Renaissance style architecture,
Mission style architecture, Spanish Eclectic style architecture, Monterey style architecture, Pueblo Revival style architecture, Modern Houses including Prairie style architecture, Craftsman style architecture, Modernistic style architecture, International style architecture, and
American Houses Since 1940: Modern style architecture & Neoeclectic style architecture
The American House, Mary Mix Foley, Harper Colophon Books, ISBN-0-060090831-9, ISBN-10: 0060112964 ISBN-13: 978-0060112967 1980, has been a guide we have found useful for recognizing house architectural styles
Dutch Houses in the Hudson Valley (NY) Before 1776 (New Paltz area for example), Dover Publications; Re Issue edition (1965) ASIN: B0006BNAD2
Milton Architecture (MA) (Images of America) (Paperback), Anthony M. Sammarco (Author), Paul Buchanan (Author), Arcadia Publishing (December 2, 2000) ISBN-10: 0738504963 ISBN-13: 978-0738504964 discusses the history of the Suffolk Resolves house and other historic homes in the Milton Massachusetts area
Mongolian Cloud Houses, How to Make a Yurt and Live Comfortably, Dan Frank Kuehn, Shelter Publications 2006 ISBN-10: 0936070390 ISBN-13: 978-0936070391 "Written for those interested in alternative lifestyles, outdoor living, camping, and do-it-yourself projects, this lively, informative book recounts the author's experiences building his first yurt. Dan Frank Kuehn carefully guides readers through every step of the creation of a 13' round by 10' tall model. He covers everything — from the poles and lattice that form the basic structure, to the plusses and minuses of various materials, to the distinctive willow smokehole. This updated edition highlights new building techniques and contains detailed lists of commercial yurt manufacturers, tools, and materials."
Underground Houses, How to Build A Low-Cost Home, Robert L. Roy, Sterling; illustrated edition edition (December 31, 1994), ISBN-10: 0806907282 ISBN-13: 978-0806907284 "According to Roy, underground or `earth-sheltered' houses are unexpectedly livable. Judging by his book's attractive pictures, that's easy to believe. The house he bases his point-by-point guide on is indeed a showplace. Its homey touches are just that, though, and Roy's main concern is creating such a house, from drawing up the plans to surveying the site to the actual building. Roy's instruction is insightful and comprehensive....Throughout, he covers construction and installation details that are extremely important for nonprofessionals brave enough to undertake building their own homes."
Books & Articles on Building & Environmental Inspection, Testing, Diagnosis, & Repair
Our recommended books about building & mechanical systems design, inspection, problem diagnosis, and repair, and about indoor environment and IAQ testing, diagnosis, and cleanup are at the InspectAPedia Bookstore. Also see our Book Reviews - InspectAPedia.
"Weather-Resistive Barriers [copy on file as /interiors/Weather_Resistant_Barriers_DOE.pdf ] - ", how to select and install housewrap and other types of weather resistive barriers, U.S. DOE
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