Wood Siding Replacement

Q: What’s the best approach for replacing the hopelessly cracked, 20 year-old red cedar siding on my house? As far as I can tell, stucco is one of the lowest maintenance options. Brick can’t work in our case because of the foundation configuration, and I’m afraid vinyl will be too noisy in our high-wind location.

A: Yes, stucco is definitely worth considering in your case, especially when you understand that it has become more reliable over the last decade or two. Traditional stucco formulations have been replaced by more durable, synthetic options that promise longer life and better weather resistance because they're more flexible and less likely to crack. Stucco can also be applied over additional foam insulation added to exterior walls – an upgrade that’s definitely worth considering with any older home. Another option is one of the newer mortarless, thin-brick siding products like Novabrik. These are made of concrete and designed to overlap during installation on standard wood frame walls. Brick-like segments are fastened with screws, so installation is easy enough to be a do-it-yourself proposition if you’re handy.