Types of Exterior House Coating

Manufactured Siding

• House siding is available in several materials and application styles. Vinyl siding has been very popular during the past 20 years and is sold in many styles. You can choose traditional clapboard, insulated clapboard, Dutchlap, board and batten and beaded to name just a few. The products come in a large assortment of colors. There are also specialty shapes available like fish scale.

  Fiber cement siding is a combination of cement, fly ash, wood fiber and additives compressed under high pressure. This siding is available as lap siding and 4-foot by 8-foot panels. The panels come in a variety of textures to resemble wood and stucco. This material is extremely hardy, does not burn, is rot resistant and impervious to termites. Manufacturers sell these products with or without a finished color.

Masonry and Stone

• Brick is widely used as an exterior house coating. Often it is used from the foundation up to the windowsills and then another form of coating is used above it. Brick comes in a range of colors and when applied to the vertical walls is called a veneer.

  Stucco is a cement-based mortar that is troweled over wire lath to give it form and strength. Stucco is purchased in bags and mixed with sand at the building site as it is being applied. Colors can be added to the mix providing many possibilities beyond basic gray.

  Stone serves as a useful and durable house coating. Every region has natural stone that lends itself to this use but there is also a man-made product available in many styles from river rock to ledge stone. Stone applied to vertical house surfaces is called stone veneer.

Paint and Stain

• Many of the surfaces on the exterior of a house may be coated with paint. This includes most wood products and many faux wood products like pressed board. You use paint on wood that does not naturally protect itself from weather and insect damage as cedar does. Wood siding that comes in 4-foot by 8-foot sheets is painted. Paint is often used on the soffits, fascia, doors and other exterior house trim.

  Stain is used on exterior house surfaces to bring out the natural character and beauty of wood. It is often used on window and door trim, doors, columns, natural wood siding and log homes. Stain comes in a wide range of colors. Some brands are also a wood treatment and help to prevent rotting and insect damage.