Learn how to stop moisture from being a problem BEFORE you install wood siding.

Since the performance of wood siding can be affected by moisture, it’s important to take great care during the initial install. The whole house must be properly prepped and built to insure long-lasting service and to prevent moisture accumulation or excessive moisture fluctuation within building components that can induce checking, warping, rotting of wood and failure of the protective coating on the siding.

To prevent moisture penetration from adversely affecting the performance of wood siding:

Use dry materials during construction.

• Using damp plywood, furring strips can trap water vapor inside of walls causing mold, mildew, odors and wood rot.

Keep in Mind Proper Ground Clearance

• Untreated wood must not be in contact with the ground. Moisture from the soil can cause decay and insects can gain entry to your siding. Examine along the base of your home to make sure you have at least 6 to 8 inches of clearance between the ground and any wood siding or wood trim. If necessary, re-grade any soil away from the wood.

Seal the Wood

Using deck oil can help protect wood siding from moisture. The UV repelling attributes of hardwood deck oils can help reduce weathering. If you want to keep the lush look of the wood, simply reapply the oil to siding every other year, or as necessary. If you choose Ipe or Cumaru siding, your chances of insect penetration are diminished due to the intense density of these exotic hardwoods.

Design with Adequate Roof Overhang

• Lack of proper roof drainage is another reason of waterproofing failure. It’s common practice for a roof to have 12 inches of overhang width for each floor. A single-story building, for example, would have a roof that overhangs one foot.

Install Appropriate Flashing

• Flashing is the first line of defense in controlling moisture in wall assemblies. They intercept and direct the flow of water away from the structure.

Choose Custom Exotic Hardwood Siding from AdvantageLumber.com

Exotic hardwood siding is installed on houses for many good reasons. One of them it is to keep the bright new face of any home attractive, this exterior wooden skin should last the life of your home.

Give your home, cabin or business a unique look with our exotic hardwood siding. Exotic hardwood siding is naturally beauty, is timeless and the color and textures available are unmatched by other siding materials. These properties make our exotic wood siding adaptable to wide variety of architectural styles. Advantage Trim and Lumber carries a wide variety of exterior siding and we can custom mill your order in our own lumber mills.

Deciding the type of exterior siding you want in your house is a difficult task. After all, nothing will impact the appearance and “first impression” of your home more than the look it has on the outside.

There are several options for exterior siding in the market and if you are still wondering which one will best fit your project, keep reading and I will show you which siding is the leader when it comes to great durability, outstanding appearance, lower maintenance and future resale value.

Vinyl Siding

Vinyl is one of the least expensive types of siding. Vinyl requires no paint or stain. It can can be washed once a year if you like. The lifespan of vinyl siding will depend on a variety of factors including your local climate, extreme weather, and any maintenance issues that require frequent cleaning. For instance, if debris ends up cracking the siding and water penetrates through, you could end up having to replace the wall boards due to rot and mold growth.

Fiber Cement Siding

(aka Hardboard siding)

This type of siding is made of a combination of cellulose fibers. Fiber cement siding is considered a poor provider of thermal resistance. This means hot and cold air can penetrate inside through this material. It has moisture related problems like mold and rot in the sheathing or structural supports. The significant health risk associated with fiber cement siding are well documented in their own Material Safety Data Sheet. Asbestos fibers and silica dust are inevitably release during cutting and installation process and by long-term erosion of the materials exposed to atmospheric weathering and wind when cement degrades.

If you are looking for more natural looking types of siding, whether that means vertical or horizontal pieces, wood is the way to go. Wood is the favorite choice of siding in North America, and not even the latest technology can duplicate the unique characteristic of wood on this days.

Wood Siding

Some of what you know about Redwood and Cedar is wrong

As builders we think we know all about wood, but even experts are mistaken sometimes. Not all siding made from Redwood, Cedar and other famous species known for their durability are in fact rot resistant. They require to be treated; stain or paint and they are easily damaged by woodpeckers, termites and other pests.

Let’s be realistic, large old-growth trees are a thing from the past, some of this species are slow growing trees like Cedar.

Most people that are thinking of investing in exterior siding realize that in a few years they will be doing this all over again because most products simply do not fare well when exposed to the elements. That’s why choosing siding made with Exotic Hardwood makes such good sense.

Exotic Hardwood Siding

Bring the beauty of the tropics to your home.

Exotic hardwood siding is long lasting and perfect for any climate. The initial investment made in exotic hardwood siding like Ipe, Cumaru, Garapa, and Tigerwood pays for itself because this is a purchase that truly only has to be made once in a lifetime. That is simply something that cannot be said for most exterior siding products.

Exotic hardwood siding is so durable due to the wood from which they are constructed. The trees themselves generally grow naturally straight grains. The grains are extremely tight, giving the wood incredible density, and with their high rating for insect and decay resistance you don’t have to worry about replacing your siding anytime soon.

To ensure that these beautiful and durable hardwoods will be available for generations to come, the extraction of these hardwoods is regulated by Federal Laws and by the Brazilian Institute of Environment and Renewable Resources (IBAMA). Aggressive replanting programs are enforced to ensure that these Exotic Hardwoods are a truly renewable resource. We only supply wood that comes from managed forests that harvest wood in an ecologically responsible manner.

Beauty, durability and versatility are the characteristics of the Exotic Hardwood Siding sold by AdvantageLumber.com.

As part of our Super Decking Sale, we are lowering the price across the board for every size of Ipe siding. How to take advantage of this limited time offer? Call 1-877-232-3915 today. We’ll help you figure out just how much material you’ll need based on the specs you provide. Additionally, we will also provide you with the best cost on shipping. Because we ship so much material from our facilities, our freight forwarders give us substantial discounts which we pass onto you.

Want another reason to clad your home with Ipe? How about value? Ipe isn’t just a kick-butt material for decks. It’s robust enough and attractive enough to be the focus of your home’s exterior. Or, as in the case above, a beautiful accent to enhance your home’s overall look and appeal.

Check out our other affordable wood siding options. You will discover why they are proven to be a better alternative to cedar and wood shingles.

A question we often receive from homeowners is, “Can I use ipe for siding?”

If you want to use a material that will outlast cedar, vinyl, cement, and aluminum, then YES, Ipe is your best choice.

There are some very practical reasons why wood siding made of ipe  is your best overall option. Of all the hardwoods, metal, and synthetic materials available. Ipe has so many already natural resistance factors that make maintenance worries a thing of the past. Worried about rust or corrosion? Well, because ipe is 100% natural hardwood, those concerns can be eliminated. How about mold, mildew, and decay? Oh, and what about termites?

Ipe has been tested and proven to really live up to the hype.  It so dense and so strong that the United States Forest Laboratory as well as the United States Navy have concluded that it can last for decades without worry of termite infestation. How did they test ipe? They basically buried an untreated board of ipe and waited. It was only after 15 years that the wood became susceptible to insect attack. Remember, this was an untreated and totally buried piece of wood that we’re talking about. Metal would rust and softer woods and plastics would rot or become warped with that kind of exposure.

With this in mind, it’s easy to see why ipe is a great choice for siding.

How do you install ipe siding? Take a look at the picture to the right to get an idea of how easy it is to install siding made of ipe. For more siding installation instructions and see the latest ipe siding prices.

Looking for wholesale wood siding and need a truckload or container sent to your job site? We have the best wholesale wood siding prices in the market and even ship internationally! Contact our Wholesale Hardwood Division today to inquire about wholesale ipe siding.

Deck Design of the Week

Oakland Home Uses Ipe to Make Gorgeous Courtyard

If you’ve ever thought of building a courtyard for your outdoor living area, then this Oakland home should serve as some great inspiration.

Designed by the Ohashi Design Studio in Emeryville, CA, this deck design captures you immediately especially when you see how they incorporated the extremely large oak tree right in the middle of the courtyard. Of course, they utilized both ipe decking and ipe siding to create this modern looking, yet very warm space.

For pictures of how the Ashmount Residence Garden and deck, visit the photo gallery at the Ohashi Design website. The innovation that went into this design is truly stunning and definitely worth remembering as you look for unique deck designs.

At Advantage, we sell ipe decking as well as many other hardwoods that will make a deck like this possible. Best of all, right now, we’re running a decking sale. In fact, we’re running TWO simultaneous sales to give you even more opportunity to buy ipe, plus other unique and exotic hardwoods.

Deck Design of the Week

The Belmont Street Lofts in Portland, Oregon

The first thing you’ll notice when you see the pictures of the Belmont Street Lofts is that there is no visible use of decking. However, what you will see is how the architectural firm Froelich Consulting Engineers created this mixed-use commercial project with ipe. These mixed-use lofts really stand out with the use of rainscreens and ipe siding.

Benefits of ipe siding include:

• Durability even in the most brutal environmental conditions
• Ipe maintains its strength over time
• It is a natural product
• Totally maintenance free
• Contains absolutely no chemicals or preservatives
• All of our Ipe Rainscreens & Siding is free of any chemically produced additives

Contact Advantage Trim & Lumber today and ask about special wholesale ipe prices for wood rainscreens or siding.

Deck Design of the Week

Green Building in Michigan

Today’s Deck Design of the week is a two-parter. We’re going to look at the before and after phases of building a green home that has some wonderful sustainable and eco-friendly features.

The mind behind this home’s beauty is Danny Forster, host of Extreme Engineering and Build it Bigger on the Discovery Channel. He’s also a Harvard grad and, as evidenced by the lake front home in Michigan, a heck of an architect.

Today, we’re going to see Danny take you through a behind the scenes look at how a Green home is constructed. This Omena Lake front home is also going for either Gold or Platinum LEED certification, so you can tell that there are some serious and revolutionary design and architectural elements being used for this home.

As you can also see, there is no shortage of ipe being used in this home. Danny Forster has used both ipe decking and ipe siding in ways that are, at once beautiful, but also eco-friendly.

MyNorth.com Video: Danny Forster’s Cool, Green House

Tomorrow, we’ll see the finished product. If you’re planning to build a green home or are curious about LEED for homes, you’ll definitely want to take notes. You’ll also get some wonderful design and energy-saving ideas that are truly unique.

Ipe wood is not just for decking and flooring. Many people are using this versatile hardwood for siding, and even wall applications. In addition, it’s not uncommon to see docks, wharfs, and even bridges use ipe decking.

Some very famous landmarks have used ipe hardwood including the Brooklyn Bridge walkway, Las Vegas’ Treasure Island, and many famous boardwalks across the country including the Atlantic City and Miami Boardwalks.

If you read this blog often, it’s easy to see why ipe decking is used for many commercial applications. Whenever the elements might be an issue, there is no doubt that you have to use the very best wood materials.

Think about it…If you’re a dock builder in Florida, or anywhere along the Gulf and Atlantic Coast and you know that hurricanes, strong storms, and tides are going to be an issue throughout the year, why wouldn’t you invest in docking material that will stand the test of time and require as little maintenance as possible?

The same goes for other commercial applications. It doesn’t matter if you own a waterfront restaurant, or a two-story walkway or patio, ipe wood is a workable solution that can also bring your commercial project recognition because ipe hardwood are eco-friendly.

In the world of home design and architecture, there are certainly some wonderful uses for ipe that even I haven’t thought of! I’ve been doing a lot of research online to see what exactly savvy homeowners and architects are doing with this versatile, dependable, and luxurious exotic hardwood. To say that I was inspired would be a complete understatement!

With that in mind, I am proud to introduce the Ipe Decking Blog’s new feature…

The Ipe Design of the Week

To start things off right, let’s take a trip to the Pacific Coast where a truly spectacular display of modern architecture is currently facing the setting sun.

Sebastian Mariscal has designed some truly awe-inspiring modern homes and has received many awards and recognition for his work. One of his home’s even features a second story that is covered in ipe hardwood!

You can see pictures of how Mariscal used ipe siding for this truly unique beachfront home.

Ipe Siding

Where can you buy ipe siding?

In addition to our extensive selection of ipe decking, Advantage Trim & Lumber Company offers homeowners, deck builders, and architects ipe siding that is second-to-none!