Poorly manufactured trim, like this example by James Hardie, can make or break the look you are trying to accomplish with your reside.

Book Review: Killer Company: James Hardie Exposed

Killer Company: James Hardie Exposed

Below is a great example of the use of lap siding, trim and panel siding to set your home apart from others.

As a homeowner it is important to review the past work of your prospective contractor to try and avoid seams like the ones shown here in a "zipper" pattern

James Hardie Class Action Lawsuit

http://www.halunenlaw.com/news/2011/05/10/james-hardie-siding/

CertainTeed Class Action Lawsuit

http://www.classaction.org/certainteed-fiber-cement-siding.html

Here is a reside of a home in the Milwaukee area using LP SmartSide. The warranty on this siding is 50 years!

the siding expert

Minnesota Exteriors & LP SmartSide Video

On my way to Fathers Day brunch I snapped this picture of failing fiber cement.

Here is an excellent example of the use of real cedar in both roof shingles and exterior siding. Cedar can be a great exterior option but the constant upkeep and costs make it an unfavorable choice with most consumers.

THANK YOU LP Building Products!

THANK YOU LP Building Products!

We want to give a big THANK YOU to all the help from LP Building Product for all there work on the Future House. When we were trying to plan the building, one of our goals was to maximize its efficiency. We found in our research that exterior foam core was the least expensive way to add R value. So, we choose a combination of 1″ XPS foam and 1″ of Structural Insulated Sheathing. Well that’s where the problems started. We were told, “No, you can’t do that.” We responded, “Well, why not?”
So they answered us…When you wrap a home with foam and then screw and / or nail it in you have download pressure on the foam and then the siding could sag. Well that is a problem… But we knew there could be a way to figure this out. It isn’t that unusual to have 2″ of foam on the exterior of a high performance house, and pretty soon this is the way homes will built in the near future. We know this is not only the smart way to build the Future House, but it was the right way. Who could help us solve this problem?
In comes Paul, Matt, and Lance from LP Building Product. They believe, as we do this is the way to maximize the efficiency of homes and the way of the future. So their team is helping us figure out how many pounds per square inch can be placed on each screw and / or nail used. And how big that fasteners needs to be when going through 2″ of foam to the exterior of the building to carry the weight of the LP SmartSiding. Amazing…Right?!?
Continue to follow us on Resource Robin, things are really moving at the House of the Future.