Vinyl Shake Siding
Have you ever noticed the elegant look of older, rustic homes with their hand-crafted cedar shake siding? The homes look warm and welcoming. The pleasant look of wood gives a special appearance that is relaxed, yet dignified. There was a time when those wooden shakes and shingles were hand hewn from cedar boards. They were nailed up on the exterior walls and then coated with oil stain to preserve them. They looked fine, but there are numerous reasons to wonder whether the looks outweighed the many disadvantages. Today's vinyl shake siding imitates the stylish look of cedar without the problems.
Try to imagine how you, as a homeowner, might feel if there were a fire nearby and you watched sparks drifting close to the oil-soaked, cedar wood exterior of your home. Cedar is great in your fireplace because it catches easily and burns hot. That is definitely not an advantage on your walls. Vinyl shakes are fully fire resistant. They are made to look like freshly stained wooden shakes and they keep that look for years—with little or no maintenance. They resist the sun and rain and don't fade.
Now imagine that you are a termite, looking for a place to settle in and raise a family. A house with wooden shakes or shingles would look like heaven to you. The good news is: Termites don’t eat vinyl shakes.
Another advantage: If you don’t care for the rustic look of hand-hewn cedar shakes, vinyl shakes come in a variety of styles and colors. There are levels of imitation wood grain from rough and rustic, to refined mill-work available for your exterior wall treatments.
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