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CAStinneford
 
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Default Life Expectancy of Cedar Siding?

wrote:

I am building a new house (Mid-West - Near Chicago) and I am trying to
decide between natural cedar clapboard (primed and painted) or a
synthetic such as primed and painted cement fiber board (i.e., Hardi
Board). My builder is strongly discouraging me from deciding on
natural cedar. I have also asked all of the building suppliers in the
area about natural cedar - they all look at me like i am crazy to want
to use natural cedar. The collective opinion is that natural cedar
will only look good for 5 to 10 years (regardless of paint job).
After 5 to 10 years, they claim that the cedar will show serious signs
of decay.

Is this an accurate description considering the cold winter climate?
I am concerned that they are pushing me towards a solution that may
have a higher profit margin (or some other motive).

What kind of life expectancy should one expect from natural cedar?

Thanks in advance for your input.


We built our house 20 years ago and have cedar clapboard on the front and barn
shakes on the sides and back. We have the house painted every five years and
the siding is in fairly good shape. We've had to replace some of the clapboard
and have replaced it with Hardiplank. We've put an addition on the back and
used Hardiplank for that as well. Painted, the Hardiplank looks exactly like
the cedar and if I were building a house now, I'd go with Hardiplank.