Most homes can benefit from the protection provided by wall siding, but it can be especially useful for rural properties in isolated locales. When properly installed by a quality siding installation contractor, siding will protect your home from wind damage, help to prevent problems with damp, and provide an additional layer of heat insulation -- all very useful properties for rural homes.
However, if you are choosing siding for a rural home, it is a good idea to choose siding that is resistant to animal pests. Termites, carpenter bees, powderpost beetles, and other wood boring insects can cause severe damage to traditional timber siding. Woodpecker damage can also be a serious problem if you live close to a forested area, while rats and mice can gnaw their way through more fragile siding materials.
Fortunately, there are a number of siding materials that are thoroughly pest-proof. If you are looking for pest-resistant siding, keep the following choices in mind.
Engineered Timber Siding
If you covet the timeless beauty and charm of traditional timber siding, but don't want to spend time and money protecting it from pests, engineered timber siding is an excellent compromise. This siding is almost indistinguishable from 'real' timber siding, and is made from wood fibers bound together with a tough polymer resin.
This unique structure cannot be consumed by wood-boring insects, and will not attract woodpeckers, who can severely damage timber siding while pecking for food. Engineered timber's resin content also makes it denser and more difficult to gnaw than real timber, and therefore more resistant to rodent damage.
Engineered timber siding also has other advantages over real timber siding. It is completely immune to mold and rot, and does not need to be treated with preservative chemicals. Modular construction and lower materials costs mean it can also be installed more quickly and inexpensively than true timber siding.
Metal Siding
Metal siding has been used for generations, and pest cannot chew their way through steel or aluminum siding. Most types of metal siding are installed in overlapping patterns, with no gaps between individual panels where unwanted pests can shelter from the elements.
Metal siding also requires very little maintenance, a useful property when you may need to call in maintenance services from many miles away. It is immune to rot, and shrugs off heavy impacts caused by falling tree branches and other large objects. Steel siding is protected from rust by long-lasting protective coatings, while aluminum siding is naturally rust-resistant.
Fiber Cement Siding
If you are looking for the gold standard of pest-proof siding materials, fiber cement is the way to go. This sophisticated material is made from cement strengthened by cellulose fibers, and is completely immune to all types of pest damage. It cannot be consumed, gnawed, pecked or burrowed into.
There are also other reasons why fiber cement is perfect for rural properties. It is highly durable and does not rot. It is also extremely fire resistant, and can provide a vital extra layer of protection if you live in an area vulnerable to wildfires.
Fiber cement siding also provides more heat insulation that many other siding materials, and can help reduce your heating and/or air conditioning usage. This can be especially useful if your home relies on electric or heating oil-powered furnaces, which can be significantly more expensive to run than heaters powered by municipal gas in urban areas.
For more information on siding installation, contact a contractor.
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