Wooden wall cladding for exterior walls comes in many forms and materials. Bevel and wavy-edge bevel exterior wood wall cladding systems run horizontally. Channel systems run vertically, as do board and batten styles of siding, and shingles. You can install tongue and groove boards either vertically or horizontally. Finishes vary from a rustic weathered wood look, including log cabin appearance, to glossy finished surfaces. Materials run from hard woods, such as oak wall cladding, to softer varieties, such as cedar and fir. You may also use spruce and pine, but you must treat it with a preservative to provide protection from insects, sunlight, and weather.

Other products such as vinyl, steel, composites, and fiber cement are available and offer some advantages over natural wood wall cladding systems. However, all such products seek to mimic natural wood. Natural wood is the best and customers will always request it for upscale projects.

Wood wall cladding contractors should consider:

1. Climate conditions where they will install wooden cladding - wind, moisture, and temperature variations.

2. Potential problems with insects and material at grade level, which could influence choice of wood variety.

3. Availability and wood cladding prices, which may vary from year to year.

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Find instructions for the best method of installing wood wall cladding

The designer and the customer will choose the look, whether horizontal or vertical, rustic or modern. The contractor is responsible for providing the best appearance while also being durable and problem-free.

I recommend: Toolbase Services discusses the effect of moisture and the ways to deal with moisture in wood cladding systems, and includes insight into the use of foam insulation and house wrap between sheathing and siding. Western Red Cedar Lumber Association makes training videos available on many aspects of siding, and while the videos pertain only to cedar, contractors perform all kinds of wood cladding installations in similar ways.

Use wood wall cladding education and training to keep your customers informed

Your customer needs to know how to maintain wood wall panels once you have installed them. In the planning stages, she may have an interest in how you will install panels. Prepare to inform your customer on installation methods and best maintenance procedures.

I recommend: APA-The Engineered Wood Association contains articles varying in length from 1 to 50 pages in pdf format on various subjects pertaining to siding, as well as many other topics. Extreme How To features the re-siding of the APA's International headquarters in Tacoma, WA. It details steps taken to replace moisture-damaged sheathing and how to prevent future problems with moisture and weathering by using proper siding procedures.

Find wood wall cladding education and training resources through professional associations

Many lumber and manufacturing associations offer educational and training information. The associations also provide sources for current trends and uses for wood wall panels.

I recommend: California Redwood Association shows how to select, install, finish and maintain siding in their guides. BCB Building Info is a great source that categorizes education and training information into Basics and Theory, Procedures, Information, and Issues and Performance.

If you are a contractor, being able to offer wood cladding to your residential customers is an ideal way to expand your services and offer true value to your residential clients. Wood wall cladding consists of thin pieces of interlocking wood, which one can apply to exteriors, walls and even ceilings. Many customers love the look of wood wall panels, and wooden cladding is also effective at hiding certain flaws –- including stains and slight irregularities in walls –- at a great price.

If you want to offer wooden wall cladding, you can offer wood cladding for exterior walls. This can be an attractive alternative to traditional siding for many customers. You can also offer decorative wood cladding for interiors. Many customers like the practicality and great look of panels in hallways, studies and personal libraries.

When offering wood wall cladding to your customers , consider:

1. Purchasing the best type of wood for the job.

2. Selecting wood cladding of the appropriate thickness.

3. Choosing between the best panels for exterior or interior work.

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Use cabin-style wood wall cladding for a rugged aesthetic

For customers who want to use wood wall panels in their homes to add a rugged look -- as in a chalet -- and for those customers who want wooden cladding for their vacation homes, cabin-style wooden wall cladding is the perfect option. Some manufacturers offer oak wall cladding and pine cladding that is unfinished or includes many knots, for a more rugged appearance.

I recommend: Log Siding offers a variety of wood panel cladding that has a very rugged look. White Cedar Shingles (WCS) also offers cabin-look panels.

Choose recycled wood wall panels for historic homes or an antique look

If your customer's property is a historic residence or a more modern home, rugged cabin-style panels might not be ideal. For these jobs, smooth and polished wood wall cladding systems are best. These panels are often stained and polished to hide any knots, and some have decorative moldings or finishes, as well.

I recommend: Architectural Antiques allows you to buy entire paneled rooms, ideal for historic properties. This Old House Parts also has a selection of reclaimed wall panels.

Select exterior wood wall cladding systems for appearance and durability

Some customers want an alternative to traditional siding, and for these customers, exterior wood wall cladding may be a good choice. Exterior wood wall cladding needs to be installed with some drainage, in many cases, to create a cushion between the exterior wall and the cladding. However, exterior wall cladding can look great for years and allows for installation over a customer's existing siding.

I recommend: The Knotty Pine Cedar Company has a selection of exterior wood wall cladding products, as does The Woodworker’s Shoppe.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  The secret to installing wood wall panels perfectly is to take the cladding out of its packaging and place it up against the wall where you will install it. Let the panels adjust for two to three days to the moisture and temperature of the room so that they don't shrink after you apply them.

Understanding wood wall cladding key terms involves becoming familiar with styles of paneling as well as types of joints and methods of transitioning from paneling to other surfaces. As you look at horizontal and vertical wall coverings you will also see terms such as wainscoting and ship lap, for example.

While viewing installation procedures for wood paneling, you will see various wall construction terms. Other terms for wood wall cladding involve ways of fastening siding to the building. Nails, for instance, can be ring or spiral shank and constructed from materials such as aluminum or hot-dipped galvanized or stainless steel.

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Face nailing

To install horizontal exterior wood wall cladding, you must either face nail or blind nail the panels. Nailing at the top of the panel allows you to place the nail so the next row of siding covers the nail. Nailing on the exposed portion of the panel where the nail will be visible is face nailing.

I recommend: Part of the instructions for installing siding from Today's Homeowner with Danny Lipford demonstrates the two methods of fastening siding and tells you which nails are best for each.

Tongue and groove

Tongue and groove is a way of interlocking siding panels to make a stronger structure, as well as to provide a more impenetrable surface. The top part of a siding panel would have a tongue along its edge that fits into a slot or groove in the bottom of the next panel.

I recommend: Western Red Cedar Lumber Association illustrates six types of tongue and groove joints used in wood wall cladding systems.

Flashing

Flashing refers either to the material used or the process of installing the material to prevent water from entering through joints in siding where doors, windows or other transitions take place. For wood wall cladding, you use flashing above the door or window to direct water flow away from the window or door. You can also use it where siding panels meet in a butt joint.

I recommend: This Old House illustrates a typical method of installing flashing that will prevent moisture from getting behind the siding below a joint.

Beveled siding

Manufacturers cut beveled siding with a taper from top to bottom rather than cutting it square. You will find rabetted or plain bevel styles.

I recommend: Nu Forest Products illustrates both bevels along with several other styles such as ship lap and board and batten wood cladding systems.

Sheathing

Sheathing is the material fastened to the wall studs. You install wood wall cladding over the sheathing, along with other barriers designed to stop moisture and air from penetrating into the wall.

I recommend: California Redwood Association provides a good illustration of all the components of a wall, including the sheathing. Scroll to and select Redwood Siding Patterns and Applications to get the PDF file with the illustration.

Butt joint

A butt joint occurs where two pieces of wood come together, such as at a corner. At these joints, you need to fasten the wood together with nails or dowels. Wood cladding systems require some kind of corner cover or treatment.

I recommend: The Old House Web illustrates corner treatments including miter joints and butt joints.