Exterior finish materials

Read Ching, Chapters 5, 7, 8 & 12

  1. Wood Finishes
    1. Clapboards
      1. Width
      2. Material
      3. Edge detail
    2. Board and batten
      1. Width
      2. Material
      3. Vertical
      4. Horizontal
    3. Tongue-and-groove boards
      1. Width
      2. Material
      3. Edge detail
      4. Horizontal
      5. Vertical
    4. Cedar shingles
    5. T-111 panels

  2. Stucco Finishes
    1. Portland cement plaster stucco
      1. Textures
      2. Integral colors
    2. EIFS ("Exterior Insulation and Finish System")
      1. Substrate material - gypsum sheathing, CMU, or plywood sheathing
      2. Insulation - polystyrene, nailed to substrate
      3. Fiberglass mesh
      4. Acrylic-modified portland cement material trowel-applied over mesh
      1. Details
        1. Wrap fiberglass mesh around edges of insulation
        2. Provide sealant at all exposed edges
        3. Possibly provide drainage plane
      2. Textures
      3. Colors
      4. Manufacturers: Dryvit, Sto
      5. Disadvantages:
        1. Note that some states have banned its use in residential projects because of water entering system and rotting plywood sheathing
        2. Many design review boards will not accept it, even if the building code does, because they perceive it as a "cheap" looking material - although traditional stucco can be approved

  3. Masonry Veneer
    1. Veneers
      1. Brick
      2. Stone
    2. cavity - "Rain screen" principle
    3. Thin brick

  4. Synthetic Siding
    1. Aluminum siding
    2. Vinyl siding
    3. Mineral composite wood siding ("Hardi board")

  5. Exterior Trim
    1. Wood
    2. Aluminum
    3. Vinyl

  6. Exterior Paint
    1. Paint
      1. Type of paint
        • Alkyd enamels ("oil" based) - an alkyd is a synthetic oil
        • Acrylic Latex ("water" based)
      2. Type of surfaces to paint
        • Wood
        • Steel
        • Aluminum
        • Vinyl
      3. Preparation
        • Cleaning
        • Sanding
        • Sandblasting
      4. Primers
      5. Finished Paints
      6. Number of coats and coat thickness
      7. Frequency of painting - every 5 to 7 years
      8. Defects
        • Peeling
        • Flaking
        • Alligatoring
        • Fading
        • Visible brush strokes
    2. Stain
      1. Type of stains
        • Alkyd ("oil" based)
        • Acrylic ("water" based)
      2. Opacity
        • Opaque
        • Semi-transparent
      3. Frequency of re-staining - about every 5 years
      4. Defects
        • Fading
        • Inconsistent color