Is Clapboard Siding Good? Pros, Cons, and More
Check out this clapboard classic
Clapboard or lap siding is a traditional exterior siding made with overlapping, horizontal boards.
Clapboard siding offers options for both natural wood and paint, and it’s available in alternative materials.
This kind of wood siding resists temperature changes very well with upkeep, and retains its value for up to 40 years.
Clapboard siding can be vulnerable to rot and insect damage in the wrong conditions, and requires frequent sealing for safety.
Clapboard is more expensive than vinyl siding, especially if you choose an expensive wood species.
If you’re exploring siding options for your home’s exterior, it won’t be long before you come across one of the most popular wood siding styles, known as clapboard siding. This simple but effective siding option works in most climates and provides overlapping coverage. However, maintenance can require frequent sealing and it’s not the best choice for every house. Our pros and cons of clapboard siding will review the details you should know before hiring a siding installer.
What is Clapboard Siding?
Clapboard siding is known by many names, including lap siding, wood plank siding, and beveled wood siding. It’s a type of exterior home siding with a distinctive characteristic: Each board slightly overlaps the board beneath, creating a layered appearance.
Clapboard siding is traditionally made out of wood. However, other materials like vinyl and fiber cement can also adopt the clapboard style.
| Pros of Clapboard Siding | Cons of Clapboard Siding |
|---|---|
| Classic, versatile look | More expensive than vinyl |
| Varied colors and styles | Rots without upkeep |
| Temperate resistance | May be vulnerable to insect damage |
| Retains value for decades | Requires regular maintenance |
| Eco-friendly | Professional installation often required |
| DIY options for repairs |
Pros of Clapboard Siding
There are good reasons why clapboard siding has remained popular for so long, and why it’s adapted to changing home needs over the centuries. Here are the advantages behind this classic style.
Versatile Appearance
Traditional clapboard siding is made of wood, and it’s easy to choose the exact color you want to paint it to get the appearance you want. You can choose a beautiful wood like cedar and go with a natural wood look that befits cabins and similar designs.
But clapboard siding doesn’t have to be made out of wood, which makes it even more versatile. Clapboards can be vinyl, which saves on costs and makes it easier to install. Or they can be fiber cement, which is a better pick for harsher climates that get a lot of snow. Other versions are made of metal like aluminum, too.
Varied Styles
Clapboard siding always has that overlapping board design, but it doesn’t have to be boring. In addition to the classic smooth style, you can also find beaded lapboard siding, which adds a groove to each board to make them look more interesting. Or you could choose rabbited bevel siding, a different kind of groove that helps the boards sit flatter on the exterior wall.
Temperature Resistant
Traditional wood clapboard siding can deal with a wide variety of temperatures. Unlike vinyl siding, it won’t warp in the sun, and the siding can survive all but the harshest winters. If you live in an area that regularly gets below-freezing temperatures, you may want to upgrade to a fiber cement siding for additional protection.
Retains Value Well
When properly cared for, clapboard siding retains its value well, giving it a consistent ROI across the years with minimal need for repairs or replacements. If everything works well, the siding will last for decades before needing major changes. If you’re switching to clapboard, you may also be able to increase your home value—or at least add more curb appeal.
Eco-Friendly
Wood clapboard siding is all-natural and eco-friendly. While the material usually needs to be stained, painted or sealed, clapboards are one of the most sustainable exterior siding options. You could even choose an easily replenished tree species like oak to maximize the environmental benefits.
Option for DIY Repairs
We recommend hiring a local siding contractor to install clapboard siding, especially if you don’t have much exterior siding experience. But the simple nature of clapboard wood siding makes it easy to understand and work with. Homeowners can often handle repairs or replacement boards on their own, with the right tools and prep work.
Cons of Clapboard Siding
Clapboard siding has weathered the centuries well, but there are a few disadvantages homeowners should know about before they make a final call.
High Upfront Cost
Clapboard siding costs will vary significantly, depending on the type of wood and the complexity of the style. You can expect to pay $2 to $15 per square foot, or an average of $5,000 for 1,500 square feet. Total installation costs tend to range between $4,200 and $5,800, which is less than a vinyl siding installation but more expensive than other types of wood siding projects.
Susceptible to Rot
Wood clapboard siding, no matter how durable, can still rot in the wrong conditions. The biggest danger is ongoing, persistent moisture that thoroughly soaks into the wood and doesn’t easily dry up. That could be caused by frequent winter rains in mild areas, rooftop snow melt in cold areas, or even a poor sprinkler placement option. Homeowners can take steps to reduce the risk of rotting siding, but it’s a danger to constantly watch for.
Risk of Insect Damage
Wood siding can draw in insects, and clapboard siding is no exception. Bugs like termites may eat the wood, while carpenter ants could tunnel through it. Certain wasps may use wet wood to build their nests, too. With problems like these, homeowners need to be highly aware of any insect problems and deal with them quickly to protect the siding. Certain types of clapboard siding, like cedar, have more built-in protections against pests, but may need greater care.
Requires Extra Maintenance Over Time
Homeowners can help prevent problems like rot, but it takes upkeep—sometimes more than homeowners are willing to do. For example, siding pros recommend sealing wood clapboard siding against moisture around every two years, which is a large project.
Complex Installation
Since wood clapboard siding is installed board-on-board, it takes significant time and work to install it. If you’re replacing siding, then you’ll need to carefully remove the old siding first. Clapboard requires some kind of moisture barrier and other preparation steps, too.
This means a large clapboard siding installation is best handled by professional siding contractors near you.
Alternatives to Clapboard Siding
If you are set on wood siding but aren’t sure if clapboard siding is right for your home, you have plenty of other choices. Alternative wood siding types include:
Shake: Shake siding’s made of small squarish pieces of wood instead of long boards, taking more time to install but giving the siding a dappled, traditional look. Classic shake siding is split from wood for a rougher appearance, while smooth shingle siding is sawn for a cleaner result.
Tongue and groove: Instead of overlapping, tongue and groove siding locks together tightly for a flatter look that can be horizontal or vertical.
Board and batten: Board and batten uses large vertical boards interspersed with smaller strips of wood to create a paneled look. While durable, it’s more suited for especially large exterior walls, especially in a bard or farmhouse-like style.
Split log: Instead of flat boards, split log siding uses rounded siding cut from logs and carefully installed for a rough-hewn, natural wood appearance. It’s usually pricier and reserved for dedicated cabin-style homes where nothing else can produce the same result.
Is Clapboard Siding Right for You?
Want to know if clapboard siding is perfect for your home? Let’s review when clapboard siding is an excellent choice for homeowners:
You want a traditional, simple siding style that looks great on many kinds of houses.
You prefer wood siding, including natural wood appearances, but are open to other materials.
You don’t mind spending more on materials, especially for a high-tier wood species.
You live in a relatively mild climate that doesn’t have persistent moisture issues.
Your location doesn’t experience frequent wood pest infestations.
You’re willing to complete maintenance work on the siding every couple of years.
Frequently Asked Questions
Traditional wood clapboard siding can last for 40 years or more, but it will need proper maintenance for that lifespan. Fiber cement can last for around the same time, but needs less maintenance. Vinyl options have a shorter lifespan, usually lasting between 20 and 40 years, or less in harsher climates. If you are using wood, note that the type of wood will have a big impact on clapboard longevity. Naturally resistant woods like cedar or redwood will last significantly longer, but they also tend to be more expensive.
You cannot install clapboard siding on a bare, unprepared surface. Clapboard siding requires a clean, sturdy base made from plywood or similar materials, sometimes called backerboard. Then, it needs an underlayment or sheathing, a moisture membrane to help protect the exterior wall.
Note that sometimes clapboard siding is caulked as it’s installed for additional protection. We don’t suggest this: Caulking the siding can trap moisture inside the clapboards and lead to moisture damage over time. The siding needs some space to “breathe,” especially in rainy weather.
Clapboard siding is traditionally made of wood, and is one of the most common types of wood siding in North America. When people talk about wood siding, they are usually talking about clapboard siding. However, not all wood siding is in the clapboard style: It can be tongue-and-groove, shake, and other designs. Also, clapboard siding can sometimes be made of different materials, like vinyl or fiber cement, so the terms are not interchangeable.
Wood clapboard siding needs frequent sealing to keep it in top condition—likely every two to three years. A sealant helps protect it from both moisture and sunlight damage. Your weather and climate will affect how often you need to seal the siding, but the pros recommend sealing it every couple of years. More durable woods in milder climates may not need to be sealed quite as often.
