What Is a Siding?
A siding is a board material that is attached and used as a finishing material for the exterior walls of a building.
It has become the mainstream method of finishing the exterior walls of detached houses built in recent years. The board to which it is attached is sometimes called a “siding board.
Because factory-made siding boards are applied according to the size of the exterior wall, the advantages of this method include stable quality, short construction period, and low initial costs for materials and construction.
Uses of Sidings
Sidings are used as a finishing material for the exterior walls of buildings. It is used in a wide range of applications, from relatively small-scale buildings such as detached houses to large-scale structures such as buildings.
Recently, sidings for use on the interior walls of buildings have also been introduced. It is widely used not only for detached houses, but also for store interiors, etc., and is characterized by design features not found in conventional tile or cloth siding.
Principle of Sidings
Sidings are boards that are attached to exterior walls. Generally, waterproofing is applied to the exterior walls of buildings with tarpaulins or other waterproofing materials Sidings are affixed on top, and the gaps between the sidings are filled with rubber caulking material for waterproofing.
Since this process can be mass-produced in factories, it is possible to reduce costs and ensure a stable supply of products of consistent quality. Another advantage is that the construction period can be shortened. In fire zones based on city planning laws, the building itself is required to have fire resistance and fireproof performance. Sidings are widely used because it is relatively easy to meet fire resistance and fireproofing requirements.
However, the disadvantage is that some materials are susceptible to heat, and the construction method makes the joints weak. Ceramic sidings, in particular, tend to store heat, and in direct sunlight in mid-summer, the surface temperature can reach 60°C or higher, causing expansion and contraction due to heat.
In addition, the caulking material at the joints between the sidings is subjected to the force of expansion and contraction of the sidings. Therefore, caulking maintenance is required approximately every 10 to 15 years to maintain the aesthetics and water resistance of the sidings’ surface.
Types of Sidings
In addition to ceramic siding, metal, wood, and resin sidings are used in Japan.
1. Ceramic Sidings
Ceramic sidings are exterior wall materials made of cement mixed with fibers and formed into boards. Ceramic siding has become most popular in recent years and is used as an exterior wall material for many buildings.
The advantages of this material are its excellent fire resistance, variety of colors and designs, and low-cost production. On the other hand, the disadvantages are that the material tends to store heat and requires regular maintenance due to the material’s tendency to deteriorate.
2. Metal Sidings
Metal sidings are exterior wall materials consisting of a urethane or other insulating core material and metal plates. Surface materials used include galvalume steel, aluminum, stainless steel, and other metals.
This exterior wall material has become increasingly popular in recent years because it has high heat insulation properties, a service life of about 30 to 40 years, and is lightweight, making it easy to install. Another advantage is its resistance to earthquakes due to its light weight.
On the other hand, its disadvantages are that it rusts easily, is easily scratched, and is limited in the number of people who can install it.
3. Wood Sidings
Wood sidings are board-like exterior wall materials made of wood. Wood siding is often used in designs that evoke a sense of nature, as the texture of the wood can be seen directly on the exterior. Since wood sidings are manufactured by applying paint to natural wood, their advantages are that they do not absorb heat easily and have high thermal insulation properties.
On the other hand, its disadvantages are that it is expensive because it is a natural material, deteriorates easily, and is inferior in terms of fire resistance. Another disadvantage is that there are only a few contractors who can install it because it requires a high level of technical skill.
4. Resin Sidings
Resin sidings are plastic exterior wall materials made primarily from polyvinyl chloride (PVC) resin, which is highly processable. It is said to be maintenance-free because the resin itself has high weather resistance and is resistant to frost damage.
In addition, there is no need to caulk the gaps between sidings, making maintenance less time-consuming than with other types of sidings, such as ceramic sidings. On the other hand, the disadvantage of resin-based sidings is that they are not widely used in Japan, with only about 1% of the market, and there are only a few contractors who can install them.
Other Information on Sidings
How to Apply Ceramic Sidings
There are two methods of applying ceramic sidings: the ventilated method and the direct application method.
1. Ventilated Method
The ventilation method (exterior wall ventilation method) is a method in which metal fittings with ventilation clamps are inserted between the sidings and the waterproof sheets to secure a ventilation gap between the sidings and the waterproof sheets. This method is used as the standard method for ceramic sidings.
The advantage of this method is that any moisture generated inside the room that seeps into the wall can be discharged outside the wall, preventing condensation, keeping the inside of the wall dry, and preventing the deterioration of the house. Another advantage is that rainwater that seeps through the gaps in the exterior walls is carried away through the gaps and discharged outdoors instead of entering the building. In addition, the gaps function as a ventilation layer, increasing the insulation effect and mitigating the effects of outside temperatures, thereby saving energy.
2. Direct Attachment Method
In the direct-attach method, the siding board is attached directly on top of the waterproof sheet attached to the exterior wall, a method that has been widely used in the past. However, the disadvantages of this method are that moisture can accumulate between the exterior wall and the tarpaulin and that there is no way for water or moisture to escape when it gets inside the tarpaulin, which can lead to condensation. For this reason, it is not widely used today.