Choosing the right exterior finishing material for your custom timber frame home is an important design choice that can be factored by personal preference, aesthetics, maintenance, and affordability. At Tamlin, traditional Western Red Cedar and Cement Board siding are two popular options for exterior finishes in our prefabricated house packages.

The styles of exterior finishes typically provided are board and batten, lap siding, smooth panel, and shingles. They can be provided in either Cement Board or Western Red Cedar. The exterior finishes can be customized between the client and our in-house designers. Tamlin can also provide factory prefinishing for the best quality and durability on cedar or cement board.

Traditional Western Red Cedar is natural wood from the Pacific Coast or Interior of British Columbia.  It has a distinct cedar grain appearance and aroma. Western Red Cedar has a timeless appeal, is durable with the elements and is known to resist against decay and insects. Western Red Cedar is available in either smooth or resawn finishes and although it will “grey” over time with no staining, most people like to preserve the rich wood look with regular staining or painting to seal out the moisture.

Cement Board is composed of cement, sand and cellulose fibers that is uniformly molded and painted for a modern look. If you are looking for a low maintenance, durable and long-lasting siding, then cement board might be the right choice for you. It is durable, non-combustible, and resistant to rot, fire and insects. It is a low maintenance surface that comes in a variety of colors and only requires a pressure wash from time to time. Cement Board offers a more contemporary appearance which can be smooth, or wood grained. Tamlin can even provide cement board with a wood grain and two-tone custom staining so your home will achieve a wood siding appearance.

Tamlin can produce renderings of the design which help the client visualize the final product. Cement board and Western Red Cedar exterior finishes both have their advantages and disadvantages but share in their appeal and leave a lasting impression. Our Sales and Design team look forward to working with you to select the right siding for your custom home package.