Available smooth or textured, hardboard and OSB can mimic the look of rough-sawn timber, milled boards, stucco, and more. Sheets come 4 feet wide and 8 to 10 feet long. Lap boards are 6 to 12 inches wide, 16 feet long, and 3/8 to 5/8 inch thick. These sidings are sold untreated, treated with water repellent, opaque-stained, or pre-painted.

With proper care and maintenance, hardboard and OSB can last from 30 years to the life of your home. A pre-painted finished is usually guaranteed for 20 years.

Before installation, all edges must be sealed with water repellent, stain sealer, or exterior house primer. Both unprimed and pre-primed hardboard should be painted or stained within 60 days of installation and re-painted every five years. Installation of sheets (which are usually applied vertically) is a quick and easily manageable process if you are equipped with basic carpentry skills and the right tools.

The only downsides to hardboard and OSB sidings are that they lack the strength of plywood and can be susceptible to termite damage and water rot and buckling. The remedies are to ensure that the siding does not come in direct contact with the soil and that it has been properly finished.