Wood board siding, also called lap siding or clapboard siding, has long been a favorite of homeowners because of its natural beauty. Board siding is made from durable softwood lumber that has been milled into any of several patterns designed to interlock or overlap so the boards naturally shed rain, sleet, and snow.

Wood shingles (and shakes) are also a popular type of wood siding. Unlike boards, wood shingles are individuallly split from short lengths of lumber, typically cedar or treated pine. They are applied to a wall one by one, from the bottom of the wall up so that each course (row) overlaps the one below it.

In this section of HomeTips, we discuss the benefits and drawbacks of boards vs. shingles, as well as wood species and grades, installation methods, and repairs.