Economical Wood
Siding
Knotty grades
are a lot less
expensive
than clear,
but they
are also less
forgiving
By Norman
Sievert One way of lowering construction costs is to use less
expensive materials or components. The trick is to find
ones that offer a savings while still giving good service. In
siding, this means knotty grades.
Most builders are used to clear siding — premium
grades that are very stable dimensionally — and they're
still the best choice if the budget allows it. But the
decreasing availability of large, old growth logs is pushing
the price of this material higher, encouraging a long-term
trend toward knotty grades.
The amount you or your client can save by using knotty
grades of