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
