There were definitely some things that went wrong when building our new house. One that really threw me over the edge was the exterior shake siding…so much that it was the reason why I stopped sharing the outside of our house. Dramatic? Maybe. There were some things that I can get over and say “It’s fine,” but the exterior is not one of them. I’m sure you all have noticed that I haven’t shared any exterior images, and if I take videos for my IG stories, I usually don’t show the exterior.
I’m happy to say that everything is fixed now! I wanted to wait to share new house exterior pictures until I shared all the images of what happened with the siding. We first went with this LP shake siding. This siding can be installed with the staggered edge or a straight edge. For me, I like the straight edge better because it looks more clean.

…so you should have seen my face when I saw that it got installed showing the staggered side.

They took down all the installed shake siding with this staggered side showing, and reinstalled it showing the straight edge.






Shake siding is also on the front of the house where the garage doors are at and the wall with the three windows on each side of the front door.





You might have thought the problem was solved…but then I noticed something when the house was painted white.

The vertical lines on the shake were barely noticeable. You really only noticed the crease when it was a separate board like below. Under the window, you really see the lines because that’s where they connected the separate boards but the rest of the lines in each board you can barely see.

Below the lines were a little bit more noticeable especially when you’re standing close, but far away it looked like normal horizontal siding.


Can you tell that’s shake below the deck?

The garage side is also shake (left side)

We replaced all the shake with this one where the vertical lines are very obvious. This is a fiber cement shake siding. Just to note, LP does not make this, so if you want this type of look you can’t get LP.

Rear Exterior
Took down the previous shake siding…

…and replaced them with the new one. Now this is what I was envisioning!




HUGE difference from the other one!

Here’s what the back of the house looks like painted with the new shake siding!







Front Exterior
Now to the front of the house!

Took down the previous shake siding and replaced them with the new ones!






Here’s the front of the house painted with the new shake siding!





If you’re wanting to do shake siding, make sure you pick the right one! I’m so happy with the new ones and how the exterior of the new house turned out! Stay tuned for the next blog posts of the garage doors and outdoor lanterns!
Carrie
Curious why you did white windows when the trend is the white siding with black windows
Deborah Longhenry
Hello, you definitely made the right choice with the fiber cement for a bolder look! Is it james hardie fiber cement shake? Also is your board and batten and horizontal siding LP?
Thank you!
Danielle
What color white paint did you use for the exterior?
Daniil
It sounds like you faced a significant challenge with the shake siding installation on your new house. Choosing the right materials and ensuring they are installed correctly is crucial to achieving the desired aesthetic and functionality. It’s great to hear that you resolved the issue by replacing the siding with a fiber cement option that better aligns with your vision. For future projects or for those considering similar exterior updates, consulting with experienced professionals can provide valuable insights and help avoid such pitfalls. Consider exploring options with a reputable company like Big Hills Construction for expert guidance on materials and installation techniques.