Each of today’s most popular siding options for new-home construction—engineered wood, fiber cement, stucco, metal and vinyl siding—has its own unique environmental impact. Builders should educate themselves on each material option before choosing which one is best for their homes. A few facts to consider:
- According to Siding Estimator, installing metal siding on a 2,000 sq. ft. house is the equivalent of using six scrapped cars.
- Some siding pros are now using lime plaster, an alternative to stucco that eliminates cement, using just limestone, water, and sand. Removing cement cuts carbon dioxide emissions.
- Stone is a non-renewable resource and requires a lot of labor to haul and install.
- Vinyl siding is made from polyvinyl chloride (PVC), which is not biodegradable. Many environmental organizations have called for a ban on PVC because its production releases dioxin, a deadly toxin that can harm both humans and animals.
- In the fall, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) began to enforce its new standard for respirable crystalline silica, which is commonly found in the dust created when fiber cement siding is cut with a power saw. There can be high amounts of crystalline silica in fiber cement siding, and using it may increase installers’ health issues, possibly resulting in OSHA compliance violations and lawsuits.
Why Engineered Wood Is The Winner
Siding Estimator concludes that “wood is the essence of eco-friendly siding. It is sustainable, recyclable, renewable and comes direct from nature. What more could you ask for in exterior cladding?”
If homeowners debate the merits of engineered wood vs. vinyl siding purely in environmental terms, engineered wood is the clear winner. Small shards of vinyl will litter the environment for many decades, while engineered wood is a sustainable, earth-friendly choice.
Engineered wood products such as LP SmartSide don’t use silica or silica-based products as a raw material and as such, it is not subject to OSHA’s new regulations.
LP and SmartSide are registered trademarks of Louisiana-Pacific Corporation.
