Comprehensive Guide To Clapboard Siding: What It Is, Pros & Cons, Costs, And More

When you choose clapboard siding for your home, you can achieve a homey, traditional curb appeal. Depending on the material, you may even recoup 89% to 95% of your investment if you sell it.

If you're in the market for new siding, this buyer's guide will walk you through everything there is to know about clapboard siding so you can decide if it's the right choice for your home.

What is clapboard wood siding?

Image source: Buffalo Lumber

Clapboard, or lap siding, is one of American homes' most popular siding styles. It's formed by installing planks horizontally from the bottom up so they overlap by about two inches. Clapboard is also called bevel siding because the wooden planks are cut in a wedge shape to make overlapping easier.

What are the different styles of clapboard siding?

Clapboard siding comes in various styles for homeowners who want options. Here is a brief description and illustration of each.

Beaded lap

Beaded clapboard siding has a groove, or "bead," along the front bottom edge of each horizontal plank, which gives it visual interest. 

Traditional lap

Traditional lap or clapboard siding consists of beveled boards installed horizontally and overlapping. The boards are either smooth-planed or installed rough-sawn. When made of a material other than wood, the siding may be manufactured in panels shaped to resemble horizontal planks.

Rabbeted bevel siding

When the horizontal plank has a rectangular groove milled into the back of the butt end that fits snugly over the top of the plank below it, it's called "rabbeted." In woodworker speak, rabbet is the term for this type of groove. Another name for this style of siding is Dolly Varden. This technique is used to increase weather resistance. 

What is clapboard siding made of?

Traditionally, clapboard siding was made of wood. However, new technologies have allowed manufacturers to formulate materials that resist insects, moisture, and fire, unlike wood. Who wouldn't want something like that? 

However, when clapboard-style siding is made of a material other than wood, its form may look a little different. For instance, vinyl clapboard is not individual, beveled planks but rather a much thinner vinyl material shaped to look like clapboard planks. Here is a list of materials used to make clapboard-style siding.

• Fiber cement siding is a mix of Portland cement, water, sand, and cellulose fibers, impressed to resemble natural wood. Insects and pests won't eat it, and it's resistant to rot and fire.
• Metal siding has been used for exteriors since the dawn of aluminum lap siding in the early 1900s. Metal clapboard siding is now available in aluminum, steel, and Galvalume.
• Vinyl siding is a type of plastic. Made of polyvinyl chloride (PVC), it's the most popular choice for homeowners because it's affordable. You can get vinyl clapboard-style siding in several color options.
• Composite wood includes wood fiber (sawdust) and another non-wood material, most often recycled plastic. When used for siding, it creates a contemporary look that resembles wood. It's available in various colors and grain patterns.
• Engineered wood is made of strands of wood treated with waxes, resins, and zinc borate to help protect against moisture and insect damage. The strands are then bonded together and coated with a water-resistant overlay.

Is clapboard siding expensive?

The average cost to side a home with clapboard siding is $4,972 to $22,942, depending on the material and the home's size.

Clapboard siding costs depend on a few factors, such as the material. Steel siding is much more expensive than vinyl, for example. Natural wood siding also has a wide price range. For instance, western red cedar siding costs more than white pine.

Another factor is the complexity of your home's design. For instance, cutting around dormers and other architectural elements takes more time and materials than siding a simple rectangle. Finally, your geographic location will influence the cost of your siding. Here is a breakdown of siding costs by material.

Clapboard siding by material

Pros and cons of clapboard siding

Clapboard siding is a traditional style used in America for centuries.

Popular brands of clapboard siding

Ideally, your siding professional will have suppliers that provide the materials, so you don't have to worry about brands. If you're looking for traditional wood clapboard, they may work with a lumber mill that sources and manufactures the siding locally. But you may want to shop for brands if you want a particular product, like engineered wood, or are DIYing your siding project. Here are a few top siding brands that offer clapboard-style siding.

Klauer Manufacturing

Klauer steel siding offers the beauty of wood without the maintenance. It comes in 6" and 8" lap styles in many colors. The siding is coated with multiple coats of the XT40S siliconized polyester paint and covered by a limited lifetime warranty.

Nichiha

Nichiha fiber cement premium plank siding is available in a smooth lap style. Its half-inch thickness and crisp square edges give your home a traditional craftsman design. Nichiha's lap siding comes primed and ready to paint.

LP Building Solutions

LP SmartSide siding is an engineered wood product with a horizontal lap profile and an authentic cedar look. LP's lap siding comes primed and ready to paint or coated with LP's ExpertFinish, which has 16 color options. The planks come in several widths and lengths for installation ease. 

Can I DIY my clapboard siding?

While it is possible to install your own siding, we don't recommend it for homeowners with no experience. Maintaining correct tolerances between the siding and other materials like shingles, molding, and trim is imperative for proper performance. The average homeowner also doesn't know where and how to install flashing, caulking, and underlayment. Further, alternatives like fiber cement and metal siding require someone with experience working with those materials.

Is clapboard siding right for your home?

Some home styles don't wear clapboard siding well, but others, like farmhouses, Cape Cods, or saltboxes, wear it like the latest fashion trend. Clapboard can give some home styles a more rustic look or help other styles look more traditional, and it pairs well with other siding options. For instance, use it in the gables for a home that rocks the board and batten look, or couple it with stone veneer or brick to save on the budget. 

Whether you're replacing your siding or installing something brand new, embarking on this home improvement project, we recommend consulting a professional siding installer or designer to determine whether clapboard siding is right for your home's exterior.

Frequently asked questions

Are Dutch lap or shiplap styles of clapboard siding?

Technically, no. The planks of shiplap and Dutch lap siding don't overlap one another. They fit together by a groove cut in the back at the bottom of each plank. 

Where can I buy clapboard siding?

A DIYer can have home siding custom-milled at a local lumber yard. Otherwise, have your siding installation professional source the siding for you, as they get a contractor discount for most building materials.

Why is lap board siding called clapboard?

According to the Online Etymology Dictionary, clapboard comes from the old Dutch word klappen, which means "to fit."