Choosing Quality Materials: Our Favorite Exterior Claddings And More Importantly, What’s Beneath Them

When most homeowners think about an exterior remodel, they focus on the visible finish.

Siding color. Trim details. Texture. Curb appeal.

And while those things absolutely matter, the long-term performance of a home depends far more on what’s happening underneath the siding.

At McNamara Contracting, we believe the best exterior systems are designed as complete assemblies, not just decorative cladding attached to a wall.

Because in New England, your exterior isn’t simply there to look good.

It needs to manage:

• Wind-driven rain

• Snow and ice

• Moisture vapor

• Air leakage

• Heat loss

• Pests and insects

And it needs to do it for decades.

That’s why we spend as much time thinking about drainage gaps, air sealing, flashing details, and dryability as we do choosing the siding itself.

Why We Like LP® SmartSide®

Historically, one of the most beautiful and proven exterior claddings in New England has been traditional cedar clapboards.

There’s a reason so many older homes with cedar siding still feel timeless today.

Cedar offered:

• Natural texture

• Shadow lines and depth

• Traditional proportions that fit New England architecture extremely well

But cedar also came with maintenance demands.

Over time, homeowners dealt with:

• Rot

• Cracking

• Splitting

• Repainting cycles

• Insect issues

• Moisture absorption

As building materials evolved, manufacturers began trying to create products that captured the appearance of traditional wood siding while improving durability and reducing maintenance.

That’s where engineered wood products like LP SmartSide entered the market.

LP SmartSide is an engineered wood siding product treated with waxes, resins, and advanced binders designed to improve resistance to:

• Moisture

• Fungal decay

• Impact damage

• Termites and pests

What we like about LP is that it still maintains many of the visual qualities that made cedar clapboards so attractive in the first place.

It has:

• More warmth and texture than vinyl siding

• More traditional character

• Strong shadow lines

• A more substantial appearance on the wall

And in our opinion, it fits New England architecture extremely well, especially on:

• Colonials

• Farmhouses

• Transitional homes

• Large additions where matching architectural character matters

For homeowners looking to significantly upgrade curb appeal without moving into ultra-high-maintenance natural wood products, LP creates a really nice balance.

Why We Often Prefer It Over Fiber Cement

Fiber cement products like Hardie Board have become extremely popular over the past decade, and when installed properly, they can absolutely perform well.

But in our experience, many real-world failures are not necessarily product failures — they’re installation and moisture management failures.

Proper:

• Flashing

• Spacing

• Clearance details

• Drainage

• Dryability

Matter enormously regardless of the siding material being used.

That said, we’ve personally seen LP hold up very well over time, even when exposed to moisture conditions that tend to create issues in improperly detailed fiber cement installations.

We also appreciate that LP installs more similarly to traditional siding methods, making it:

• Simpler to detail properly

• Easier to integrate into remodeling projects

• More forgiving in complex transitions and tie-ins

That simplicity matters.

The more complicated a system becomes, the more opportunities there are for installation errors.

And in remodeling, especially in New England where we’re constantly tying into older homes, simplicity and proper water management go a long way toward long-term durability.

The Most Important Part of the Wall Is the Part You Never See

This is where exterior systems separate themselves. Behind many of our siding assemblies, we often use products like:

• Benjamin Obdyke HydroGap

• Solitex Mento

• Benjamin Obdyke Rain Slicker

These products help create:

• Drainage space behind siding

• Ventilation and airflow

• Improved dryability

• Better moisture management

In simple terms, we want walls that can dry.

Because trapped moisture is what destroys buildings over time.

Many exterior failures don’t happen because water gets in once.

They happen because water gets trapped repeatedly with nowhere to go.

A properly detailed rainscreen assembly gives that moisture a path to escape.

Air Sealing Matters Too

Another detail we focus heavily on is tying our weather barrier system directly into the foundation. This creates a more continuous air seal around the home.

That helps reduce:

• Drafts

• Energy loss

• Moisture movement

• Bug and pest intrusion

Most homeowners immediately notice the comfort difference in a properly air-sealed home.

Rooms feel more consistent. Drafts are reduced. The home simply feels tighter and quieter.

These aren’t flashy upgrades, but they dramatically improve how a home performs every day.

Why These Systems Cost More

High-quality exterior systems are not inexpensive.

When compared directly to standard vinyl siding installs, assemblies using:

• LP SmartSide

• Premium weather barriers

• Drainage mats

• Rainscreen systems

• Enhanced air sealing details

Can cost several times more upfront. But they are also fundamentally different systems.

You’re not simply paying for appearance.

You’re investing in:

• Long-term durability

• Better moisture management

• Improved energy performance

• Higher-quality detailing

• More timeless curb appeal

For homeowners planning to stay long term, those differences matter.

Building Exteriors That Age Well

At McNamara Contracting, we don’t believe siding should simply look good on completion day. We believe exterior systems should still perform years later.

That means thinking beyond cosmetics and focusing on:

• Water management

• Dryability

• Air sealing

• Material compatibility

• Long-term serviceability

Because the homes that age the best are rarely the ones built with the cheapest materials.

They’re the ones built thoughtfully from the inside out.