Exterior Cladding

Six species across two lines, all made in the USA. From Carbon Smart Wood: Silky Cedar, a naturally durable cedar that silvers gracefully; Thermal Oak, Class 1 durable; Thermal Poplar, a lightweight hardwood modified for the outdoors; and Douglas Fir, a strong, warm-toned softwood. From Arbor Wood Co.: Thermal Pine, Thermal Ash, and Thermal Poplar. Poplar is available from both lines.

Wood that has been through a kiln process using only heat and steam, with no chemicals. It removes the moisture, sugars, and starches that cause rot and insect damage, and deepens the color through the full thickness of the board. Carbon Smart Wood siding is certified to AWPA Use Class UC3B (above ground, exposed), sourced and processed entirely in the U.S., and suitable for any outdoor North American climate. Silky Cedar is the exception: it is naturally durable rather than modified.

As a ventilated rain screen. Boards install over furring strips so air can move and water can drain behind the wall, which is what keeps wood cladding sound over decades. Fasten with stainless steel screws, never nails, and keep the assembly off the ground with clearance top and bottom. Boards should acclimate on site before installation. Both lines publish detailed guides, linked below.

Left unfinished, yes. Boards weather to a silver-gray patina, and that is a color change, not a performance change. Many projects choose it on purpose. To hold the original tone, apply a penetrating oil with a UV colortone (both lines recommend CUTEK Extreme; clear oils alone are not UV resistant) and reapply as needed.

Those are manufactured cladding materials designed to imitate wood or stand in for it. This is the real thing: solid wood with genuine grain and depth, a surface that can be refinished rather than replaced, and a material that is still just wood at the end of its service life. Against tropical hardwoods, it offers comparable exterior performance from a domestic source rather than imported timber.

Yes. Both the Carbon Smart Wood and Arbor Wood Co. lines carry limited 20-year warranties covering fungal degradation, buckling, and structural failure in above-ground installations, when installed and maintained per manufacturer instructions. A key one: fastening with nails, or failing to install over proper furring, voids the warranty.

All of it is American. Silky Cedar comes from Pacific Northwest forest thinning and post-fire removal. Thermal Oak is salvaged red oak. Douglas Fir comes from trees that fell naturally, came out of wildfire mitigation, or were removed from urban and managed landscapes. The Arbor Wood species are domestically sourced and responsibly harvested. Thermal Poplar, from either line, puts one of America's most abundant hardwoods to work outdoors.

Wildland-Urban Interface zones have specific requirements, including how cladding is fastened to the wall assembly, so a compliant install differs from a standard one. Always confirm requirements with your local building code and inspector. Our team can help you plan the right species and assembly for a fire-prone site.