According to the American Institute of Architects, a shiplap board is defined as one with a rabbet on opposite sides of each edge that allows the boards to connect snugly together, leaving a distinctive reveal line between the boards. Shiplap wood siding is siding that uses this same appearance on the exterior, offering both high performance and distinct beauty.

Real wood siding is a beautiful and durable siding that enhances the exterior of a structure and typically increases property value. With so many different types of wood to choose from, hardwood siding or exotic wood siding is one of the best. Softwoods like cedar are common choices for wood siding. However, cedar is a softwood and is less durable with no natural fire resistance. This requires a greater amount of regular maintenance and a shorter service life before replacement.
In contrast, exotic woods shine for use as wood siding, providing maximum durability, moisture resistance, and insect resistance, all resulting in a low maintenance wood siding.

While wood siding isn't yet the most popular exterior wood siding for homes, it is easily one of the most sustainable and natural options home when properly sourced. A variety of wood siding options are available - pine, spruce, fir, cedar, redwood, ipe, garapa, cumaru, massaranduba, and red balau. Before settling on a specific wood species and grade, be sure to compare siding lifespan, rot resistance, splitting, checking and cupping. Then compare the wood siding quality against your budget but remember to take into account how long the wood siding will last before being replaced.

With proper maintenance, exterior wood siding can last a lifetime. Opting for specialized exotic hardwoods such as ipe, cumaru, garapa, red balau, and massaranduba might represent a higher upfront cost but could pay for itself over time through reduced maintenance costs.

The wood siding cost largely depends on what type of wood is used. In general, exotic wood siding will cost more than lower quality siding products such as vinyl or softwood siding products. With a premium price point comes a premium product that lasts decades.