Day: July 16, 2025

T11 siding is a manifactured wood siding, that has vertical grooves and is made out of pulverized wood scraps and glue. Not as durable as vinyl siding, it’s still a wood based product compared to toxic plastic siding. Trust me, I’d rather be standing up wind of burning off scraps of T11 siding then the scraps of vinyl siding like my old neighbors burnt in their bonfire after delivery of their prefab home.

T11 doesn’t look like vinyl. It has to be painted occasionally and kept from being completed saturated with water. But it’s cheaper and lighter then traditional board and batten siding or even pig-pen (wavy, sometimes locally called Adirondack) siding made from rough cut boards that are commonly seen on cabins and other rustic buildings – such as those constructed by state conservation department.

Pig pen siding really is nice if you own a forest and have a portable sawmill. You can make it yourself. Or get it at most saw mills It looks rustic but nice. But it’s also a fair bit more expensive then T11. In the suburbs, T11 siding is commonly used for sheds, and it’s also seen on hunting camps and some rural residences – usually built by working class folks on a limited budget.

But I’m really okay with T11 siding. I get the glues might not be perfect – they may have formaldehyde and other chemicals in it. Stay up wind when burning in your bonfire! But it’s also not plastic, it doesn’t show the mud and dust, it blends in with the rural landscape, and is quite durable compared to vinyl – even if it requires occasional painting and replacement as parts rot from excessive water exposure.