Siding

Now that your electrical outlets and hose bibs are installed on the outside of your house, its time for siding.  I had a contractor do this because I felt I got a great price.  I actually bought all the materials through my lumber package and paid for the labor.  I felt this was the best way to save money.  Before  I decided who I was going with I had company's do siding designs on paper to see what I liked.  I actually based most of my siding on a house that  I liked the looks of and pretty much copied.  This is a great way to make sure you get what you want.  Drive around and look at houses until you find something you really like.  This helped me with not only siding but painting.  I already new what color I wanted.  I used tyvek house wrap and hardie siding.  I bought the siding pre primed so the color yellow you see in picture is the primed color.  This way you don't have to prime before painting.  Hardie also has a siding that is pre painted but you are limited to color selection.  I decided  I did not like the colors so I went the primed route.  At least you will no this is an option.  Also cemplank is another siding product that is like hardie but not as good as a warranty.  If you are installing cedar siding I would go with roofing paper as a house wrap.  I have heard that tyvek will not allow the cedar siding to breath and rot out.