TruExterior - High Performance Siding for the House That Blues Built

When blues guitarist Albert Cummings and his wife and contractor, Christina Cummings, began planning their custom home in Williamstown, Mass, one of the easiest of the myriad decisions they made for their home was in using TruExterior siding from Westlake Royal Building Products.

“We’ve used TruExterior for ages,” says Albert Cummings. “It’s always been our go-to material because it is highly durable and holds up in any kind of weather.”

TruExterior, a poly-ash siding product made with at least 70% recycled materials, works well in any climate or environment. Since the product is moisture-resistant, it works particularly well in rainy regions or areas with high humidity.

“TruExterior is as close as you can get to working with regular wood, but without the moisture concerns and associated maintenance,” Albert says. “It looks and feels like real wood, but it provides a better defense against the elements.”

The Cummings sometimes see golf ball-size hail in the Berkshire Mountains where they live, Albert says, and they both trust this product to protect their home. TruExterior is less prone to damage from freezing rain, snow and from freezing and thawing. The composition of the TruExterior makes it resistant to rot, so it can be installed all the way to grade. The product is also bug resistant since it’s not organic.

Variety of options for customization

TruExterior is easy to paint and comes in numerous styles that match historic and modern homes.

“We knew we wanted this for our house right away because it has so many different kinds of trims that allow us to be creative,” says Christina Cummings. “Because this is a typical farmhouse style, we’ll probably paint it white with different accent tones.”

TruExterior holds paint better than many other products, Albert says, because of its dimensional stability. The siding and trim are pre-primed for paint and can handle dark colors without fading. The low maintenance product provides for long-lasting paint adhesion.

The line includes siding in seven profiles—Cove/Dutch lap, Nickel Gap, Channel, Channel Bevel, siding, V-Rustic, and Shiplap—along with trimboards, board and batten, and beadboard. The siding can be installed vertically or horizontally to match different aesthetics.

The profiles are architecturally accurate to match wood siding but with the advantage of less maintenance and more resilience to the elements.

“The siding and trim can be planed, sanded, cut, milled and glued so you can completely customize it,” Albert says.

Simplified Installation

TruExterior can be installed with commonly available woodworking tools and methods. Westlake Royal Building Products recommends using carbide-tipped blades and bits for longer tool life. Wherever you build, you can use the same exterior-grade fasteners you would for any other project that meets your local environmental needs. The siding and trim can be fastened close to the edge and won’t need pre-drilling. 

Easy installation, low maintenance, customization and high performance meet the high standards the Cummings have for the House That Blues Built.

By Michele Lerner