Black Locust siding offers comparable durability to Ipe and greater rot resistance than Cedar while being a domestically sourced, chemical-free hardwood. Unlike Ipe, which is imported from tropical rainforests, or Cedar, which requires maintenance to prevent decay, Black Locust provides a dense, naturally rot-resistant siding solution with a lifespan of 30–50 years even in harsh exterior conditions.
According to architects and builders specializing in sustainable design, Black Locust’s density rivals tropical hardwoods while avoiding deforestation concerns. Its golden hues weather to a silver-gray patina without any oiling or staining required, making it an ideal material for high-performance, low-maintenance siding projects.
In this article, we’ll explore how Black Locust compares to Ipe and Cedar siding, break down its profiles—from V-groove to shiplap—and explain why this native hardwood is becoming the siding choice of the future.
Black Locust Siding Profiles: V-Groove, Shiplap, and Board & Batten
What profiles are available for Black Locust siding, and how do they differ?
Black Locust siding is available in three primary profiles—V-Groove, Shiplap, and Board & Batten—each offering unique aesthetic and functional benefits for exterior cladding applications.
V-Groove siding creates a clean, continuous appearance with subtle linear channels where each board joins. Often used in modern or minimalist architecture, it provides a crisp shadow line and seamless facade effect. Black Locust V-Groove siding is milled to tight tolerances, enhancing its refined, high-end finish.
Shiplap siding features an overlapping rabbet joint that ensures water-shedding performance while delivering a classic horizontal plank look. Its installation versatility allows for both horizontal and vertical applications, making it popular in residential designs seeking warmth with a contemporary edge.
Board and Batten siding offers a rustic yet architectural aesthetic by alternating wide boards with narrow battens covering the seams. This creates strong vertical lines ideal for farmhouse, cabin, and modern rustic designs. In Black Locust, this profile gains longevity benefits without the need for chemical treatments often used in softwoods.
Across all profiles, Black Locust siding combines natural durability, dimensional stability, and a blonde-to-golden hue that weathers to a silvery gray over time. For a full breakdown of available profiles and detailed specs, visit our Black Locust Siding Product Page.
Natural Beauty & Patina: Black Locust vs. Ipe vs. Cedar
How does Black Locust siding compare to Ipe and Cedar in color, grain, and weathering?
Freshly milled Black Locust siding reveals a natural palette of blonde, golden, and subtle greenish hues, paired with a tight, uniform grain that gives facades a refined yet organic warmth. Ipe siding is prized for its deep chocolatey brown tones, a luxurious aesthetic loved by architects and homeowners for its rich, elegant character. Cedar siding offers lighter reddish to pinkish hues with a soft, rustic grain that creates a timeless, approachable feel in residential designs.
However, whether you choose Black Locust, Ipe, or Cedar, UV exposure will eventually weather all wood species to a silvery gray patina. This transformation is a natural process caused by sun and moisture breaking down surface compounds and exposing underlying cellulose fibers, resulting in gradual graying. Ipe’s chocolate browns fade into a sleek silver-gray, Cedar adopts a driftwood-like softness, and Black Locust transitions from golden warmth to a consistent, cool silver-gray that highlights its dense grain pattern. For further reading on how UV light affects wood and building materials, see this NIH study on the effects of UV radiation on natural and synthetic materials.
Another important consideration is staining. All three of these hardwoods are dense species with tight cellular structures, making them resistant to stain absorption. While it is technically possible to stain or oil Black Locust, Ipe, or Cedar to preserve their fresh-cut colors, doing so turns them into ongoing maintenance items, requiring reapplication almost annually to maintain the desired appearance. Customers often find these results to be uneven or short-lived due to the wood’s natural density and inherent resistance to finishes.
For these reasons, we recommend allowing Black Locust siding to weather naturally. Its patina develops evenly over time without compromising its structural integrity or rot resistance, offering a beautiful, low-maintenance, and sustainable exterior solution
Longevity and Performance Compared
How does Black Locust siding perform compared to Ipe and Cedar over time?
When choosing a siding material, longevity and performance are paramount. Black Locust siding offers impressive durability, with a natural lifespan of 40 to 50 years in exterior applications, even without chemical treatments or sealants. Its density and natural rot resistance make it one of the most reliable domestic hardwood options available.
Ipe siding, sourced from South American rainforests, is often regarded as the gold standard for hardwood durability, with a lifespan of 50 years in exterior use thanks to its extreme density and natural oils that repel insects and decay. However, Ipe’s environmental cost—driven by long-distance shipping and tropical deforestation—has led many designers to seek local alternatives with similar performance characteristics.
Cedar siding, particularly Western Red Cedar, offers natural decay resistance with a lifespan of 20 to 30 years if left untreated, and longer if properly maintained with stains or sealants. However, Cedar is a softwood, making it more vulnerable to impact damage and surface wear compared to Black Locust or Ipe.
In terms of maintenance, Black Locust outperforms Cedar by requiring no treatment to maintain structural integrity. While Ipe also requires little structural maintenance, its rich brown tones will fade without regular oiling, and its hardness can make installation more challenging. Black Locust, by contrast, combines density with workability, enabling efficient installation without sacrificing long-term performance.
Ultimately, Black Locust siding offers a compelling balance: it delivers comparable longevity to Ipe, greater rot resistance than Cedar, and does so as a domestically sourced, chemical-free hardwood—ideal for projects that value both performance and environmental responsibility.
Sourcing & Sustainability: Domestic vs. Tropical
How does Black Locust siding compare to Ipe and Cedar in sourcing and sustainability?
When it comes to environmental responsibility, the origin of your siding material matters just as much as its performance. Black Locust siding is harvested entirely from domestic forests across the eastern United States, supporting local economies and reducing the carbon footprint associated with transportation. As a fast-growing hardwood that regenerates quickly, Black Locust is considered one of North America’s most sustainable building species.
Ipe siding, by contrast, is harvested from tropical rainforests in South America, often under practices that contribute to deforestation and biodiversity loss. In fact, recent investigations have shown that three-quarters of coveted Ipe wood is probably harvested illegally according to The Washington Post, raising serious concerns for architects and developers prioritizing ethical sourcing. Despite its durability, Ipe’s extraction and transoceanic shipping result in a significantly higher environmental impact compared to locally sourced Black Locust.
Cedar siding, primarily Western Red Cedar, is sourced from forests in the Pacific Northwest and Canada. While Cedar is managed under stricter forestry standards than many tropical species, concerns remain about old-growth logging and transportation distances for eastern U.S. projects.
Choosing Black Locust siding means choosing a material that is not only naturally rot-resistant and beautiful but also aligned with sustainable design principles. Its domestic sourcing supports regional timber industries, reduces environmental costs, and ensures reliable supply without the risks associated with international trade restrictions or shifting import regulations.
To explore the full range of Black Locust siding profiles and see how they can support your next project’s sustainability goals, visit our Black Locust Siding Product Page.
Case Study: The Frick Environmental Center
How has Black Locust siding performed in landmark sustainable projects?
One powerful example is The Frick Environmental Center, located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Completed in 2016 and designed by Bohlin Cywinski Jackson, this innovative community hub was built to merge seamlessly with its surrounding forested landscape. The project team chose Black Locust siding for its natural durability, refined appearance, and ability to weather into a silvery gray patina without chemical treatments—perfectly aligning with the center’s rigorous sustainability goals.
This LEED Platinum and Living Building Challenge certified facility demonstrates how Black Locust siding isn’t just beautiful; it’s a proven performer in the most demanding architectural applications.
🎥 Watch the Frick Environmental Center video here:
The Frick Environmental Center – Black Locust Siding Installation
Length Options & Installation Considerations
What siding lengths are available in Black Locust, and how does this compare to Ipe and Cedar?
When specifying hardwood siding, understanding board lengths is essential for both design flow and installation efficiency. Black Locust siding offers flexibility with two main options:
- Fixed lengths of 6, 8, 10, and 12 feet – ideal when uniform lines and consistent layout patterns are required across a facade.
- Random lengths ranging from 3 to 8 feet – often recommended for siding applications as they reduce waste, distribute seams naturally, and reflect traditional cladding aesthetics.
By comparison, Ipe siding is generally available in longer fixed lengths due to the massive size of rainforest trees, while Cedar siding is milled in a wide range of lengths, typically including 8’, 10’, 12’, 14’, and 16’ boards. Black Locust’s lengths may be shorter on average, but its dimensional stability and structural integrity make it ideal for both vertical and horizontal installations, creating crisp shadow lines and strong architectural presence regardless of layout.
Whether you choose a horizontal application for a clean, linear effect or a vertical install for modern board and batten or rain screen designs, Black Locust siding’s flexibility supports your creative vision. Its density and hardness also mean fewer concerns about warping or cupping over time—critical for maintaining tight lines and performance.
For detailed profile specs and to request samples of your preferred lengths and profiles, visit our Black Locust Siding Product Page or Contact Us to speak with our team directly.
Building with Purpose
Why does your siding choice matter?
Choosing Black Locust siding is more than a design decision – it’s a commitment to building with integrity. In a world where tropical hardwoods like Ipe face deforestation concerns and Cedar requires regular treatments to prevent decay, Black Locust offers a different path forward: a native North American hardwood that delivers beauty, performance, and ecological responsibility in equal measure.
This is a species that has supported American landscapes for centuries – from Native American bows to early colonial fencing and modern rain screen facades. Its golden hues, tight grain, and natural rot resistance stand the test of time, while its graceful patina to silvery gray tells the story of each passing season without demanding oils, stains, or chemical upkeep.
As the first company to mill Black Locust specifically for architectural use, we’ve seen its potential transform from humble fence posts to landmark LEED Platinum campuses and public installations. Today, it continues to reshape sustainable design, proving that local materials can outperform global imports – and do so with less environmental cost.
If you’re seeking siding that honors your project’s vision, withstands decades of exposure, and roots your design in a legacy of resilience and regeneration, Black Locust siding is your solution.
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