Not sure this is the right forum to ask this question, but here goes. I live in Arizona, the average summer temp is around 105* and it frequently drops in the 30's during the winter. I just painted the outside of my house, which is stucco with some wood trim. My problem is with some 1.5' long decorative logs that extend out 90 degrees from the face of the front wall, to give a southwestern appearance of horizontal roof supports. These are natural logs, and they are attached by a large screw stud that extends out of the building frame. These logs have split, (radially if you are looking at the crosscut), from the temp and moisture changes. Before I painted them, I filled the splits, (some being maybe an 1.5" wide), with bondo. I then sanded them back to smooth, painted them with exterior primer, followed by exterior trim paint. Now we have had a wet winter, and they are starting to split again. I'd like to tear them off, cut the studs flush, stucco and paint, but my wife likes them for some reason, and I'm not sure the architectural committee of my neighbor hood association would be happy either. Anybody have any suggestions? Thanks in advance, Ric Casali

I've been looking around for weeks nows for the best siding for what I can afford. Cedar siding is the #1 pick but it's out of my price range. Like I said I've been to every store and it seems that Lowes have the best selection with the best prices. It's come down to 2 choices. Lowes has this Primed wood panel board 4x8 sheets that look pretty good, its molded and it has that wood grain look to it. But they also have this other type of panel board, I think it's hardwood board, it looks like wonder board ( the stuff you lay on the floor under tile). It is a dollar more a panel but it looks very fragile, like if I was to put a nail in it, it may crack. It also claims it will never get mold, or rot for life. The only thing I don't like about it is, it doesn't really have the same detail look the wood panel does. My question is for those siding guys, which is better? The wood panel which has better wood grain look, cheaper, how long it will last I don't know? Or that fiber board panel, reall no detail wood look, but will last forever.