The siding on our new house consists of two types. The majority is composed of random-width boards made from fly ash with a 3/16-inch gap between them. These will be painted a dark grey with a hint of blue. Between vertically aligned windows we will have 4″-wide horizontal boards made from rice hulls in a rust color. Both products are made of recycled materials, require very little maintenance, and are highly resistant to bugs and critters of all sorts. The green panels are Zip-R insulated sheathing with taped joints. It is watertight. The black material is another layer of waterproofing providing an additional line of defense and a black background for anyone who wants to peek between the cracks of the vertical siding. The black horizontal strips provide a perforated rain screen allowing water to drain down the inside face of the siding. The entire approach promotes air circulation in and around the siding which allows it to dry completely.